Latest news with #P'Nut
Newsweek
a day ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Peanut the Squirrel's Owners Seek $10M Over Death of 'Irreplaceable' Animal
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The owners of P'Nut the Squirrel and a raccoon named Fred are suing the State of New York for $10 million in damages after the animals were euthanized last year. Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner filed the lawsuit on Thursday in the New York Court of Claims, alleging constitutional violations and wrongful killing of their animals by state officials. The lawsuit names the state, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the Department of Health (DOH) as defendants. Newsweek contacted Longo's Attorney Nora Constance Marino, the DEC, DOH and the State of New York for comment by email. Why It Matters The lawsuit alleges that the seizure and killing of P'Nut and Fred were not only a violation of New York's wildlife laws, but also an infringement of the owners' Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Whether such laws even apply is debatable—the plaintiffs maintain neither P'Nut nor Fred were "wild animals" under the law, but rather "companion animals." If successful, the case could set precedent for how far state agencies can go in enforcing wildlife regulations, particularly when animals are domesticated and kept in private homes. The incident unfolded just before the 2024 presidential election, sparking widespread online outrage, and even bomb threats against officials. It became a rallying point for critics of government overreach, drawing attention from public figures such as Elon Musk and Joe Rogan. P'Nut the squirrel with Mark Longo. P'Nut the squirrel with Mark Longo. @peanut_the_squirrel12 /Instagram What To Know Longo and Bittner describe P'Nut's personality and abilities as unique and irreplaceable. Fred's personality and abilities, while still developing, were showing signs he too would be unique and irreplaceable—though they intended to release him back into the wild. The animals were both kept inside their home. New York law prohibits keeping squirrels and raccoons as pets because they are classified as wild animals. Many of P'Nut's fans knew about the couple's sanctuary because of his social media presence, and many donated because of his stardom. P'Nut's likeness, antics, and image were used for promotion, endorsements, sponsorships, and marketing by way of plaintiff D&M, including on Cameo and OnlyFans. Fred was beginning to build his own online following. The couple are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, along with legal fees and costs, claiming "severe emotional distress, humiliation, and damage to reputation." According to the lawsuit, a group of DEC and DOH agents, along with other law enforcement officers, arrived at the couple's Pine City property on October 30, 2024, to execute a search warrant. Both animals were seized during the raid and later killed by state officials. DEC officials said that P'Nut bit an agent through thick leather gloves during the raid, prompting both animals to be euthanized and decapitated for rabies testing. The state has since confirmed the tests were negative. The complaint alleges the killings were "not due to a fear of rabies," but were a "senseless act of violence" and "obscene demonstration of government abuse." The plaintiffs claim they were "unlawfully detained without probable cause and subjected to an unreasonable search and seizure," and that "despite having no evidence of criminal activity, Defendants proceeded to arrest Plaintiffs and initiate baseless charges." The suit also alleges that the seizure exceeded the scope of the warrant and that requests for the animals' remains have gone unanswered. "Defendants have engaged in a pattern of conduct that has deprived Plaintiffs of their constitutional rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments," the complaint states. It adds: "The acts and omissions of the Defendants were intentional, malicious, and taken with reckless disregard for the rights of the Plaintiffs." The filing follows an earlier lawsuit in Chemung County Supreme Court targeting local and state officials over the same incident. What People Are Saying Longo told the New York Post: "This is our opportunity to make change and seek justice for P'Nut and Fred." Marino, Longo's attorney, told the newspaper: "I hope justice is done, not just for my clients, but for our civil rights, P'Nut and Fred, and all animals." The October raid and subsequent animal killings drew national attention in the final days before the presidential election. Then Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance said at a rally in November: "Don is fired up about P'Nut the squirrel." Donald Trump Jr. said at a rally: "Justice for Peanut! Our government will let in 16,000 rapists, they will let in 13,000 murderers, they will let in 600,000 criminals across our border, but if someone has a pet squirrel without a permit, they will go in there and kill the squirrel." Elon Musk wrote on X: "Government overreach kidnapped an orphan squirrel and executed him." What Happens Next No trial date has been set in either the Court of Claims case, or the related Chemung County action.
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
New York faces $10M lawsuit over killing of P'Nut the Squirrel and raccoon Fred during state raid
The State of New York may face a $10 million payout over the killing of P'Nut the Squirrel, an internet-famous pet, and his raccoon companion, Fred. Owners Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner allege that state investigators unlawfully seized and killed the animals during an October 30, 2024 raid on their Pine City home and animal sanctuary, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in the New York Court of Claims. The New York Post reports that officers from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Health (DOH) carried out the operation, citing New York's ban on keeping squirrels and raccoons as pets. DEC officials claimed P'Nut bit an agent through thick leather gloves during the raid, prompting both animals to be decapitated for rabies testing. Tests later came back negative for rabies, but the couple says the state has not apologized or returned the remains. Court filings describe the killings as a 'senseless act of violence' and 'obscene demonstration of government abuse,' alleging the actions were unrelated to any public health risk. Longo and Bittner say they have suffered emotional trauma and financial losses, as P'Nut had gained a substantial online following through Instagram, OnlyFans, Cameos, and other monetized content. This lawsuit is separate from a June 27 filing in Chemung County Supreme Court, in which the couple sued the county, the City of Elmira, and 36 local and state officials, seeking damages to be determined at trial. Both the DEC and DOH have declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, the New York Post reports.
