New York Republicans are pushing a brand new legislation to guard animals after a beloved pet squirrel and web star named P’Nut was taken and killed by state environmental officers late final 12 months.
The invoice, referred to as “Peanut’s Regulation: The Humane Animal Safety Act,” would require a 72-hour ready interval earlier than the Division of Environmental Conservation (DEC) can euthanize any seized animal. It could additionally give animal homeowners the prospect for a listening to earlier than the state takes or places down their animals.
P’Nut and one other pet squirrel named Fred have been taken from Mark and Daniela Longo’s upstate farm final October after somebody filed an nameless criticism. Each animals have been killed and examined for rabies, and each assessments got here again adverse.
The squirrel had an enormous following on social media, with P’Nut accruing almost a million followers to look at content material of the critter and his household.
OWNERS OF BELOVED PEANUT THE SQUIRREL PLAN TO SUE NEW YORK STATE OVER SEIZURE AND KILLING BY AUTHORITIES
Peanut or P’Nut the squirrel, who had over 500,000 followers on Instagram, was euthanized by New York State officers final week. (peanut_the_squirrel12 through Instagram)
As soon as information unfold on P’Nut’s Instagram web page, backlash over DEC’s actions unfold like wildfire on-line. On the time, everybody from Elon Musk to President Trump weighed in on the killing of the pricey household pets.
Musk referred to the killing again in November as “the entire squirrel factor” whereas on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz (R-Nassau), who’s sponsoring the invoice, mentioned it’s about equity. “That is about due course of,” he mentioned, including that animals shouldn’t be killed except they’re a direct hazard.
PEANUT THE PET SQUIRREL TAKEN AWAY BY NEW YORK STATE OFFICIALS FROM ADOPTED HOME, MAY BE EUTHANIZED
The Longos, who run an animal sanctuary, say they have been by no means instructed why their pets have been taken. They hope the brand new invoice will cease related instances from occurring once more.
Mark Longo mentioned of the brand new invoice: “I sit right here attempting to not cry, however passing this legislation can be a motion to ensure that animal rights will not be neglected anymore.”
Peanut or “P’Nut” was solely a child when the Longos rescued him. The squirrel tailored to his adoptive human household after his actual mom was run over by a automobile when he was simply 5 weeks outdated.
Peanut was rescued at 5 weeks outdated by his adoptive human dad and mom after his mom was run over by a automobile. (peanut_the_squirrel12 through Instagram)
“They weren’t harmful. They weren’t sick. They weren’t wild threats roaming the streets,” mentioned Assemblyman Blumencranz. “They have been rescues — cherished, nurtured, and secure.”
Supporters of the laws say it’s a commonsense transfer to guard each animals and their homeowners.
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“Right here is the chilly, laborious fact. It’s too little, too late. Phrases don’t save P’Nut and Fred, and phrases gained’t save the subsequent animal, or the subsequent household, except we alter the legislation.”
An legal professional who represents the Longo household didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
Jasmine is a author at Fox Information Digital and a navy partner based mostly in New Orleans. Tales might be despatched to jasmine.baehr@fox.com
