TEWKSBURY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A national animal right's organization has issued an award and gift to the Tewksbury Police Department, for aiding a distressed skunk after the animal's head got stuck in a container.
A video circulated on social media over the weekend, of Tewksbury Officer Eric Hanley responding to the call in the parking lot of the Tewksbury Country Club, which garnered the attention of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
"Going to it I was nervous, because I didn't know you know," Hanley told WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama. "Is this skunk going to be able to spray me, or how tight is it on the skunks head, am I going to be able to get it off?"
After attempting it twice, Hanley was removed the container from the skunk's head, prompting both Hanley and the animal to run away safely.
"Skunks walk in circles, so I tried to stay to the flank of the skunk," he said. "It's like we were doing a tango in the parking lot."
Colleen O'Brien, The Vice President of PETA, said the skunk could have starved to death if Officer Hanley had not assisted it.
"Incidents like this are exactly why PETA reminds everyone to crush cans and cups before dropping them into the recycling bin," O'Brien said.
The organization sent the Tewksbury Police Department a framed certificate, a box of vegan baked goods and several signs that encourage people to crush their cans and containers to prevent animal's getting caught in them.
WBZ NewsRadio's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports.
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Photo: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)