NEW YORK (AP) — A man who took in an orphaned squirrel and made it a social media star vowed Saturday that New York state's decision to seize and euthanize the animal “won't go unheard.”
“We will make a stance on how this government and New York state utilizes their resources,” Mark Longo said in a phone interview.
He declined to specify his possible next steps but said officials would hear from him soon about what happened to Peanut the squirrel and Fred, a rescued raccoon that was also confiscated and put down.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation took the animals Wednesday from Longo’s home and animal sanctuary in rural Pine City, near the Pennsylvania border. The agency said it had gotten complaints that wildlife was being kept illegally and potentially unsafely.
State law requires people to get a license if they wish to own a wild animal. Longo has said he was working to get Peanut — also known as P’Nut or PNUT — certified as an educational animal.
The DEC and the Chemung County Health Department said Friday that the squirrel and raccoon were euthanized so they could be tested for rabies after Peanut bit someone involved in the investigation.
Longo said Saturday that he didn't see Peanut bite anyone during what he described as an hourslong, heavy-handed search. The authorities haven't spoken with him since they left the property, he said.
“Honestly, this still kind of feels surreal, that the state that I live in actually targeted me and took two of the most beloved animals on this planet away, didn’t even quarantine them. They took them from my house and just killed them,” he said.
A request for comment was sent to the DEC on Saturday.
Longo said he started caring for Peanut after the animal's mother was hit by a car in New York City seven years ago. Tens of thousands of users of Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms glimpsed the animal sporting tiny hats, doing tricks and nibbling on waffles clutched in his little paws.
Longo said Fred the raccoon was dropped off on his doorstep a few months ago. After helping the animal recover from injuries, Longo said, he and his wife were planning to release the creature into the woods.
Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed. Follow Julie Walker on X @jwalkreporter.
FILE — This undated image provided by Mark Longo shows his pet squirrel Peanut that was seized by officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, at Longo's home in rural Pine City, N.Y., Oct. 30, 2024. (Courtesy Mark Longo via AP, File)
Man says it's 'surreal' that officials euthanized pet squirrel Peanut
Man says it's 'surreal' that officials euthanized pet squirrel Peanut
LONDON (AP) — Manchester City’s 32-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League ended in a 2-1 loss at Bournemouth on Saturday as Liverpool wrested back the lead in the title race.
Pep Guardiola had warned this week that his Manchester City team could be “in trouble” after injuries kept piling up, and those comments quickly proved prophetic on an eventful day that also saw Arsenal lose 1-0 at Newcastle while Liverpool needed a late comeback to beat Brighton 2-1 and go top of the league.
The biggest surprise came at Bournemouth, though, as the Cherries stunningly took a 2-0 lead at home thanks to goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson and then held off City’s comeback attempt. Josko Gvardiol pulled one goal back in the 82nd while Erling Haaland had a header saved in injury time and then hit the post from the rebound.
It was City's first league loss of 2024 but second straight 2-1 defeat in all competitions after being eliminated from the League Cup by Tottenham in midweek, and the defending champion now trails Liverpool by two points.
All three leading title rivals looked headed for defeat after Brighton had largely outplayed Liverpool in the first half at Anfield and easily could have led by more than one goal at the break, but Liverpool turned things around in three minutes in the second.
Cody Gakpo’s attempted cross sailed past both teammate Darwin Nunez and the Brighton defense into the net for the equalizer in the 69th and Mohamed Salah’s sublime finish in the 72nd sealed the win.
Salah was released down the right by Trent Alexander-Arnold on a quick counter, cut inside a defender and curled an unstoppable shot into the net with his left foot for a goal that put Liverpool two points clear of City in first place.
Arsenal is now seven points off the pace and fell to fourth place behind Nottingham Forest, which beat 10-man West Ham 3-0, and the Gunners could find themselves in sixth if Aston Villa and Chelsea both win on Sunday.
Also, Southampton earned its first win of the season thanks to Adam Armstrong’s 85th-minute goal in a 1-0 victory over Everton to climb out of last place. But fellow promoted side Ipswich is still looking for its first win after giving up an injury-time equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Leicester.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Newcastle United's goalkeeper Nick Pope clears the ball from a corner, during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Arsenal, at St James' Park, in Newcastle, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Arsenal's Ben White, left and Newcastle United's Alexander Isak vie for the ball, during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Arsenal, at St James' Park, in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, center, is fouled by Newcastle United's Joe Willock, left, during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Arsenal, at St James' Park, in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak scores his side's first goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Arsenal, at St James' Park, in Newcastle, England, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Manchester City's Phil Foden, right, attempts a shot on goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality stadium in Bournemouth, England, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol, top right, heads the ball and scores his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality stadium in Bournemouth, England, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Bournemouth's Evanilson is mobbed by teammates after scoring his sides second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality stadium in Bournemouth, England, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
