Just saw this guy on TMZ... runs an animal rescue, and has an ofs with his tatted girlfriend
Mark Longo @ squirrel_dad_12
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Yeah he is absolutely delicious
He is gorgeous and going through an incredibly rough time right now.
Authorities in New York state raided his home and took his squirrel Pnut and his raccoon and killed them. They responded to some complaints from unidentified ppl who said the animals were living in a bad, unsafe environment--which was contradicted by countless videos of Mark and his wife interacting playfully and lovingly with Pnut. Mark saved Pnuts life several years ago after the poor squirrels mother died. Pnut was too young to survive on his own, so Mark took him in, cared for him, and in time, shared snippets of their life together. Pnut couldnt have been released into the wild so he stayed with Mark for 7 years. There are tons of videos showing Pnuts fun antics and interactions with Mark. It became clear to me that Pnut was very, very loved in that home.
I dont know the story of the raccoon, but from some of the videos I saw, there was love and affection there too.
Apparently, in New York, its against the law to keep certain animals as pets. Squirrels and raccoons are on that list.
I have boundless contempt for whoever reported Mark to the authorities.
Two animals companions who enjoyed a life filled with love, affection, and attention, who harmed no one are dead.
Their two humans have been put through the emotional ringer and are devastated.
There was no justice done.
No lives made better.
No wrongs righted.
(The authorities who killed Pnut tried to justify their actions by saying Pnut bit one of them and WHOA RABIES, GOTTA PUT HIM DOWN. Except there are no known cases of a squirrel transmitting rabies to a human in the US. Tetanus from a wild squirrel, but not rabies).
The story has gotten national coverage with even CNN covering it.