PRESS RELEASE

Louisiana SPCA Humane Officer Rolls Into Action To Save A Turtle

(NEW ORLEANS - 3/7/07) When it comes to saving animals, Louisiana SPCA humane officers risk life and limb and all agree that LA/SPCA Officer Sali Magee certainly “rolled” into action today. Magee lost control of the LA/SPCA vehicle she was driving when she sharply hit the brakes to avoid running over a turtle that crossed her path on River Road Wednesday morning in New Orleans (Algiers).

Although the vehicle flipped over and landed in the ditch in the near-miss collision, Magee miraculously emerged from the shell of the vehicle shaken, but unscathed and unharmed. Fellow officers agree that the turtle narrowly escaped a wrong turn to "highway heaven" thanks to Magee’s quick response and sense of duty to protect the turtle. The specially designed animal transport vehicle was totaled in the incident and the vehicle’s airbag did not deploy. Magee was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident. Magee noted that the turtle survived unscathed. Since it was her first call of the day, there were no animals in the vehicle at the time of the incident.

“When you look at the pictures of the vehicle following the accident, it’s amazing that she wasn’t seriously injured,” said Laura Maloney, LA/SPCA Executive Director. “We're grateful that Sali is okay. We never want our staff to put themselves in harm's way; Sali's concern about the turtle highlights the compassion routinely shown by our officers.”

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The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an organization devoted to improving the lives of animals and eliminating the homelessness, neglect and abuse that signal animal suffering. Chartered in 1888, our history has been paved with an understanding that only through an improved human-animal ethic can we better the lives of companion animals and that of our community. Our programs and services are infused with the highest standards of care and compassion.

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