The euthanasia of ‘Peanut‘, a social-media-famous pet squirrel, and Fred, a rescued raccoon, by New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), has drawn sharp criticism from experts and animal rights advocates.
As per the New York Post, infectious disease specialist Dr Edward R. Rensimer described the decision as “insane,” arguing that the odds of either animal having rabies were “virtually zero.”
Peanut and Fred were seized from Mark Longo’s upstate animal sanctuary in October, allegedly for being housed without permits.
According to the DEC, the action was necessitated after Peanut reportedly bit an agent on the thumb through protective gloves. However, Dr Rensimer, who has been studying rabies for decades, pointed out that no documented cases of squirrel-to-human rabies transmission exist in the United States.
“Some animals almost never get rabies,” he said, citing a New York State Department of Health fact sheet.
Expert calls for alternatives to euthanasia
Dr Rensimer criticised the DEC’s approach, suggesting that quarantining the animals for 10 days to monitor for symptoms would have been a more rational response.
He further noted that rabies symptoms typically manifest within a specific timeframe in animals like cats, dogs, and ferrets, making the immediate decapitation of Peanut and Fred for rabies testing unnecessary.
Fred, a young raccoon found in poor condition months ago, had been under Longo’s care for an extended period, while Peanut had lived with him for seven years.
According to Dr Rensimer, this timeline made the likelihood of either animal being rabid extremely low. He also emphasised that rabies immunisation for the allegedly bitten DEC agent could have neutralised any potential risk.
Allegations of premeditated euthanasia
Adding to the controversy, The New York Post reported that the DEC had allegedly planned to euthanise the animals at least a week before the supposed bite incident. The DEC has not provided evidence of the bite nor explained why less invasive alternatives were not pursued.
Test results later confirmed that neither animal was rabid.
Mark Longo, devastated by the loss of Peanut and Fred, described the raid on his sanctuary, Peanut’s Freedom Farm, as excessive, taking five hours and involving multiple officers. “You need that many officers to literally pull my closets apart?” he said in a video on Instagram, where he also mourned the loss of Peanut.
Legal and public backlash
According to CBS News, Longo had been in the process of obtaining the necessary permits to comply with state regulations. “We were ready to comply… We needed a little bit of guidance from the DEC,” he said. Longo’s attorney, Nora Constance Marino, called the euthanasia “outrageous” and suggested that officials acted without considering humane alternatives.
Animal rights activists have rallied behind Longo, with tens of thousands signing an online petition demanding justice for Peanut. Meanwhile, Longo has filed a legal claim against the state, seeking answers for what he calls a senseless killing.
Dr Rensimer also questioned the DEC’s intentions, saying, “It sounds more to me like they had an agenda and created a fact basis around it rather than doing the right thing.”