P'Nut the Squirrel's owners want $10M for animal's execution: Lawsuit
Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner, the grieving owners of P'Nut and his raccoon sidekick, Fred, are seeking $10 million in damages for the death of their pets at the hands of investigators, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in New York Court of Claims.
A swarm of cops and agents from the state Environmental Conservation and Health departments descended on the couple's upstate Pine City animal sanctuary Oct. 30, where the animals were living inside Longo and Bittner's home.
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3 Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner are seeking $10 million in damages for the deaths of P'Nut the Squirrel and his raccoon pal, Fred, at the hands of state investigators.
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3 The couple has suffered emotional trauma and financial losses since losing their star squirrel, who had become an Internet celebrity, according the lawsuit filed Thursday and a separate one filed June 27.
PNut the Squirrel/ Instagram
It is illegal to keep squirrels and raccoons as pets in New York, where they're considered wild animals.
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DEC officials claimed that P'Nut bit an agent through thick leather gloves during the raid, which required both animals to be decapitated and tested for rabies. Although the state later admitted the rabies tests were both negative, it has never apologized nor returned the bodies of either animal.
The killing of P'Nut and Fred was 'not due to a fear of rabies' – but a 'senseless act of violence' and 'obscene demonstration of government abuse,' charge the new court documents, which list the state, the DEC and DOH as defendants.
The allegations echo those outlined in a separate lawsuit filed by Longo and Bittner on June 27 in Chemung County Supreme Court, against the county, the City of Elmira and 36 individuals from every level of local and state government.
3 DEC officials claimed that P'Nut bit an agent through thick leather gloves during the raid, which required him and Fred to be decapitated and tested for rabies.
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That suit sought unspecified damages to be determined by a jury trial. Lawsuits filed in the state Court of Claims, like the one this week, require specific damages be listed.
The couple has suffered emotional trauma and financial losses since losing their star squirrel, who had become an Internet celebrity, appearing in social media posts, OnlyFans content, Cameos and other monetized media, according to both suits.
A DOH spokesperson said the department does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation. The DEC did not return requests for comment.
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