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
P'Nut the Squirrel's owners want $10M for animal's execution: Lawsuit
The brutal seizure and execution of the world's most famous squirrel threatens to cost the State of New York a staggering eight-figure settlement. 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. Advertisement 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. LP Media 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. Advertisement 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. AP Advertisement 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.
New York Post
28-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
P'Nut the Squirrel was executed -- not euthanized, his owner claims in bombshell lawsuit
P'Nut wants payback. The beloved pet squirrel and his raccoon sidekick, Fred, were not euthanized – they were viciously executed by New York authorities, according to a blistering new lawsuit. On Oct. 30, a swarm of cops and agents from the state Environmental Conservation and Health departments descended on Mark Longo's upstate Pine City animal sanctuary. Advertisement The two animals were living peacefully inside Longo's home, but it is illegal to keep squirrels and raccoons as pets in New York, where they're classified as wild animals. 4 P'Nut was slaughtered 'not due to a fear of rabies' – but as a 'senseless act of violence' and 'obscene demonstration of government abuse,' the lawsuit charges. PNut the Squirrel/ Instagram During the raid, DEC officials claimed, P'Nut bit one of its agents through thick leather gloves, which required the state to euthanize and decapitate the animals in order to test their brain tissue for rabies. Advertisement Later, the state admitted the rabies tests were both negative – but it has never apologized nor returned the bodies of either pet. The episode, which occurred just before the presidential election, was decried by outraged animal lovers and conservatives alike as a vicious example of governmental overreach. Longo and his wife, Daniela Bittner, doubled down in a 40-page lawsuit filed Friday in Chemung County Supreme Court. 4 Mark Longo and his wife, Daniela Bittner, doubled down in a 40-page lawsuit filed Friday in Chemung County Supreme Court. LP Media Advertisement P'Nut and Fred were slaughtered 'not due to a fear of rabies' – but as a 'senseless act of violence' and 'obscene demonstration of government abuse,' the documents charge. The suit alleges the bite never happened – and if it did, the agent should have been vaccinated against the disease, and trained in the safe handling of animals. 'The fact that none of these factors came into play demonstrates one of two things – that there was in fact no bite, and this story was fabricated, or, if there was a bite, that it was due strictly to the defendants' own incompetence,' the court filing states. 4 'This is our opportunity to make change and seek justice for P'Nut and Fred,' Longo told The Post. PNut the Squirrel/ Instagram Advertisement Longo and Bittner said their demands for the animals' remains have been ignored, and that their killings exceeded the scope of the search warrant executed that day. 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 the lawsuit. The suit names defendants spanning every level of local and state government, including state DEC agents Erick Dalecki, Richard McNamara, Matthew Baker, Steven Farrand, John Lifrieri and Joshua Crain — who executed the search warrant — along with 20 unidentified DEC investigators. Also named are Chemung County, its sheriff's office and health department, plus 10 unnamed county officials. The City of Elmira, its police department and Elmira Animal Control are also listed, alongside 10 additional unidentified city agents. 4 The lawsuit names state DEC agent Joshua Crain, who executed the search warrant for Longo's Pine City home on Oct. 30. NY State Dept of Environmental Conservation The suit seeks unspecified damages to be determined by a jury trial. 'This is our opportunity to make change and seek justice for P'Nut and Fred,' Longo told The Post. Advertisement 'I hope justice is done, not just for my clients, but for our civil rights, P'Nut and Fred, and all animals,' said his lawyer, Nora Constance Marino. The defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New York lawmakers push ‘Peanut's Law' to reform wildlife enforcement
(NewsNation) — New York state Republicans have introduced a bill that would give animals seized by the government a stay of execution. The legislation comes after P'Nut, an Instagram-famous squirrel, was decapitated by the government last year. 'Peanut's Law: The Humane Animal Protection Act' would require the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to wait 72 hours before any instance of euthanizing any seized animals. The only exception, according to the bill, would be instances in which there is an immediate risk to public safety, as determined by a licensed veterinarian. The 72-hour waiting period would allow families and sanctuaries to file an emergency appeal with the department, allowing the case to be reviewed by an emergency board including a licensed veterinarian, a public health official and a sanctuary representative to determine the best course of action. 5 takeaways from the Trump tariff drama 'It's veterinarians and families and individuals making these decisions as to the fate of these animals, and not bureaucrats and red tape that decide arbitrarily that these animals have to be killed,' New York Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz, R-Nassau, told 'Morning in America' on Thursday. While some have raised concerns the bill could put state environmental officers in danger if there is a rabies concern, Blumencranz said he's not worried. 'I don't think they would be in a situation where they'd ever be in danger, because if human life, or the life of the officer, or any instance in which humans may be in danger are at play, then they would not have to go through this similar due process system,' he said. New York authorities carried out a raid last year at Mark Longo's home after 'numerous complaints' about the squirrel, according to the Associated Press. Longo had rescued the squirrel seven years previously. On Oct. 30, 2024, the state euthanized P'Nut and Longo's pet raccoon, Fred, to test them for rabies after reports they had bitten someone. Longo disagreed with the decision and said that P'Nut had not bitten anyone. Maryland and Delaware fight over 'Orange Crush' cocktail Longo said he still has not received sufficient answers for exactly how the incident came to pass. 'Since Oct. 30, we have heard nothing. We've gotten zero answers, but we've been told we can do better by the state officials of the DEC, so we're really trying to understand what that actually means,' he said. Longo said passing Peanut's Law would be a step forward to ensure P'Nut and Fred 'didn't die in vain.' He added it would be an opportunity to advance animal rights and turn a tragedy into a positive moment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
