A major scandal has erupted in the United States over the killing of a pet squirrel named Peanut.
Authorities took the squirrel away from the blogger because of a law that prohibits taking animals from the wild.
The squirrel was known to many. Peanut had a social media account where more than half a million people followed her life.
The owner found and sheltered the squirrel after its mother was hit by a car. He took the little squirrel in and began to care for it.
However, the Department of Nature Conservation officers took the squirrel and euthanized it.
Officials explained their actions by saying that the owner had violated the law prohibiting the taking of animals from the wild.
The blogger also had his raccoon taken away and, like the squirrel, was euthanized.
The euthanasia incident caused a storm of indignation on social networks.
American entrepreneur Elon Musk responded to the situation. He wrote that such behavior by the government is unacceptable.
It is a mindless and heartless killing machine, the billionaire emphasized.
Musk believes that authorities should not break into people's homes and kill their pets.
The businessman wondered why, instead of killing him, they couldn't just release Peanut into the forest.
