Deer Found Hanging From School Flagpole Prompts Calls for Humane Education

PETA’s Humane-Education Division Stresses Need for Kindness in School Curriculum Months After Local Teens Tortured Dog

For Immediate Release:
November 30, 2015

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

Following reports that a dead deer was found hanging from a flagpole at Brandon High School this month, TeachKind—PETA’s humane-education division—fired off a letter to the superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools calling for the implementation of humane-education lessons.

This case is the third callous act toward animals reported in the area this past year, coming just months after a disturbing video emerged of a science teacher at Sickles High School juggling dead frogs slated to be dissected. Eight months ago, local teens reportedly shot a dog, tied her to a railroad track, and left her for dead. Now, TeachKind is calling for lessons on compassion to be taught in all schools in the district. TeachKind has also offered to give Skype presentations about preventing cruelty to animals to students interested in learning how they can help animals suffering from abuse.

“Each of these disturbing cases is a stark reminder that young people must be taught to have empathy for all living beings,” says PETA Senior Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “PETA and TeachKind are calling on school administrators to let students know that any kind of cruelty or insensitivity is wrong by incorporating humane education into school curriculum immediately.”

TeachKind—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—urges caring people to report cruelty to animals to local law enforcement.

TeachKind’s letter is available upon request. For more information, please visit TeachKind.org.