Shocking outrage of wildlife seizures – what is the government hiding?
Something special is happening and the public requires answers. A man who simply loved his squirrel with a pet is now a heated controversy on Wednesday, while the officials confiscated and euthanized two animals under circumstances that are not completely added up.
Was it really about public security, or are there more stories? The sudden involvement of 10 officers, lack of clear explanations, and silence left many thinking – was it necessary, or was there anything else in the game?
When you go viral online, you want to keep the ball in motion. Sometimes people for the strangest reasons go viral, and this is the case of a man who owned a squirrel called Peanut.
Over the past few years, Peanut Squirrel has gathered a massive following, but not everyone was happy with the life situation. The New York Ministry of Environmental Protection (Dec) was involved after someone revealed what was happening.
The poor peanut was taken from his home by 10 officers. They also took Fred to Raccoon and on 30 October was both animals euthanized.
The man who took and killed the peanut of the squirrel was identified, as the sparks of public outrage.
Sometimes viral can happen for the most unexpected reasons, and that is exactly what happened in the case of Mark Long and his beloved squirrel, Peanut.
For years, the squirrels have gained a significant online following, but not everyone supports the situation. The Ministry of Environmental Protection in New York (DEC) led the concerns about the animal’s life conditions to enter the message after receiving the report.
During the dramatic raid, 10 Longo properties in Elmira arrived and confiscated peanut squirrel and other pets, Fred the Raccoon. Tragically, on October 30, both animals were euthanized.
Longo, 34, described the peanut as his “best friend” and lived with his hairy companions on his large 350-acre properties. However, Dec claimed that when seized animals, peanuts biting the investigator, which led to concern about rabies. Their official statement read:
“The person involved in the investigation was bitten by a squirrel. Both animals were euthanized for tester testing. Animals are tested for rabies and anyone in contact with them is strongly encouraged to consult their doctor. ”
This decision has triggered extensive will online, with many criticizing the Dec to resolve the situation. After public outrage, the Ministry announced an internal investigation, although what it means remains unclear.
According to The New York Post, investigator Dec Joshua Crain was responsible for obtaining an order for a search, quoting that the animals were maintained illegally. However, the court records did not mention the fear of rabies – the key details that supported further skepticism.
Longo first underwent an investigation in January after an anonymous report claimed to keep the squirrel illegally. Dec later issued a statement:
“Internal investigation of this matter is underway and we review internal policies and procedures to ensure that we continue to operate this basic mission.”
Despite the requests for transparency, the state and local health departments, including the Ministry of Health in New York and the Chemung County medical department, did not publish the results of rabies tests.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that rabies test results are usually available within 72 hours, but no official report has been published since June.
When Dec pushed the information, he recommended Dec Washington Post apply for the Freedom of Information Act (foil), a legal process that allows citizens to obtain government records.
In the middle of the growing controversy, Longo took the tiktoku to express his frustration and said he was “angry, sad, and disgusted”. He said in his video:
“We fight and work every day to pay our state taxes, and they turn and do it to the family.”
Longois determined to seek justice and now plans to sue Dec for seizures and euthanization of peanuts and Fred.
The controversy surrounding the peanuts of squirrels and Fred The Raccoon caused an intense debate, with many challenging the DEC action and lack of transparency relating to rabies testing. While the authorities insist on adhering to the protocol, the absence of clear communication has only caused public outrage. Mark Longo, destroyed by the loss of his beloved animals, is determined to seek justice and withhold the Dec responsible.
As the legal action is being put, the case continues to raise concerns about the overlap of the government, the regulations on wild animals, and the treatment of animals in custody. Whether the truth will come to light is to be seen, but for the time bbeingpublic remains divided and requires answers and responsibility.