Netizens have sympathized with Peanut the Squirrel, a rescue animal that Mark Longo and his wife fostered. However, a planned accident claimed the animal’s life and fans of the family blamed Joshua Crain for issuing a warrant for the investigation.
On November 1, 2024, Mark Longo posted an Instagram statement revealing that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation had seized his pets, Peanut and Fred.
Further, the authorities searched Longo’s apartment for over five hours based on anonymous complaints about the animals. According to the owner’s statement, more than six officers entered the home despite their refusal.
🚨BREAKING: Lead investigator behind P’Nut the Squirrel’s death has been ID’d.
— The Patriot Oasisâ„¢ (@ThePatriotOasis) November 9, 2024
DEC Investigator Joshua Crain lead the search warrant to seize P’Nut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon.
Both animals were later euthanized by New York's Department of Environmental Conservation. pic.twitter.com/5zv2719MON
Later, the DEC issued a public statement mentioning that the step was necessary to protect public health. They detailed that the pets had been taken away from their New York home as they could carry the rabies virus.
According to state law, owners must have permits to keep animals at home for more than four months. The DEC emphasized that keeping young wildlife as pets is illegal, as these animals aren’t well-suited for life in captivity.
Reports suggested that Peanut and Fred were put down after the animal allegedly bit one of the officers on accident. Authorities recommended that anyone who had come in contact with Peanut consult their physician.
Meanwhile, DEC released the list of officers involved in the process. The officers, including Joshua Crain, have been under investigation for the accident due to pressure from the community, which cherished Peanut and Fred.
Fans want Joshua Crain fired from his office as he filed the suspicion that Peanut had health dangers!
The DEC officers’ union clarified that the authorities began the investigation in January after reports that Longo was housing illegal animals. The office assigned the case to Crain and Judge Richard W. Rich Jr., who authorized the house search warrant.
After the accident, the public demanded test results from the Health Department and the Chemung County Health Department. Still, they have maintained silence on the animal’s passing and the injured officer.
Moreover, Longo addressed the delay in results in a public video: “You claimed rabies. But you haven’t made a public comment on it?” As a taxpayer, is my life and what you caused me not good enough to respond?“
Many political figures have commented on the issue, and Sen. Dan Stec remarked that the state’s response has been unlawful. The official Donald Trump campaign TikTok mentioned that Peanut’s passing was unnecessary.
The conservation organization named Crain Wildlife Officer of the Year in 2022 but has since criticized his actions. The officer has worked to ensure New York’s environment and public protection for several years.
Before joining the DEC, the officer attended the University of Vermont, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. Crain started his career with the DEC after obtaining the license in 2004.
Crain has been promoted and transferred to Wayne County, Yates County, Ulster County, and New York. DEC has praised the officer for professionalism during forest fires, investigations, and field training.
However, his long-standing career seems at risk due to the recent incident with the Longo family, who plan to sue the office for their misconduct.
Users have blamed Crain for the event, and one wrote, “Heartless and brainless probably doesn’t have a pet and thank God. The pet would have to take care of themselves.“
Additional Information
- The nonprofit organization created a GoFundMe page in honor of Peanut and Fred to raise $250k. So far, the initiative has received over 4.5k donations amounting to over $191,720, which will help rescue animals.
- Peanut had been rescued by Longo seven months before the incident after its mother was fatally injured during a road accident. The animal had its own Instagram account with over 906k followers.
