Mark Longo, who called Peanut the Squirrel his pet for this past seven years, described the New York's decision to seize and euthanize the wild animal turned social media star a "disgrace." "What happened today and what transpired throughout this week has been nothing short of a tragedy and a disgrace to the New York state,

Peanut the squirrel, a pet that became a social media star, has been euthanized after New York state authorities seized it during a raid.

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

Fans have been in an uproar since internet sensation Peanut the squirrel was seized from his owner's home and euthanized by New York officials this week, over what they say was the unfair killing of a beloved family member.

A man who took in an orphaned squirrel and made it a social media star says New York state’s decision to seize and euthanize the animal won't go without a response.

Peanut, whose name is also spelled P'Nut or PNUT, was seized by officers from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, according to a statement his owner, Mark Longo, published on Peanut's official Instagram account on Wednesday, Oct. 30.