There was outrage when officials euthanised Peanut as a possible rabies risk. But he’s just the latest emotional support animal to meet a grisly end

RIP Peanut the squirrel, an internet-famous critter who has become the latest entry into the niche but expanding quiz category I have termed Unconventional Emotional Support/Educational Animals Who Have Met Unfortunate Ends.

Previous entrants to this hall of fame include Pebbles, an emotional support dwarf hamster, who got flushed down an airport toilet after her owner was told the animal couldn’t accompany her on a Spirit Airlines flight to Florida in 2018. I don’t know what sort of person decides to flush a hamster, but I imagine the former owner is working in politics now.