California Highway Patrol Nabs PETA Award for Sea Lion Rescue

Officer Recognized for Scooping Up Animal Stranded on Highway

For Immediate Release:
May 6, 2019

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

A Compassionate Police Department Award is on its way from PETA to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) for rescuing a baby sea lion who was stuck on the shoulder of Highway 101.

On the morning of April 30, Officer Roger Pereira responded to a call and rushed to the scene, where he found several good Samaritans attempting to usher the young animal away from traffic. He pulled up next to the sea lion and opened the door of his patrol car—and the animal jumped right in. “He wasn’t making any noise. He was very calm as I opened the back door. He just hopped into the car,” says Pereira. “I didn’t need to help him—he did it all on his own.” The sea lion is currently recuperating at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito.

“Officer Pereira’s kindness and quick thinking were this lucky sea lion’s ticket to safety,” says PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “PETA hopes this story will inspire others to come to the aid of animals whenever they’re in need.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—opposes speciesism, which is a human-supremacist worldview. The group has sent the CHP a framed certificate and boxes of delicious vegan cookies.

For more information about PETA’s work for animals, please visit PETA.org.