Punat cannot rest in peace.
The headless body of the world's most famous squirrel is currently stored in a cold room somewhere in upstate New York, The Post has learned.
The state Department of Environmental Protection said investigators raided a Chemung County home in November and captured Peanut the squirrel and his friend Fred the raccoon as “evidence” when they euthanized the beloved pets. It is said to be preserved. To the agency's public relations officer.
Their heads were removed for rabies testing, which proved that neither animal was infected with the deadly disease.
On the other hand, the whereabouts and status of the animal's actual noggin are completely unknown.
A state Department of Health spokeswoman declined to confirm the bodies or the whereabouts of them. Is it a living thing? The animal had been transported to the agency's Wadsworth Center Rabies Laboratory in Slingerlands due to a pending lawsuit by its grieving owner, Mark Longo.
Longo wanted his pet's body back for a formal burial and funeral.
He said he immediately asked for the remains, but received only radio silence.
“We submitted paperwork for that and that was the most painful thing. They didn't respond to it,” he said.
Longo's attorney, Nora Constance Marino, said Longo filed evidence preservation notices with the DEC and Chemung County Sheriff's Office on Nov. 4, and with Elmira Animal Control and the Chemung County Health Department on Nov. 14. He said he issued a.
“I hope and expect that Peanut and Fred's remains will be returned to my client in their entirety, even if only in fragments,” she said.
She said there were “evidential reasons” to preserve Punat and Fred's bodies, but that Longo and his wife would also “take possession of the remains of their beloved animals for whatever sentimental sendoff they see fit.” We should be able to do that,” he said.
On October 30, DEC agents raided the 350-acre property where Mr. Longo and his wife operate an animal sanctuary.
Authorities seized Punat, who was adopted by a couple as a family pet after his mother was hit and killed by a car seven years ago, and Fred, who was recently rescued.
Officials claimed that the squirrel bit a staff member during the attack and that Punat and Fred had to be euthanized for rabies testing.
But as The Post previously reported, documents show the animals' deaths and decapitations were planned at least seven days before the shoddy operation, which has been widely criticized as a tragic example of government overreach. are.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Edward R. Renshimer previously told the Post that there was “virtually zero” chance that Punat had rabies, and that authorities were not trying to kill the animal without killing squirrels and raccoons. He said he was able to determine whether a person was infected with the disease.
