After Boys Allegedly Shoot and Kill Dog, PETA Offers Humane Education

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

For Immediate Release:
September 19, 2017

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

After reports emerged last week that three Fairhope boys—ages 15, 12, and 11—allegedly used a stolen shotgun to shoot a dog to death at close range in front of his guardian, TeachKind (PETA’s humane education division) sent letters this morning to schools in the area urging them to implement humane education.

TeachKind—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—has asked the district superintendent to ensure that students know to report cruelty to animals when they see it and always take action when an animal is injured or in distress. The group has also offered the schools free “Bullies Are Just Cowards: Report Abuse When You See It!” posters and sent elementary schools its Share the World curriculum kits, which are appropriate for even the youngest learners and help schools comply with Alabama’s character-education mandate. The kit supports teaching children to be considerate and compassionate and to do the right thing, even when others don’t.

“We’re facing a bullying epidemic, and if reports are true, three boys stole a shotgun, approached a woman who was walking her dogs, and shot one of them at close range before fleeing the scene,” says PETA Senior Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “TeachKind is urging schools to implement humane education and adopt an official policy against cruelty to animals that will help prevent a heinous crime like this one from occurring again.”

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. Its staff is available to send materials to schools, suggest lesson plans, and even host classroom presentations for students via Skype—all for free.

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