Elon Musk weighs in on euthanised squirrel row after social media famous pet put down
Elon Musk has shared his thoughts on the contentious decision to euthanize a pet squirrel that gained popularity online, stating that he believes it was "profoundly misguided."
Peanut the squirrel, fondly referred to as P'Nut or PNUT by his admirers, was saved by Mark Longo seven years ago when he witnessed the squirrel's mother getting struck by a vehicle in New York City.
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Boasting over 533,000 Instagram followers, this unique pet can be spotted sporting a cowboy hat, munching on waffles, leaping through hoops, and perched on the shoulder of its 34-year-old conservationist owner.
Following several anonymous reports, New York's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) took Peanut and a raccoon named Fred from Mr. Longo's residence in Pine City on Wednesday.
On Friday, the DEC and the Chemung County Department of Health confirmed that both animals were put down.
They announced that the animals were put down so they could undergo rabies testing following an incident where Peanut bit a person connected to the investigation.
Mr. Longo, the owner of an animal sanctuary named P'Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, which was inspired by his pet squirrel, stated that he had not witnessed the squirrel biting anyone during what he described as a lengthy and forceful search at his residence close to the Pennsylvania border.
Musk, a prominent backer of Donald Trump during the lead-up to the US election, has shared his thoughts on the situation and seized the chance to criticize the Biden administration.
On his platform X, the CEO of Tesla shared an AI-created image of a squirrel dressed as Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars, holding a lightsaber. Accompanying the image was the quote: "If you strike me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine," humorously rephrased as "Obi PNut Kenobi."
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In a previous response to a question on X that asked, "What type of individuals do these agencies hire? Who could possibly have the capacity to kill a poor pet squirrel?" Musk answered, "The government operates like a ruthless and soulless machine that takes lives without thinking."
Musk, the wealthiest person globally, has been leveraging his money and clout to support Mr. Trump, especially in crucial battleground states.
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In reply to a post featuring a brief video of Mr. Longo's wife, Daniella, enjoying time with Peanut and Fred, along with a caption stating that the animals were euthanized to test for rabies, Musk expressed his disapproval by saying, "This is completely wrong."
The DEC has not yet verified whether the animals were rabid.
"They grabbed them and simply ended their lives."
Mr. Longo shared with the Associated Press over the weekend: "To be honest, this still feels a bit unreal. The state I live in actually singled me out and took away two of the most cherished animals in the world, without even putting them in quarantine. They removed them from my home and just euthanized them."
He continued, "We'll take a position on how this administration and the state of New York manage their resources."
He mentioned that he hasn’t received any communication from authorities since they searched his house, but indicated that they will be hearing from him shortly. He added that the government’s choice to take and put down the animals "won't go unnoticed."
Creating a refuge
On Saturday, Mr. Longo shared a brief collection of videos on Instagram for his 100,000 followers, writing in the caption, "I'm going to miss you, little buddy."
A former mechanical engineer, he relocated from Connecticut to New York last year to establish the P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary alongside his wife.
In New York, it's illegal to possess a wild animal like a squirrel without the proper license. Mr. Longo mentioned that he knew about this regulation and was in the process of completing the necessary paperwork to register Peanut as an educational animal prior to the police raid.
The DEC has not yet replied to the comment requests that were sent on Saturday.
