Ontario Man Receives PETA Award for Saving Skunk With Head Stuck in Soda Can

Group Reminds Everyone to Protect Wildlife by Crushing Cups and Cans

For Immediate Release:
September 30, 2016

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

A Compassionate Action Award is on its way from PETA to Orillia resident Mike MacMillan, who was driving to a meeting with the mayor of a neighboring city on Monday when he spotted a struggling skunk whose head was stuck inside a soda can. Although MacMillan was wearing his best suit, he approached the skunk, speaking gently so as not to seem threatening, and tugged the can free. The skunk ran off to safety—and MacMillan caught the entire incident on a video that has now been viewed more than 3 million times.

To thank MacMillan for his kindness, PETA is sending him a framed certificate, a box of delicious vegan cookies, and a silk-free PETA tie to wear to his next business meeting.

“Mike MacMillan showed selfless compassion for this skunk, who could easily have experienced a miserable death by starvation, dehydration, or being hit by a car,” says PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “PETA hopes this story will inspire others to help wildlife, whether by coming to the aid of an animal in need at the side of the road or by crushing cans and cups before throwing them in the trash.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—has tips on its website for living in harmony with wildlife and properly disposing of trash, such as by keeping all garbage in tightly sealed chew-proof containers, rinsing out aluminum cans and dropping the pop-tops inside so that they can’t cut an animal’s tongue, crushing cans and cups, putting the tops back on bottles, and cutting open empty cardboard and plastic containers so that small animals can’t get their faces or heads trapped inside them.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.