The owners of Peanut the Squirrel, Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner, have filed a lawsuit demanding $10 million in damages following the tragic euthanasia of their famous pet and a raccoon named Fred. The animals were seized in a raid coordinated by New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) after public complaints alleged unsafe and illegal wildlife housing.
During the raid, Peanut bit an official through protective gloves, which led authorities to euthanize both animals to test for rabies precautions. Subsequent testing showed no signs of infection, but the animals were not returned to their owners, and no apology was issued. The couple alleges the DEC acted with unnecessary violence and governmental misconduct.
This distressing incident has caused significant emotional trauma and financial losses for Longo and Bittner, whose animals were social media celebrities with hundreds of thousands of followers and income streams from content creation. Their lawsuit also targets other state and local officials involved and aims to hold the government accountable for its actions.
The case highlights the tension between wildlife protection laws and the rights of people who care for wild animals as pets or educational figures. The couple continues to push for recognition of their rights and reform to prevent such outcomes in the future.
