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submitted 3 days ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

Peanut, who has amassed more than half a million Instagram followers, was euthanized by officials to be tested for rabies.

Peanut, the Instagram-famous squirrel that was seized from its owner's home Wednesday, has been euthanized by New York state officials. 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation took Peanut, as well as a raccoon named Fred, on Wednesday after the agency learned the animals were “sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies," it said in a joint statement with the Chemung County Department of Health.

Both Peanut and Fred were euthanized to test for rabies, the statement said. It was unclear when the animals were euthanized.

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[-] NoForwardslashS@sopuli.xyz 96 points 3 days ago

The only charge is "potential to spread rabies" and they killed the animal to test for that (for some reason). So, if the test comes back negative, they will make full repariations right?

[-] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 33 points 3 days ago

It's because rabies infects the brains of animals, so that's the tissue that is tested.

I'm wondering why the people who were caring for the animals didn't just get them rabies shots in the first place.

[-] hedgehogging_the_bed@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Rabies vaccine is only made for a handful of animals. For example a vaccine is made for domestic sheep but not for domestic goats. Goats and sheep are closely enough related that goats owners have their animals vaccinated using the sheep vaccinations but since they have not been officially tested, you can't say the animals have been vaccinated for rabies in a legal capacity so the petting zoo has a big sign about the rabies risk in goats.

I think this is mostly a case on NY state's sick of people ignoring their wild animal laws and with NYC especially they can't allow for people to just keep whatever animal they want and think it's okay. If Peanuts owner had been licensed as an actual wildlife rehab, it would have been different but wildlife are not pets even when they are friendly.

[-] Dirac@lemmy.today 4 points 3 days ago
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this post was submitted on 02 Nov 2024
416 points (96.8% liked)

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