N.J. State Troopers Receive PETA Award for Rescuing Animals From Barn Fire Sent to Warren County, NJ; Trenton AP and Allentown/Easton, PA print

Officers Usher Dozens of Animals From Smoke-Filled Barn, Keep Them From Reentering

For Immediate Release:
February 12, 2016

Contact:
Lakisha Ridley 202-483-7382

Compassionate Police Department Awards are on the way from PETA to the New Jersey State Police at the Hope Station and the three troopers who responded to a barn fire in Hope Township on January 30. After discovering dozens of animals in a side barn near the blaze, Troopers Corey Smith and Jordan Siegel moved the animals to safety—and when the panicked goats, sheep, and llamas tried to return to the smoke-filled barn, the officers constructed barriers out of pallets to keep all of them safe. Trooper Keith Juckett moved up to a dozen chickens from their coop to safety.

In a Facebook post about the incident, the state police wrote, “Life is life. We are sworn to protect, serve, and at times, put our own lives in jeopardy to protect the citizens of New Jersey, which at times includes pets and livestock as well.”

“These animals would have fallen and suffered from smoke inhalation if they were in there for another five minutes,” Smith told PETA.

“Thanks to these compassionate, courageous, and quick-thinking officers, more than a dozen animals were spared a terrifying, painful death,” says PETA Senior Director Colleen O’Brien. “PETA hopes this story will inspire others to come to the aid of animals in need.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—is sending the New Jersey State Police at the Hope Station and Troopers Smith, Siegel, and Juckett each a framed certificate and delicious vegan cookies.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.