Rabies Test Results Prove Negative

It’s tough to fathom why a United States authorities company would contain themselves within the search, confiscation, seize, and killing of an harmless pet squirrel and raccoon, however that’s precisely what occurred on October thirtieth when the Division of Environmental Conservation raided the household house of Mark Longo and his spouse Daniela, looking for their two wildlife pets that that they had rehabilitated: Peanut the Squirrel, and Fred, the raccoon.

Practically two weeks since each Peanut and Fred’s seize, the rabies test results have come in for Peanut: he tested negative for rabies. And, not solely did he take a look at destructive, the DEC had been given the go-ahead seven days upfront of their questionable raid to kill each animals upon seize.

In accordance with reviews, 4 totally different companies descended on the Longo household house on that fateful day, with search warrants in hand to grab and seize the household’s two beloved pets, treating Mark and his spouse Daniela like hardened criminals in the course of the heartless search.

Your entire raid unfolded like one thing out of a drug-lord film, and Mark and Daniela might do nothing to cease the brokers as they tore by their house looking for the furry wildlife creatures.

Their reasoning for each animals’ seize: to check them for rabies after receiving a number of, nameless ideas that the Longo’s had a squirrel and raccoon of their house illegally, which can be house to their animal and wildlife rehabilitation group: P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Unbeknownst to Mark and Daniela, for a rabies take a look at to be accomplished, the animals can be euthanized instantly.

Instantly after the brokers left the Longo household house, Mark took to social media and revealed what had transpired. Each Peanut and Fred’s unwarranted seize sparked outrage amongst his followers on social media, many calling the DEC uncontrolled, the seizure unlawful, and “killers.”

However it wasn’t simply Peanut’s followers who had been livid, animal rights activists, and people who had by no means heard of the Instagram-famous, fuzzy squirrel, discovered of his dying by shared posts that went viral on all social media platforms throughout the globe.

Bomb threats had been just lately made in the direction of the DEC companies, and an elected choose, in line with police reviews, prompting them to research eight companies statewide on Monday and Tuesday this week.

The Police Benevolent Affiliation of New York State, which represents DEC’s Environmental Conservation Officers, launched a press release Friday saying the general public was “tremendously misled by a barrage of social media messaging that painted a partial image of the investigation and triggered violent threats.”

Inside Investigation Launched Into DEC’s Procedures of the Seize of Each Wildlife Animals

The destructive take a look at outcomes proving Peanut didn’t have rabies got here as no shock to Mark Longo. He had been residing with Peanut for seven years, stating the small squirrel had bitten him a number of instances and he by no means acquired sick. He additionally said that Fred, the raccoon, had been residing with them for a complete of 5 months earlier than the devastating seize of his two animals.

Whereas the DEC claims that they adopted protocol, they’ve admitted there’s an “internal investigation” underway.

“DEC is dedicated to defending the security and well-being of wildlife throughout New York,” the company mentioned in a press release to the Instances Union. “An inside investigation into the matter is ongoing, and we’re reviewing inside insurance policies and procedures to make sure we proceed serving this core mission.”

Nonetheless, the Police Benevolent Affiliation was fast to announce that investigations into the Longo household’s animal sanctuary began way back to January this 12 months, after receiving complaints from wildlife rehabilitators that they had been working the sanctuary illegally.

Regardless of the case could also be, the forceful and disturbing antics of the DEC to raid, seize, and kill two wildlife creatures, with out giving the Longo household any warning, nor an opportunity to rectify the scenario of getting the animals illegally of their house, is just not justifiable.

Somewhat than seize them, and instantly euthanize them to check them for rabies, different choices might have come into play, similar to rehoming them to a wildlife rehabilitation middle the place they could possibly be monitored for uncommon habits warranting a rabies an infection whereas Mark and Daniela accomplished their paperwork to legally have each Peanut and Fred of their properties.

Mark and Daniela are nonetheless grieving over the lack of Peanut and Fred, and are within the technique of submitting a lawsuit in opposition to the company and people concerned within the heartless seize and deaths of their beloved pets. For the reason that passing of each animals, Peanut’s Instagram Web page has doubled in followers: many animal lovers, and pet house owners across the globe pushing for stricter legal guidelines imposed on authorities companies that overstep their bounds in hopes of avenging their mindless deaths.