Officer frees a skunk from a juice carton
Jonathan Whitney was patrolling a N.J. borough's neighborhoods one night when he came across an unusual critter.
That encounter escalated into a minute-long foot pursuit, according to a video recorded by Whitney.
The six-year patrolman chased after a skunk that was running around with an orange juice box stuck over its head.
"Come here, buddy. I'll take it off your head," he said, following the animal around his patrol car.
At one point, Whitney asks, "How do I get it off his head?"
It's a real head-scratcher.
But at the 2-minute mark, Whitney is seen grabbing the juice carton and pulling it off the skunk's head. He runs off to avoid getting sprayed.
Ocean Gate Police shared this video with a brief message: "It's not just a job, it's an adventure."
Of course, they did add a disclaimer for anyone watching who might try Whitney's skunk-saving maneuver at home.
Despite this heart-warming encounter, police warned the public not to approach wild animals such as a skunk because they risk contracting rabies or other diseases if they're scratched or bitten by the animal (and then there's the risk of getting sprayed).
"If you encounter a wild animal, please leave it to the professionals," Ocean Gate Police wrote.
But if there are no professionals available, the department added, there's always Whitney.