PETA honors N.J. troopers who saved animals in barn fire

Goats, sheep, llamas and chickens were moved to safety as the Hope Township barn was destroyed.

Three New Jersey State Troopers are being lauded with certificates and cookies for aiding dozens of animals during a January fire that destroyed a barn.

New Jersey State Police Trooper I Jordan Siegel, left, and Trooper Corey Smith wrangled more than a dozen livestock to safety during a fire Jan. 30, 2016, that destroyed a Hope Township barn. PETA is honoring them and Trooper Keith Juckett for their efforts. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Goats, sheep, llamas and chickens were moved to safety from the smoke as the primary barn burned about 15 feet away, according to state police, who were among those who responded to the Jan. 30 fire at 496 Delaware Road in Hope Township.

The animal rights group PETA on Friday announced that it will send framed Compassionate Police Department Awards and vegan cookies to Troopers I Jordan Siegel, Corey Smith and Keith Juckett for their roles in the rescue.

"Thanks to these compassionate, courageous and quick-thinking officers, more than a dozen animals were spared a terrifying, painful death," PETA Senior Director Colleen O'Brien said in a news release. "PETA hopes this story will inspire others to come to the aid of animals in need."

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State police previously lauded Siegel and Smith in a social media post that described how the troopers set up barricades to keep the panicked livestock from returning to the smoke-filled barn. PETA said Juckett moved about a dozen chickens from their coop.

"Life is life," state police wrote in the Facebook post. "We are sworn to protect, serve, and at times, put our own lives in jeopardy to protect the citizens of New Jersey, which at times includes pets and livestock as well."

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.