L.A. Teen Joins PETA2’s ‘Day of Silence’ to Mourn Animals Killed for Dissection

Sixteen-Year-Old to Keep Silent on October 3 in Honor of the Millions of Cats, Pigs, Frogs, and Other Animals Killed for Classrooms Every Year

For Immediate Release:
October 1, 2013

Contact:
Allison Lakomski 202-483-7382

Los Angeles — For years, peta2—PETA’s youth division—has told kids that the first rule of being an animal rights activist is “never be silent.” But now, for the first time ever, the group is asking kids not to use their voices to help animals. In honor of “Cut Out Dissection” Month, which began today, the group is calling on students across the country to join peta2’s Day of Silence on October 3. And 16-year-old UCLA Community School student Betsy Orozco has already pledged to participate. She and the other participating students will not speak throughout the day. Instead, they will give peers, teachers, and family members a leaflet (available here) that explains, “I’m being silent to mourn the 10 million animals dissected in classrooms every year.”

The leaflet goes on to point out that most of the pigs, frogs, cats, rats, and other animals killed for dissection do not die of natural causes. They are drowned, pumped with formaldehyde, or gassed to death, specifically by biological-supply companies for the classroom. This practice continues, even though modern virtual-dissection software is widely available and has been proved to teach anatomy better than animal dissection. These programs, which are endorsed by the National Science Teachers Association, also save time and money and increase student confidence and satisfaction.

“Students have been speaking out against cruel and archaic dissection for years—and now, peta2 is asking them to keep raising awareness by staying silent,” says peta2 Director Marta Holmberg. “Kids are shocked to learn that 10 million animals are killed for these archaic exercises every year—and once they find out, they start demanding a switch to modern, humane teaching methods.”

For more information, please visit peta2.com/DayOfSilence.