Peanut the squirrel, the Instagram-famous rodent whose killing by New York State environmental officers became a brief election flashpoint, did not have rabies after all, officials have said.

A pet squirrel that gained social media fame was euthanized by state wildlife officials as part of a test for rabies. The squirrel's owner claims excessive force was used to seize his pet earlier this week.

Peanut the Squirrel, a beloved pet who was an internet sensation before being euthanized by New York officials was earmarked to be killed a week before officials say it bit a person during a raid.