Additional Coverage:
Local residents Mark and Daniela Longo are petitioning to have the bodies of their pets, a squirrel named Peanut and a raccoon named Fred, returned to them. The animals were seized and euthanized during a controversial home raid several months ago.
The Longos are demanding the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation release the remains so they can hold a proper burial. They’ve stated they are unsure if the bodies are even still available, despite their lawyer issuing a preservation notice.
Through their non-profit rescue, P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, the couple maintains they have the right to give Peanut and Fred a respectful farewell. They emphasize the love and care they provided the animals during their lives.
The petition details the emotional ordeal the Longos have endured since losing their pets, a story that gained widespread attention online after the animals’ deaths. The couple has previously spoken out, condemning the raid as an abuse of power and a symptom of a broken system.