Another tweet depicted John Wick, Keanu Reeves’ fictional film character going on a killing spree after his beloved dog is murdered by a gangster, and warned that denizens of the Internet might react similarly.

While some memes expressed humor, others dripped with outrage over the fact that the DEC and the Chemung County Health Department had put the animals to sleep to test them for rabies. State law requires people to obtain a permit if they want to own a wild animal. Longo, who adopted Peanut about seven years ago, said he was working on becoming certified as an educational animal.

Peanut (or P’Nut) the squirrel had 532,000 followers on Instagram. (peanut_the_squirrel12 via Instagram)

Peanut’s popularity was no joke. An Instagram page dedicated to the squirrel has more than 550,000 followers, and the couple 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 witnessing the squirrel’s mother being hit by a car. The squirrel refused to return to the wild and became attached to the couple.

MAYE MUSK TELLS FEMALE VOTERS TO ‘THINK FOR THEMSELVES’ AND STRIVE FOR A BETTER FUTURE

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

The incident was no laughing matter for Longo. In an emotional interview with TMZ, he described the police raid as his wife cried next to him.

“Not only did it tear my family apart, but Peanut was the cornerstone of our nonprofit animal rescue,” Longo said. “And 10 to 12 DEC officers raided 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 feed 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 cabinet, nook and cranny” of his home during the search.

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

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

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

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Announcing the rodent’s death while holding a framed drawing of the squirrel, a tearful Longo told his followers on an Instagram video that “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 so much joy to us and the world. I’m sorry I let you down, but thank you for everything.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.