ATLANTA — A Woodstock state representative is proposing changes to Georgia’s pet euthanization and impound policies in response to the euthanizations of two animals popular on the internet who were seized and put down in New York state.
The bill, introduced by Woodstock Republican Jordan Ridley, is called the “Justice for Peanut and Fred Act” and is in reference to the October 2024 euthanizations of Peanut the Squirrel and Fred the Raccoon, who were both euthanized by New York officials to be tested for rabies.
“The goal of the bill is to protect responsible and law-abiding pet owners from unfair and hasty decisions and prevent what happened to Peanut and Fred from happening in our state,” Ridley said in a statement.
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According to reporting by the Associated Press, “after anonymous complaints, officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation took the squirrel and a raccoon named Fred from Mark Longo’s home near the Pennsylvania border in rural Pine City.”
The Associated Press reported Nov. 1, 2024 that the “orphaned squirrel that became a social media star called Peanut” and raccoon Fred had been the subject of complaints to Chemung County Department of Health and state environmental officials.
On Friday, the DEC and Chemung County Department of Health confirmed both animals’ fate to the Associated Press, saying:
“On Oct. 30, DEC seized a raccoon and squirrel sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies. In addition, a person involved with the investigation was bitten by the squirrel. To test for rabies, both animals were euthanized,” the agencies said in a statement, CBS News in New York reported. “The animals are being tested for rabies and anyone who has been in contact with these animals is strongly encouraged to consult their physician.”
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Now, Ridley is proposing legislation in Georgia to ensure similar actions can be avoided here. So far, the bill has five cosponsors in the Georgia House of Representatives.
According to a statement from the representative’s office, Ridley’s bill would make it so that domesticated animals that are properly licensed cannot be “illegally euthanized or impounded,” and would require a judge to oversee the process of taking action, as well as require proper notification so pet owners and their pets are protected from unjust actions by authorities.
More specifically, the bill’s provisions would require government agencies that have the custody of domesticated, impounded animals and pets be subject to up to a $5,000 liability if the animal is injured or dies while in their custody.
If an animal is taken into custody by a government agency with a possibility of euthanization, they would be required to notify owners of a veterinarian’s findings and give deadlines for requesting a hearing.
Additionally, pet or animal owners would have 10 business days to request a hearing after the animals are taken into custody. If a hearing is not requested, the animal may be euthanized, if a judge rules that’s the “only reasonable course of action,” according to Ridley’s office.
A GoFundMe effort to honor Peanut and Fred at the P’nuts Freedom Farm animal sanctuary founded by Longo is underway.
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