Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Saturday reacted after the information of ‘Peanut’ the squirrel’s demise broke the web. Netizens expressed outrage when New York State officers euthanized Peanut, a well known squirrel on the web, after forcefully seizing him from a New York man’s home.
Peanut garnered a social media following of greater than half one million individuals, due to his cowboy hat and waffle-loving habits.
Peanut’s proprietor, Mark Longo, was appalled by the federal government’s motion. The Division of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers raided Longo’s home and took away his two pets — Peanut and Fred the raccoon.
Longo, who established a sanctuary in 2023 as a protected haven for rescued animals, expressed shock and disappointment, calling each creatures beloved members of the group.
Taking to social media, Longo said: “It’s with profound sorrow that we announce the heartbreaking information: on Oct. 30, the DEC made the devastating resolution to euthanize our beloved Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon.” He lambasted the DEC for not notifying him earlier than the media, denouncing it as a “troubling lack of respect and empathy.”
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Elon Musk says Trump will save the squirrels
A number of followers expressed comparable sentiments, posting condolence and love messages.
Because the information has sparked ire on social media, Musk, the proprietor of X and Trump supporter, wrote: “The federal government ought to go away individuals and their animals alone.”
In one other publish, Tesla CEO prolonged condolences to Longo over the demise of Peanut. “President @realDonaldTrump will save the squirrels 🐿️ 😢 RIP P’Nut.”
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His response got here as a number of Trump supporters posted an image of squirrel carrying a Trump hat as a tribute to Peanut. In the meantime, Squirrels for Trump additionally began trending on X.
Reacting to Musk’s publish, Andrew Tate wrote: “That is peak authorities. Busting down your door since you dont have a squirrel licence and murdering your pet. Who good points? Who advantages? Who did the police “save”?”
“Solely demise and disappointment and wasted cash,” he added.
“First they have been consuming the cats, now they’re executing the squirrels. Horrible instances,” commented, Collin Rugg, the co-owner of Trending Politics.
This is what DEC has mentioned
In keeping with the DEC, it launched an inquiry after studying about “doubtlessly unsafe housing of wildlife that would carry rabies and the unlawful holding of wildlife as pets.”
Longo was working with authorities and offering all of the paperwork to certify Peanut as an academic animal beneath state rules.
Longo promised to hold on along with his goal regardless of the tragedy, and he has introduced plans to arrange a fundraiser in Peanut’s honor. “I’ll by no means hand over on this nonprofit or those that fell in love with Peanut,” he said.