Peanut the squirrel, a social media star, was found in a bathtub during an authorised search of a New York home. His housemate, a raccoon named Fred, was discovered hiding in a suitcase. Both animals were subsequently euthanized, sparking a wave of outrage and accusations of government overreach.
The incident, which occurred on October 30th, made Peanut becoming an unlikely symbol of resistance against perceived excessive government action. The outcry reached the highest levels of political discourse, with Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance referencing Peanut during a pre-election rally. State and local officials were bombarded with angry messages, including bomb threats, in the wake of the animals' deaths.
