North Carolina
State Laws
Session Law 2001-363
House Bill 195
“Each local board of education shall develop and implement character education instruction with input from the local community. The instruction shall be incorporated into the standard curriculum and should address the following traits: (1) Courage.—Having the determination to do the right thing even when others don’t and the strength to follow your conscience rather than the crowd; and attempting difficult things that are worthwhile. . . . (4) Kindness.—Being considerate, courteous, helpful, and understanding of others; showing care, compassion, friendship, and generosity; and treating others as you would like to be treated.” (Source)
Reported Animal Abuse Cases
WITN.com reported that a 15-year-old was charged with felony and misdemeanor cruelty to animals for allegedly beating a cat to death with a baseball bat. Reportedly, the torture was documented on social media, and the disturbing footage apparently depicts the teen striking the feline three separate times before the video cuts off.
WFMYNews2.com reported that a Winston-Salem resident pleaded guilty to 10 felony counts of cruelty to animals for his years-long killing spree, during which he tortured to death multiple wild animals of various species, many on camera. The Winston-Salem Journal reported that he had drowned, bludgeoned, mutilated, and burned animals when he was between the ages of 15 and 19.
WCCBCharlotte.com reported that teenagers had allegedly stolen a dog from her owners’ yard; tethered her outside for several days in the elements with no access to food, water, or her medicine; and threatened to “cut her up and eat her.” One of the boys also allegedly told rescuers that they had done this to a family’s cat, too. The dog reportedly died shortly after being reunited with her family.
USNews.com reported that an 18-year-old male from North Carolina accused of dropping a dog from a balcony and posting a video of it on social media had been charged with cruelty to animals.
WQAD.com reported that a Randolph County teenager apparently faces five counts of felony cruelty to animals after police allegedly uncovered horrific videos of multiple animals, both domestic and wild, being tortured to death.
WCTI12.com reported that two teens had been accused of breaking into a home, stealing personal property, setting a car on fire, and killing two parakeets before smearing the birds’ blood on the family’s furniture.
MyFox8.com reported that two juveniles, ages 13 and 14, had allegedly filmed a Snapchat video captioned “she burnt the dog” that appears to show one of the teens using an aerosol can and a lighter to point flames at the canine. The animal, whose fur was singed, was reportedly seized from the home. The case was allegedly still under investigation.
WECT.com reported that a teenager had allegedly admitted to strangling to death two kittens, who were later found in a shallow grave. They reportedly belonged to a member of the suspect’s family, and he was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals.
WNCT.com reported that two teens had been arrested and charged with cruelty to animals after allegedly shooting and killing three donkeys with a small-caliber firearm.
MyFOX8.com reported that a group of five young boys had tortured and killed a pregnant opossum. They had allegedly beaten her to death with sticks and bricks and then doused her with lighter fluid and set her on fire while she was trying to give birth—and the police report indicates that as the opossum was burning, several newborn babies began to come out of her pouch and also died.
MyFOX8.com reported that an 18-year-old student had been accused of beating a nesting duck to death with a baseball bat while his 16-year-old friend filmed the incident, which was subsequently posted on social media sites. Both the suspect and his accomplice had been charged—the suspect with felony cruelty to animals—for this violent crime.