West Haven Man Receives PETA Award for Saving Imperiled Skunk

Good Samaritan Rescues Animal Whose Head Was Stuck in a Cup

For Immediate Release:
January 22, 2014

Contact:
Allison Lakomski 202-483-7382

You might have run across this compelling viral video of a Connecticut man who came to the rescue of a skunk whose head was trapped in a cup. After West Haven resident Jeremi Lorenti and a friend noticed that the skunk was moving in circles in the middle of a road, Lorenti took decisive action. He got a blanket from the trunk of the car and carefully threw it over the skunk before pulling the cup off the animal’s head. The presumably grateful skunk soon scampered out of harm’s way, apparently unscathed by the ordeal.

For his kind and brave feat, Lorenti will receive a Compassionate Action Award from PETA.

“We hope Jeremi Lorenti’s compassion and quick thinking will serve as inspiration to others to stop to help an animal in distress,” says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “Our society has created perils that animals don’t always have the means to deal with, so they sometimes have to depend on us for their very survival.”

Lorenti will receive a framed certificate, a letter of appreciation, and a box of delicious vegan chocolates from PETA.

PETA encourages everyone to crush their recyclable and nonrecyclable cans and cups to prevent animals from getting their heads stuck in the containers. PETA also provides potentially lifesaving tips on what to do when encountering wildlife in need of help.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.