After Teen Shoots Cat With Arrow, 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:
March 22, 2017

Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382

Following reports that a Rexburg teen shot a cat with an arrow—and only admitted to doing so after the cat’s family began going door to door—TeachKind, PETA’s humane-education division, sent letters this morning to Madison County schools urging them to implement humane education. The cat is expected to recover.

TeachKind—whose mottos read, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—has asked the district superintendent to ensure that kids 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.

“We’re facing a bullying epidemic, and if reports are true, this teen left a cat to suffer in agony with an arrow shot through his leg,” says PETA Senior Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “PETA is urging schools to implement humane education and adopt 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. The group’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.