Teen’s Arrest for Shooting Dogs Prompts Humane-Education Offers

PETA’s Humane-Education Division Stresses the Importance of Teaching Kids Empathy for All Living Beings

For Immediate Release:
March 30, 2015

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

A Huntington teen was reportedly arrested and charged with cruelty to animals on March 23 for allegedly shooting two of his family’s dogs to death and wounding a third so severely that the animal had to be euthanized. The violent attack reportedly occurred after the teen’s parents refused to give him $20. In response, TeachKind—PETA’s humane-education division—rushed letters to local schools today calling on them to teach students about the dangers of abusing animals and explaining how violent acts can lead to continued anti-social behavior, from further acts of cruelty against animals to bullying, aggression, and violence against humans.

“Teaching kids to be kind does as much for the children as it does for the animals, because kids who abuse animals and never have this behavior called out often continue to behave violently,” says PETA Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “PETA and TeachKind’s lessons start violence prevention in the classroom by teaching students to have empathy for all living beings.”

TeachKind and PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—are offering to send copies of their poster titled “Abuse: Report It if You See It” to each school in the area in the hope of preventing similar incidents. 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 always available to send materials to schools, suggest lesson plans, and even host classroom presentations with students via Skype—all for free.

TeachKind’s letter is available upon request. For more information, please visit TeachKind.org.