Peanut, the social media star squirrel at the center of a national furor after it was seized from its owner in upstate New York and euthanized, has tested negative for rabies, a county official said Tuesday.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation took the squirrel and a raccoon named Fred on Oct. 30 from Mark Longo's home and animal sanctuary in rural Pine City, near the Pennsylvania border. The agency said it had received complaints that wildlife was being kept illegally and potentially unsafely, but officials have faced a barrage of criticism for the seizure. Government workers said they have since faced violent threats.
The DEC and the Chemung County officials have said the squirrel and raccoon were euthanized so they could be tested for rabies after Peanut bit a DEC worker involved in the investigation.
Chemung County Executive Chris Moss said tests on the two animals came back negative during a news conference detailing the county's role in the incident. He said the county worked with the state and followed protocols.
Peanut gained tens of thousands of followers on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms in the more than seven years since Longo took him in after seeing his mother get hit by a car in New York City. Longo has said he was in the process of filing paperwork to get Peanut certified as an educational animal when he was seized.
Longo on Tuesday said the negative test results were no surprise and criticized the government's actions.
“It’s no real big shocker to me, considering I lived with Peanut for seven-and-a-half years and Fred for five months. I’m not foaming at the mouth,” he said. “I knew the test results were going to be negative.”
The DEC said in a prepared statement there was an internal investigation and that they were reviewing internal policies and procedures.
This undated image provided by Mark Longo shows him with 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., Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (Courtesy Mark Longo via AP)
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)
Social media star squirrel euthanized after being taken from home tests negative for rabies
Social media star squirrel euthanized after being taken from home tests negative for rabies
NAPA, California--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 13, 2024--
19 Crimes, the brand known for disrupting the wine world with its bold collaborations and rebellious spirit, is teaming up with Entertainment Icon, Snoop Dogg once again to launch the next evolution in the Cali Wines lineup. Cali Smooth is a uniquely stylized red blend featuring bold and flavorful notes of dark fruit, toasted oak, and vanilla, followed by a silky-smooth finish. Straightforward and approachable, Cali Smooth invites everyone to enjoy wine without pretension.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241112990981/en/
Following the success of Cali Red, the #1 Wine Innovation of 2020, 19 Crimes continues to innovate with Cali Smooth, an all-new flavor experience where wine style meets attitude. Cali Smooth is the first of several new stylized wines yet to be released.
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Snoop Dogg, known for his iconic collaborations with 19 Crimes, put his signature spin on the release: “ Cali Smooth isn't just a wine—it’s a vibe. It’s that wine that makes you want to kick back and relax. Here’s a toast to living easy.”
19 Crimes Cali Smooth is available now at retailers nationwide. To learn more about Cali Smooth, visit 19Crimes.com or explore the brand on Instagram @19Crimes.
ABOUT 19 CRIMES
19 Crimes turned convicts to colonists. In 18th-century Britain, criminals guilty of at least one of the 19 Crimes, were sentenced to live in Australia, rather than death. For the rough-hewn prisoners who made it to shore, a new world awaited. As pioneers in a frontier penal colony 19 Crimes wines celebrate the rebellious spirit of the more than 160,000 exiled men and women that forged a new culture and national spirit in Australia. Today, 19 Crimes continues to celebrate that spirit by partnering with modern day culture creators and innovators. In 2020, 19 Crimes collaborated with entertainment icon, Snoop Dogg to launch Cali Red, the #1 selling single wine in IRI’s New Product Pacesetter history. His next release, Snoop Cali Rose was named the #1 Wine Innovation of 2021 and later, Snoop Cali Gold was awarded #1 Sparkling Wine Innovation of 2022.
19 Crimes Cali Smooth (Photo: Business Wire)
19 Crimes Cali Smooth (Photo: Business Wire)
