PNut's owner recently adopted a mini dachshund named Howard

ChainCatcher news, Mark Longo, the owner of PNut, stated that he recently adopted a mini dachshund named Howard and believes that this little dog "might be" the reincarnation of his beloved squirrel PNut. "Seeing him run around outside and become best friends with the cat reminds me of PNut."

Mark Longo, 34, and his wife Daniela Bittner, 28, decided to adopt Howard from a neighbor two weeks ago, although they had hesitated. "It's an emotional time for me and my family… I have been unsure about getting a new pet because of what happened."

They are still mourning PNut, who was cruelly taken away by staff from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation during a raid at their home and an animal shelter on October 30. The state government claimed it needed to test him for rabies, and the rabies testing requires decapitation, because PNut had bitten one of the staff members' hands during the incident.