Tennessee State Trooper Nabs PETA Award for Rescuing Stray Dog in Traffic and Rain
Here’s to a courageous act of kindness! PETA is sending a Compassionate Action Award to Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Lance Willis in recognition of his swift rescue of a stray dog. Willis found the animal—who must have been scared—in the middle of a busy road during a torrential downpour in Kingsport. This type of decent, caring action is what society needs these days—and Willis delivered.
How a Tennessee Trooper Rescued a Stray Dog
When Willis first noticed traffic slowing down amid heavy rain on Friday, July 5, he assumed there had been a car crash—but then he spotted a large brown dog wandering the wet roadway.
Springing into action, he turned on his patrol vehicle’s blue lights to alert other drivers and then coaxed the dog to come to him.
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♬ original sound – Shayda Good
Once the dog—named Luna—was in the car, Willis pulled into a nearby parking lot to wait for an animal control officer to take her to an animal shelter, where she was later reunited with her family.
It was raining cats and dogs but that didn’t stop Trooper Willis from helping this pup out of the downpour in Kingsport, TN yesterday. Hear the whole story from Trooper Willis!
Posted by Tennessee Highway Patrol on Saturday, July 6, 2024
Thanks to Trooper Lance Willis, this vulnerable dog was saved from a terrifying, dangerous predicament and reunited with her family—a testament to his compassion and community spirit. PETA hopes his thoughtfulness will inspire people everywhere to act when they see an animal in need. —PETA President Ingrid Newkirk
PETA sent Willis a framed certificate along with vegan cookies and meat-free jerky.
How You Can Help Other Animals in Need Every animal is someone, and every dog deserves the best life possible. Learn from Trooper Willis’ example and help animals in any way you can. And you don’t have to wait until you encounter one. Please, go vegan—and buy only animal test–free products that don’t include animal-derived ingredients. Never support businesses that exploit animals in any way.
Also, always have a plan to ensure your animal companions’ safety in case of an emergency, extreme weather, or a natural disaster.
If you witness a trapped or stray/stranded animal, wildlife in need, or cruelty to a dog or any animal, either help directly if it’s appropriate or report the incident to the proper officials. Also, learn about the importance of microchipping dogs and cats:
