On Friday Nov. 1, the beloved pet squirrel named Peanut was euthanized by the state of New York. Mark Longo, Peanut’s owner and content creator, turned to social media where he publicly shamed the state of New York for the seizing and euthanizing of his pets.
Who was Peanut the squirrel?
Peanut was one of Longo’s non-traditional furry pets that he regularly featured on his TikTok channel. Along with being adorable and entertaining to the masses, Peanut was also the cornerstone of his owner’s non-profit organization, ” P’Nuts Freedom Farm Sanctuary.”
What led to Peanut’s euthanisation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officers responding to what the agency said were anonymous complaints, arrived at the home of Longo, in Pine City in Chemung County. In the state of New York, it is illegal to house animals considered wildlife without a special permit; Longo maintains that he was actively in the process of applying for one.
At some point, it appears that Peanut bit someone involved in the investigation, which led the officers to euthanize him to test for rabies.
How Peanut became a political figure
A video of Longo speaking out garnered a lot of attention from other content creators, social media users, news stations and political figures.
With the euthanization happening days before the election, prominent political figures took advantage of this moment to take a stance on the current state of democracy and immigration.
“I know Don is fired up about Peanut the squirrel,”
JD Vance, the vice-presidential elect, at a rally in Sanford, N.C., on Sunday.
Peanut’s death quickly became a rallying cry for the republican party.
The Republicans used this opportunity, days before the election, to highlight areas where they believed democratic policies were falling flat. They turned to the democrats, questioning their priorities as they allowed illegal immigrants to walk free after murdering 22-year-old Laken Riley.
The trending hashtag, #Justiceforpeanut, has turned the rodent into a martyr, used for fear-mongering as a symbol against overreaching by the Biden-Harris administration.
Do you think the Trump administration took it too far? Let us know your thoughts by reaching out on Instagram @VALLEYmag.
