P’nut the squirrel tests negative for rabies.

[ElChupacabra]

Here in Ohio, raccoons sometimes get into the attics of houses. When they're trapped, state law requires they be euthanized. Reason: possible source of rabies.

Hopefully they don't send in a SWAT team though; that seems a bit over the top.

 

[ElChupacabra]

Protecting citizens from the scourge of keeping a harmless squirrel and a SWAT team busting into your home to kill it does maintain order. Of a sort

The SWAT team portion is a bit over the top, but you get police departments with all of this surplus military gear though, so maybe they feel it's a waste not to use it.

the big deal is it's a stupid law, capriciously applied with excessive force.

The majority of states in this country have laws on what animals you can keep, some to keep a tab on invasive species and others to prevent the spread of diseases. It looks like a bunch of states aren't keen on squirrels being kept as pets:

I don't much care for stupid laws. That's the libertarian in me I guess.

That's relative I suspect.

 

[OlNate]

Hopefully they don't send in a SWAT team though; that seems a bit over the top.

Quick check in with a trusted American... is this real or is this satire?

 

[ElChupacabra]

Quick check in with a trusted American... is this real or is this satire?

A wee exaggeration. Local officials did execute a search warrant though, but no helicopters or military grade vehicles were used.

 

[OlNate]

A wee exaggeration. Local officials did execute a search warrant though, but no helicopters or military grade vehicles were used.

I meant the issue in general... lol Like, are people actually rallying around a squirrel right now? This is an actual thing?

I've seen it mentioned here a couple times around here, I swear I thought this was a joke.

 

[hooligan]

Hey, genius, DON'T KEEP WILD ANIMALS IN YOUR HOME AS A PET. There are animal rescues and sanctuaries for that. Looking for someone to blame that "your" squirrel is dead? He's right there in the mirror.

 

[OlNate]

Hey, genius, DON'T KEEP WILD ANIMALS IN YOUR HOME AS A PET. There are animal rescues and sanctuaries for that. Looking for someone to blame that "your" squirrel is dead? He's right there in the mirror.

Yeah, after discovering that this is actually a news story that Americans are taking seriously, the obvious is that the dude killed the squirrel the moment he illegally made it a pet.

In a way this makes a perfect metaphor for America. How many squirrels get run over by cars in a day, eaten by people's cats in a day, or die from lack of vet care every day? No one gives a shit.

Yet, let one elitest squirrel make it's way into someone's home, live a life of luxury and care and pampering, all against the law, and then get put down because of that, and the tears start to flow and everyone gets froggy...lmao...

P'nut the Squirrel = Donald Trump. That's why they're mad...lol

 

[ElChupacabra]

I meant the issue in general... lol Like, are people actually rallying around a squirrel right now? This is an actual thing?

I've seen it mentioned here a couple times around here, I swear I thought this was a joke.

Ah! Yes, this is a real story. Apparently what brought all sorts of attention to it was the owner was posting about his pet squirrel online and it was very popular, so when a neighbor called authorities to complain, the social media posts verified the man was keeping a pet squirrel and raccoon, both of which are not allowed to be kept as pets in NY. Opinions on squirrels vary in the general NY area, where in the city we refer to them as "tree rats" because they've become quite bold at taking food from people in parks while they're eating it. Other squirrels are just jerks:

 

[OlNate]

Ah! Yes, this is a real story. Apparently what brought all sorts of attention to it was the owner was posting about his pet squirrel online and it was very popular, so when a neighbor called authorities to complain, the social media posts verified the man was keeping a pet squirrel and raccoon, both of which are not allowed to be kept as pets in NY. Opinions on squirrels vary in the general NY area, where in the city we refer to them as "tree rats" because they've become quite bold at taking food from people in parks while they're eating it. Other squirrels are just jerks:

lol... you guys are lost. Condolences.

 

[Lethargic Aptitude]

Just another squirrel?! Pnut had over 600,000 Instagram followers.

Still is no better than roadkill.

 

[Lethargic Aptitude]

If it's just another squirrel, then why did the bully state have to spend thousands on this insane macho dick-swinging show of force? Why did it have to spend five hours searching the home and kill the animals in question - for no reason at all.

Oh no, the sky is falling!

 

[eman623]

The SWAT team portion is a bit over the top, but you get police departments with all of this surplus military gear though, so maybe they feel it's a waste not to use it.

A bit? Like the sun is a bit hot.

And using the surplus military gear to catch a squirrel is not a waste?

The majority of states in this country have laws on what animals you can keep, some to keep a tab on invasive species and others to prevent the spread of diseases. It looks like a bunch of states aren't keen on squirrels being kept as pets:

View attachment 67543103

I'm not disputing that it is illegal. My question is why. I've not seen any rational reason why keeping rabbits is legal but squirrels illegal.

That's relative I suspect.

That's true for everyone. Even for those who shrug if not actively defend laws against owning squirrels.

 

[ElChupacabra]

A bit? Like the sun is a bit hot.

And using the surplus military gear to catch a squirrel is not a waste?

Not really. You know how these tree hugging libs are like, he could have had an angry bear, so you can never be too safe. Besides, I doubt Pine, NY doesn't get too many opportunities to use surplus military gear.

I'm not disputing that it is illegal. My question is why. I've not seen any rational reason why keeping rabbits is legal but squirrels illegal.

Rabbits can be purchased as domesticated pets, which is what most people do. Squirrels are not domesticated and only found in the wild, which is my guess is the reason.

That's true for everyone. Even for those who shrug if not actively defend laws against owning squirrels.

So should the law not be enforced? Licensed wildlife rehabilitators complained, and the authorities responded.

 

[Visbek]

Pnut was the guy's pet.

