Virginia Beach Police Receive PETA Award for Rescuing Injured Owl

Officer Scoops Up Red Screech Owl in Danger of Being Hit by Cars

For Immediate Release:
December 22, 2016

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

Virginia Beach, Va. – A Compassionate Police Department Award is on its way from PETA to the Virginia Beach Police Department 2nd Precinct for its rescue of a red screech owl on Sunday morning. When a concerned citizen flagged down Officer Bryan Morgan and alerted him to the injured animal, who was in danger of being hit by cars on Virginia Beach Boulevard, Officer Morgan emptied his file box, placed the owl inside, and drove to Animal Control. The owl was suffering from a broken toe and was sent to a local wildlife rehabilitation facility to recuperate before being released back into the wild.

“Thanks to the good Samaritan and Officer Morgan’s quick and compassionate actions, this owl was spared further pain and injury and will hopefully soon be fully recovered,” says PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “PETA hopes their kindness will inspire others to come to the aid of animals in distress.”

The Virginia Beach Police Department 2nd Precinct will receive a framed certificate and some delicious vegan cookies.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—offers tips for helping wildlife on its website.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

For Media: Contact PETA's
Media Response Team.

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 Ingrid E. Newkirk

“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE

— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind