Target: Amanda Lefton, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Goal: Ensure accountability for the killing of beloved pet squirrels P’Nut and Fred and protect animals from similar unjust actions.
Animals deserve to be treated with care and respect, yet a pet squirrel named P’Nut and his companion Fred were taken from their loving home without warning and subsequently killed by state environmental officers. This shocking act was carried out after an anonymous complaint, raising significant questions about the procedures employed by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). In a further disturbing revelation, both squirrels were euthanized and tested for rabies, despite no evidence to suggest they posed any danger. Both tests came back negative.
P’Nut was not just a pet; he was a cherished member of the Longo family and an internet sensation with nearly one million followers. The swift backlash following his death highlighted public outrage over the DEC’s action. This tragedy has galvanized support for “Peanut’s Law: The Humane Animal Protection Act,” which aims to ensure that animals are given due process before any drastic measures are taken against them, including euthanasia. It is crucial that measures are put in place to protect animals from similar injustices in the future, making the demand for accountability imperative.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Commissioner Barton,
The recent allegations surrounding the tragic deaths of P’Nut and Fred, beloved pet squirrels taken unjustly by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, cannot go unnoticed. It is deeply disturbing that these animals were seized from their home, allegedly without any explanation provided to their owners, and subsequently killed despite testing negative for rabies and showing no signs of danger. Such actions raise serious concerns about the lack of due process and regard for animal welfare exhibited by the DEC.
In light of these events, we call upon you to support and implement Peanut’s Law: The Humane Animal Protection Act, which demands a 72-hour waiting period before an animal may be euthanized, as well as the opportunity for owners to challenge such actions in a hearing. This is not merely a matter of policy; it is a call for compassion and accountability in the treatment of animals that share our lives and homes. Animals like P’Nut and Fred were innocent victims in this case, deserving of protection and care, not arbitrary enforcement actions that endanger their lives.
We urge you to take immediate action to ensure that such heart-wrenching tragedies do not occur again. The proposed law represents a commitment to animal rights and due process that is long overdue. Please act swiftly to provide the necessary protections to all animals under the DEC’s jurisdiction.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Pixabay
What HEARTLESS people. They should be euth.