Peanut was a wild animal that was not vaccinated for rabies. So was the racoon Longo kept as a pet. Squirrels and raccoons cannot be domesticated, hence the laws against keeping them as pets.

Longo had a license to rehabilitate wild animals. That didn't give him a license to keep wild animals indefinitely as pets.

Those wild animals were not euthanized because "they had rabies." They were euthanized because Peanut bit a DEC staffer, and there was no other way to know if they had rabies.

Rabies, by the way, is an utterly horrendous disease. It's lethal if untreated. It also causes animals to become aggressive, which makes it spread faster. Longo is incredibly lucky that he didn't get rabies.

This is not a valid libertarian cause celebre. Keeping squirrels and racoons as pets is downright stupid, no matter how many likes they get you on Instagram. This is exactly the kind of thing that requires government regulation, to prevent morons from harming themselves and others.

 

[eman623]

Rabbits can be purchased as domesticated pets, which is what most people do. Squirrels are not domesticated and only found in the wild, which is my guess is the reason.

Sounds a little circular. They are illegal because you can't buy a domesticated squirrel, and you can't buy a domesticated squirrel because they're illegal.

Squirrels can be domesticated just like rabbits. I present to you P'nut as evidence.

So should the law not be enforced? Licensed wildlife rehabilitators complained, and the authorities responded.

There are hundreds of bizarre laws still on the books but not enforced.

And this is not a slippery slope. Not enforcing a law against keeping a squirrel that has been around humans its whole life is not going to lead to an epidemic of people keeping great white sharks in their bathtubs.

Stupid laws should be repealed and until they are, a policy of non-enforcement should be an option.

 

[ElChupacabra]

Sounds a little circular. They are illegal because you can't buy a domesticated squirrel, and you can't buy a domesticated squirrel because they're illegal.

Squirrels can be domesticated just like rabbits. I present to you P'nut as evidence.

Sure, but P'nut's the exception. Of course all of this can be changed via legislation, however the "squirrels as pets" supporters haven't made too much of a fuss. Perhaps this will light a fire to make that change.

There are hundreds of bizarre laws still on the books but not enforced.

And this is not a slippery slope. Not enforcing a law against keeping a squirrel that has been around humans its whole life is not going to lead to an epidemic of people keeping great white sharks in their bathtubs.

Stupid laws should be repealed and until they are, a policy of non-enforcement should be an option.

You're more than welcome to start a "Squirrels for Everyone" campaign and lobby to have the law change. Thus far there's been no effort by squirrel or shark enthusiasts to challenge the law. If there are those who keep squirrels as pets, they're probably not advertising their violation of the law on social media.

 

[eman623]

Sure, but P'nut's the exception. Of course all of this can be changed via legislation, however the "squirrels as pets" supporters haven't made too much of a fuss. Perhaps this will light a fire to make that change.

I'm more curious how the right to keep a squirrel was taken away in the first place. And why anyone would be okay with this.

You're more than welcome to start a "Squirrels for Everyone" campaign and lobby to have the law change. Thus far there's been no effort by squirrel or shark enthusiasts to challenge the law. If there are those who keep squirrels as pets, they're probably not advertising their violation of the law on social media.

Agreed. I don't live in New York, and if I wanted to keep a squirrel I'd just do it and call it a hamster if anyone asked.

Trump is a reformer who will reduce the power of the regulatory state to make stupid laws and regulations. Seems like New York and 30 other states could use someone like that too.

 

[ElChupacabra]

I'm more curious how the right to keep a squirrel was taken away in the first place. And why anyone would be okay with this.

2005 it seem, and it probably passed because no one cared about owning a pet squirrel (or other born wild animals) as pets enough to push back against the law. The interesting thing is the owner could have applied for Peanut to be registered as an "educational animal", which he said he was going to do in the 7 years he owned Peanut but didn't get around to it.

Agreed. I don't live in New York, and if I wanted to keep a squirrel I'd just do it and call it a hamster if anyone asked.

Ok. Just don't post your Hamquirrel on social media.

Trump is a reformer who will reduce the power of the regulatory state to make stupid laws and regulations. Seems like New York and 30 other states could use someone like that too.

Not really, no. We already have enough squirrels in this region, and some of them are aggressive jerks who snatch your food. The last thing we need is people keeping them as pets and adding to that population when they decide they don't want to keep them anymore. These laws seem "stupid" until you realize how many stupid things people do, which is why Florida banned pythons as pets back in 2010. Sometimes it's easier to say "no, you can't have [insert animal here]" than having to pay for eliminating invasive species or overpopulation of others when irresponsible owners make their problem everyone else's by setting unwanted animals loose in nature.

 

[Land Barge]

From what I understand he bit someone and needed a rabies check.

The squirrel tried to defend her life. You’d do the same.

 

[Slartibartfast]

The squirrel tried to defend her life. You’d do the same.

It’s just a squirrel, get a grip.

 

[Land Barge]

lol… it’s a squirrel…

Any animal tries to defend itself. against death.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Any animal tries to defend itself. against death.

It’s still a wild animal that should not have been domesticated by anyone that doesn’t have training.

 

[Land Barge]

It’s still a wild animal that should not have been domesticated by anyone that doesn’t have training.

Longo tried to release the animal into the wild. She was orphaned and came back to the only home she knew.
Her only source of protection was the human.
That innocent animal was murdered as a show of force , with a nine member SWAT team no less, by the NY State gubmint.
And you know it.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Longo tried to release the animal into the wild. She was orphaned and came back to the only home she knew.
Her only source of protection was the human.
That innocent animal was murdered as a show of force , with a nine member SWAT team no less, by the NY State gubmint.
And you know it.

I guess that squirrel was doomed from day one then.

He should have been smart enough to have had her vaccinated and keep the paperwork handy.