Beating and Killing of Dog by Teens Prompts PETA to Offer Humane Education

Group’s Humane-Education Division Stresses Need for Policy Against Cruelty to Animals in School District’s Code of Conduct

For Immediate Release:
October 2, 2015

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

On the heels of an incident that found two Cincinnati teens guilty of beating and slashing a dog, who later died of his injuries, TeachKind—PETA’s humane-education division—rushed a letter to the superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools this afternoon asking her to include a prohibition against cruelty to animals in the district’s code of conduct. In its letter, PETA explains that abusing animals can lead to continued antisocial behavior, from further acts of cruelty against animals to bullying, aggression, and violence against humans.

TeachKind and PETA—whose mottos read, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—have also sent letters offering free copies of their “Abuse: Report It if You See It” poster to area schools in the hope of preventing future abuse.

“This dog’s agonizing death is a painful reminder that it’s never too early to teach young people to have empathy for all living beings,” says PETA Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “TeachKind is asking that the school district’s code of conduct reflect that any kind of cruelty to animals is wrong.”

TeachKind points out that 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. Many serial killers and mass murderers first attacked and killed animals, including the shooters at Columbine High School and “Canadian cannibal” killer Luka Rocco Magnotta.

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

TeachKind’s letter to the superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools is available upon request. For more information, please visit TeachKind.org.