Peanut the squirrel is sparking a firestorm on social media after New York officials euthanized him

Another tweet showed John Wick, Keanu Reeves' fictional film character, going on a killing spree after his beloved dog is killed by a gangster, and warned that denizens of the internet could react similarly.

While some memes expressed humor, others brimmed with outrage that the DEC and Chemung County Health Department euthanized the animals to test for rabies. State law requires people to obtain a license if they want to own a wild animal. Longo, who adopted Peanut about seven years ago, said he is working on becoming certified as a learning animal.

Peanut's popularity was no joke. An Instagram page dedicated to the squirrel has more than 550,000 followers and the couple has uploaded their playful interactions with the rodent and other animals they care for.

Longo and his wife founded the animal shelter last year called P'Nut's Freedom Farm, inspired by the squirrel. Longo told his followers that he took in the rodent after seeing the squirrel's mother get hit by a car. The squirrel refused to return to the wild and befriended the pair.

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Peanut the squirrel enjoys some peanuts in this photo shared on Instagram. (peanut_the_squirrel12 via Instagram)

For Longo, the incident was no laughing matter. In an emotional interview with TMZ, he detailed the police raid while his wife cried next to him.

“Not only did it tear my family apart, Peanut was the cornerstone of our non-profit animal rescue,” Longo said. “And 10 to 12 DEC officers searched my house like I was a drug dealer. I sat outside my house for five hours. I had to get a police escort to my bathroom,” Longo said.

“I wasn’t even allowed to give my rescue horses breakfast or lunch. I sat there like a criminal after they interrogated my wife to check her immigration status.”

Longo said authorities searched “every closet, every nook and cranny” of his home during the search.

“They got a search warrant. Four agencies and a judge signed a search warrant for a squirrel and a raccoon. And then they took her and killed her,” said a visibly upset Longo.

Peanut was rescued from his human adoptive parents at five weeks old after his mother was hit by a car. (peanut_the_squirrel12 via Instagram)

New York State Police referred Fox News Digital to DEC when contacted for comment. DEC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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As he announced the rodent's death and held a framed drawing of the squirrel, a tearful Longo told his followers in an Instagram video, “Peanut was the best thing that ever happened to us.”

“RIP MY BEST FRIEND. Thank you for the best seven years of my life,” he wrote in the caption. “Thank you for bringing us and the world so much joy. I’m sorry I let you down, but thank you for everything.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.