Alleged Porcupine-Killing Teens Prompt Offer of Humane Education

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

For Immediate Release:
June 2, 2016

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

Nearly a dozen porcupines have reportedly been found clubbed to death near Middleburgh, and law-enforcement officials suspect that eight teenagers are responsible for killing them. In response, TeachKind—PETA’s humane-education division—sent letters this morning to schools in Middleburgh and Albany urging them to implement humane education in the classroom and offering free copies of its “Bullies Are Just Cowards: Report Abuse When You See It!” poster.

TeachKind and PETA—whose mottos read, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—have also asked the districts’ superintendents to add a prohibition on cruelty to animals to their policies and to ensure that students know there are serious consequences for hurting animals.

“If reports are true, it takes a dangerous lack of empathy to go out and bash to death one little wild animal after another,” says PETA Senior Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “This country is facing a bullying epidemic, so TeachKind is calling on schools to teach students to practice kindness to animals and speak up when they see cruelty, no matter who the victim is.”

As Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple has noted, 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.

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