[Jack]
P’NUT THE SQUIRREL HAD BECOME A POPULAR SOCIAL MEDIA STAR-
AMASSING OVER A MILLION FOLLOWERS ACROSS SEVERAL PLATFORMS.
BUT FANS OF THE ANIMAL’S DAILY ANTICS WERE SADDENED BY NEWS THAT IT HAD BEEN PUT DOWN-
AFTER NEW YORK STATE OFFICIALS SEIZED THE SQUIRREL LAST WEEK.
THE REASONS FOR THE MOVE – VARY WIDELY.
FROM ACCUSATIONS OF RABIES – TO RUMORS OF RESENTMENT OVER A SUCCESSFUL ONLYFANS ACCOUNT RUN BY THE ANIMALS OWNERS.
“They just took my best friend for the last seven years, and they’ll never bring him back.”
MARK LONGO SPEAKING TO TMZ SAYS HE’D BEEN RAISING P’NUT FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS-
TAKING THE ANIMAL IN AFTER ITS MOTHER WAS HIT BY A CAR ON A BUSY DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN STREET.
PRIOR ATTEMPTS TO RELEASE P’NUT BACK INTO THE WILD FAILED-
AS THE SQUIRREL WAS REPEATEDLY ATTACKED BY OTHER ANIMALS.
SO P’NUT GOT HIS OWN ROOM WITHIN LONGO’S NEW YORK HOME-
WHERE HE CARED FOR THE SQUIRREL, POSTING VIDEOS OF IT TO INSTAGRAM AND TIKTOK.
REVENUE FROM WHICH LONGO SAYS HELPED SUPPORT AN ANIMAL RESCUE CHARITY-
DUBBED P’NUT’S FREEDOM FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY.
“We started a non profit Animal Rescue called peanuts freedom farm to help animals like peanuts fight a good fight when they’re in a neglected case or they’re sitting in a slaughter auction. And he was the cornerstone of our life and our organization. We used his platform to help raise money for the 300 animals we have at our sanctuary.”
LONGO BELIEVES THE REASON HE WAS TARGETED BY STATE OFFICIALS, IS THAT HE AND HIS WIFE CREATE ADULT CONTENT FOR ONLYFANS-
SPECULATING THIS TO BE THE CASE BECAUSE NO CITATION OR OTHER VIOLATION OF LAW WAS ISSUED AFTER P NUT’S REMOVAL.
THE NEW YORK’S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION SAYS IT RECEIVED MULTIPLE REPORTS ABOUT THE SQUIRREL FROM CONCERNED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
LEADING TO THEM CONDUCTING ON A RAID ON LONGO’S HOME.
“DEC officers raided my house as if I was a drug dealer. I was sat outside my house for five hours. I had to get a police escort to my bathroom.”
OFFICERS SEIZED P’NUT FROM THE PREMISES AND ULTIMATELY EUTHANIZED THE ANIMAL TO TEST FOR RABIES AFTER THE SQUIRREL ALLEGEDLY BIT ONE OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN REMOVING IT.
A PET RACOON NAMED FRED THAT LONGO ALSO CARED FOR WAS TAKEN AND PUT DOWN AS WELL.
“They got a search warrant four departments and a judge signed off on a search warrant for a squirrel in a raccoon, and then they took them and killed them.”
LONGO SAYS THAT FOLLOWING P’NUT’S DEATH HE’LL NOW BE LOOKING INTO PURSUING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE STATE-
ADDING THAT HE’S UNSURE OF HOW THE ANIMAL SANCTUARY WILL KEEP RUNNING WITHOUT FUNDS FROM THE SQUIRREL’S VIDEOS.
“You just put the entire organization in jeopardy. Because I don’t know how we’re going to fund this organization anymore without this social media. I haven’t a clue.”
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER.