Owners of Peanut the Squirrel sue New York over euthanasia decision

Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner are suing New York state over the euthanasia of their pet squirrel, Peanut. The lawsuit follows a raid by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on October 30, which led to Peanut's death for rabies testing. Peanut, a popular TikTok star, was taken during the raid, and his owners claim the DEC intended to euthanize him regardless of test results. They allege that the DEC fabricated claims about Peanut biting an agent to justify the testing. The case highlights the controversy surrounding New York's laws on keeping wild animals as pets. The owners seek accountability for the actions taken against Peanut and question the legality of the state's decisions.