Young Girls Allegedly Beat Dog With Bat, Prompting PETA to Offer Humane Education

PETA Stresses Need to Teach Anti-Bullying and Compassion in the Classroom—for Whole Community’s Sake

For Immediate Release:
April 19, 2016

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

Last week in Danville, a 4-year-old girl and a 6-year-old girl allegedly beat a tiny, 3-pound Yorkshire terrier with a plastic bat, leaving the dog barely able to stand, with his eyes bulging and a concussion. In response, TeachKind—PETA’s humane-education division—sent letters this morning to local schools urging them to implement humane education in their classrooms without delay and to teach students to report cruelty to animals to an adult whenever they see it.

TeachKind and PETA—whose mottos read, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—have asked the superintendent of Danville Public Schools to ensure that students know that there are serious consequences for cruelty to animals, and they are also offering free copies of their “Report abuse when you see it!” poster to area schools.

“We’re facing a bullying epidemic, and these girls displayed a dangerous lack of empathy for others when they violently beat this dog,” says PETA Senior Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “PETA is urging schools to implement humane education and have an official policy against cruelty to animals that encourages kids to speak up when they see it.”

TeachKind notes that according to leading mental-health professionals and law-enforcement agencies, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat to the community at large. TeachKind’s staff is available to send materials to schools, suggest lesson plans, and even host classroom presentations for students via Skype—all for free.

The dog, named Cash, is reportedly recovering from his injuries.

TeachKind’s letters are available upon request. For more information, please visit TeachKind.org.