The euthanisation of Peanut the Squirrel has triggered a national outrage, with the story hitting a New York State Assemblyman the hardest. Jake Blumencranz, repping Assembly District 15 on Long Island,

A New York man who turned a rescued squirrel into a social media star called Peanut is pleading with state authorities to return his beloved pet after they seized it during a raid that also yielded a raccoon named Fred.

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