Ohio college president backs skunk safety

OXFORD, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio college president says the school supports safety for skunks, and for other furry creatures, too.

Miami University President David Hodge has thanked People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals for its offer to send safety posters after a skunk recently got its head stuck in a beer can near a fraternity house. The posters urge people to crush cans for animal safety.

Hodge wrote to PETA to say that the Advocates for Animals student group will work on the poster safety campaign. He says the school appreciates the effort to remind the community to crush and recycle cans, not only to preserve resources but to protect animals from harm.

“We share your desire to have no more stuck skunks!” Hodge wrote.

The posters PETA offered Monday to send to Miami show a raccoon with head stuck in a tin can and says crush cans for animal safety, urging: “Don’t let this happen again.”

“Aluminum cans, plastic cups, and open jars can become death traps for hungry or inquisitive animals if they aren’t disposed of properly,” PETA Senior Director Colleen O’Brien said in the letter to Hodge.

An Oxford animal control officer was able to free the skunk without being sprayed. PETA says it is shipping vegan cookies to Oxford police in appreciation for their compassionate efforts to help the skunk.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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