PETA's Humane-Education Division Stresses the Importance of Teaching Kids Empathy for All Living Beings
For Immediate Release:
March 18, 2015
Moira Colley 202-483-7382
Tampa, Fla. – Following news that two Tampa-area teens were arrested for allegedly shooting a dog and leaving her tied to a railroad track, TeachKind—PETA’s humane-education division—rushed letters to area schools 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 sending 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 letter is available upon request. For more information, please visit TeachKind.org.