Video of Teens Beheading Puppies Prompts PETA Action

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

For Immediate Release:
March 17, 2015

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

After two Wilcox County teens were arrested for allegedly beheading two puppies and posting a video of the appalling act to Snapchat, TeachKind—PETA’s humane-education division—rushed letters to area schools calling on them to begin teaching students about the dangers of abusing animals. As PETA notes in its letter, uncorrected acts of violence can lead to continued anti-social behavior, from further acts of cruelty against animals to bullying, aggression, and violence against humans.

“Kids who are never called out for harming or killing animals will often continue to behave violently,” says PETA Director of Youth Outreach and Campaigns Marta Holmberg. “PETA and TeachKind’s lessons teach students to have empathy for all living beings—which every child can benefit from.”

TeachKind and PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—are offering to coordinate humane classroom presentations, aid in planning lessons on empathy toward animals, and send copies of their poster titled, “Bullies Are Just Cowards: Report Abuse When 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 letter is available upon request. For more information, please visit TeachKind.org.