In the wake of profound tragedy, a New Yorker has found a glimmer of hope. Mark Longo, renowned for his ownership of the beloved squirrel P'Nut, who was tragically euthanized following a contentious state raid, has welcomed a new member to his family, a miniature dachshund named Howard.
Months after losing his cherished pet P'Nut in a government seizure, Mark Longo is embracing life anew with his recently adopted dog, Howard, the New York Post reported.
Four months ago, agents from the state Department of Environmental Conservation dramatically altered Longo's life by seizing and euthanizing his pet squirrel, P'Nut. They conducted the raid on Oct. 30, claiming the need for a rabies test after alleging that P'Nut had bitten one of the agents. However, documents later revealed that officials had decided to euthanize P'Nut a week before the raid.
P'Nut's story began when Longo rescued the squirrel after its mother was hit by a car. Since then, P'Nut had been an integral part of the Longo household. During the raid, agents also euthanized Fred, Longo's pet raccoon. Longo firmly denies any claims that his pets bit the agents, noting that they were wearing protective gloves at the time.
The loss deeply affected Longo and his wife, Daniela Bittner. Struggling with the decision, they eventually decided to adopt Howard from a neighbor, who had been looking for a new home for the puppy. This decision came two weeks before Longo publicly shared news of his new pet.
Longo has found in Howard traits reminiscent of his previous pet, P'Nut. Describing Howard's lively interactions with a family cat, Longo noted similarities that brought back memories of P'Nut. “Just to see him run around outside and be best friends with the cat reminds me of P’Nut,” he remarked, sharing the light Howard has brought back into his life.
Despite the joy Howard has brought him, Longo admits that no pet could ever fully replace P'Nut. He expressed mixed emotions about adopting again after such a traumatic loss. “It's been an emotional time for me and my family… I was on the fence about getting any new personal animals because of what happened,” Longo told The Post.
The bodies of P'Nut and Fred remain held by authorities, preserved as evidence in a refrigerated room. This has left Longo and his family without a sense of closure, unable to conduct a proper burial or memorial. “It’s been an uneasy feeling not knowing what happened to P'Nut in his last moments on this earth, and to not be able to properly bury him and Fred here at the sanctuary,” Longo disclosed.
Longo's attorney, Nora Constance Marino, has made multiple legal attempts to resolve the situation, though thus far without success. The ongoing legal battle and the lack of closure have only compounded the family’s grief.
Seeking to honor P'Nut’s memory, Longo plans to hold a memorial event featuring over 100 candles, coinciding with what would have been P'Nut’s 7th birthday. “Every year we had a birthday party for him,” Longo lamented, reflecting on the traditions that P'Nut left behind.
As he navigates through his mixture of grief and newfound companionship, Longo holds onto the belief that in some ways Howard represents a continuation of P'Nut's spirit. “He brought a little bit of a spark back into my life… and put a smile on my face,” he said, grateful for the new chapter Howard represents amidst ongoing challenges.
