The story of P’nut the Squirrel, an internet-famous pet seized and euthanized by New York state officials, has sparked public outrage, political backlash, and even a proposed new law aimed at protecting animals in sanctuaries.
Mark and Daniela Longo, owners of P’nut, are reeling from what they describe as an unnecessary intervention by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The couple, who run “P’nut’s Freedom Farm” near Elmira, believe someone tipped off the state due to jealousy over their financial success, which was partly fueled by P’nut’s social media stardom.
The Longos purchased their 350-acre sanctuary with earnings from their OnlyFans account, which reportedly brought in $800,000 in a single month. P’nut, known for his playful antics, drew followers to his own “family-friendly” social media page, but he also subtly redirected some of that attention to the Longos’ OnlyFans presence.
According to Mark, this dual fan base helped them grow their online influence, making P’nut a sort of fluffy-tailed internet sensation. “Did this do wonders to my OnlyFans? Absolutely,” Mark said, acknowledging the role the pet played in their success.
The DEC’s actions have sparked heated reactions from the public and local leaders, who see the confiscation and euthanasia of P’nut as heavy-handed. The raid on the Longos’ sanctuary, where P’nut and a raccoon named Fred were seized, has raised concerns about the agency’s handling of animal welfare cases. While DEC officials cited rabies concerns for euthanizing the animals, critics argue that the Longos should have been allowed to appeal the decision or seek alternative measures.
The backlash has reached the political arena, prompting New York Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz to propose a bill, dubbed “Peanut’s Law: Humane Animal Protection Act.” The legislation aims to introduce a 72-hour waiting period before animals from sanctuaries can be euthanized, allowing time for appeals and giving animal sanctuaries “the right to humane due process.”
Blumencranz and others hope the measure will prevent similar situations in the future, sparking a movement among animal rights advocates who see P’nut’s case as emblematic of an overreach in state policy.
The controversy surrounding P’nut’s death also drew critical commentary from political figures, including former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, who called out the administration of current Governor Kathy Hochul. Azzopardi suggested that the case reflected a lack of oversight within state agencies, tweeting, “This situation should have come across someone’s desk in Gov. Hochul’s office & someone with a brain should have stepped in. #Justice4Peanut.”
Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) joined the chorus of voices criticizing the DEC’s actions, urging Governor Hochul to issue an apology and condemning what he called “ridiculous overreach.” The public outpouring of support for the Longos and P’nut has been significant; a GoFundMe page set up to cover legal and sanctuary costs has raised over $132,000.
