Lawmakers Urge Whitmer to Spare Peanut the Fawn and Kota the Coyote
LANSING, Mich. — State Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) and more than a dozen lawmakers are urging Governor Gretchen Whitmer to intervene in the fate of two animals housed at the Detroit Animal Welfare Group (DAWG), after state officials issued orders for them to be euthanized.
In a letter sent to the governor on Tuesday, Rigas and 16 colleagues — including some Democrats — demanded Whitmer commute what they call the “death sentences” of Peanut, a visually impaired baby deer, and Kota, a coyote that has lived at DAWG since 2018.
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“These animals are not threats — they are survivors,” Rigas said in the letter. “Peanut and Kota have been cared for by licensed professionals and were intended to serve as education ambassadors. Their lives are now being taken over by arbitrary deadlines and bureaucratic technicalities.”
The letter cites a House committee report on government overreach, arguing that DAWG has been dragged through court, denied permits, and subjected to unclear rules. Rigas said Whitmer has the power to stop what she called unnecessary and cruel action by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
“The blood of Peanut and Kota will be on the Governor’s hands if she does not act,” Rigas warned. “This is not just about wildlife — it’s about compassion, common sense, and the proper role of government.”
The lawmakers’ demands include granting a reprieve for the animals, allowing DAWG to continue its educational and sanctuary programs without arbitrary deadlines, creating a fair appeals process for rescue cases, and halting prosecutions of DAWG staff.
This follows Dave Bondy’s recent report on the case, which highlighted DAWG’s ongoing struggle with the state over its ability to provide sanctuary for animals like Peanut and Kota. In his interview with Kelley LaBonty, DAWG’s director, she said the group has faced repeated denials from the state and warned that both animals could soon be destroyed unless action is taken.
Public backlash has been mounting since news of the euthanasia orders broke. Animal advocates have called the case a test of how Michigan treats its most vulnerable wildlife.
Governor Whitmer’s office has not yet issued a response to the lawmakers’ letter.
