Omaha Police Department Nabs PETA Award for Saving Raccoon Whose Head Got Stuck in a Cup

For Immediate Release:
August 5, 2025

Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382

Omaha, Neb. –

A Compassionate Police Department Award is on its way from PETA to the Omaha Police Department in recognition of Officer Hunter Jones’ kindness and determination in rescuing a raccoon whose head was stuck in a discarded container in Walnut Grove Park on July 16.

According to reports, Officer Jones tied handcuffs to a rope to snag and pull down the branches of a tree the raccoon had climbed. Once the raccoon was close, the officer carefully grabbed the animal, pulled the cup off their head, and let the raccoon go free.

“This raccoon was suffering a terrifying ordeal and would have died of dehydration or starvation, if a dog hadn’t gotten her first, but is now free thanks to Officer Jones’ swift action and clever problem-solving,” says PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk. “The community is lucky to have first responders like this who are looking out for every member of the community, and PETA hopes this story will inspire others to give animals in need a helping hand.”

The Omaha Police Department will receive a framed certificate along with delicious vegan chocolates from PETA. Additionally, PETA is offering to send the department recycling posters featuring raccoons, which the police can place on garbage containers in the park to remind people to crush cans and screw lids on jars to save additional wildlife from a similar situation.

PETA has tips on its website for living in harmony with wildlife and disposing of trash properly, including by tightly sealing garbage in chew-proof containers and cutting open empty cardboard or plastic containers so that small animals can’t get their heads trapped inside them.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.