Epidemic:
Kids Hurting Animals

As mental-health and law-enforcement experts well know, cruelty to animals and violence against humans are inextricably linked. Many educators are aware that serial killers and school shooters—including alleged killers Salvador Ramos, Payton Gendron, Nikolas Cruz, and Ethan Crumbley—tend to have a history of cruelty to animals, and Sandy Hook Promise has cruelty to animals on its “10 Critical Warning Signs of Violence” list.

Forty-three percent of perpetrators of schoolyard massacres commit acts of cruelty to animals first. Educators can help prevent future tragedies by including kindness to animals in the curriculum. Amid the current epidemic of youth violence, PETA urges everyone to report every act of cruelty against animals and calls on authorities to take each animal abuse claim seriously—for the sake of the animal victims and to help prevent future harm. Lives may depend on it.

Browse the List
March 2018/Plymouth, England

PlymouthHerald.co.uk reported that two teens had been accused of violently killing a hamster by throwing her against a wall while giggling. Video footage and photos of the incident were posted to social media sites.

February 2018/Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Metro.co.uk reported that a young man and a teenager had allegedly bludgeoned a puppy to death with a hammer before putting him in a microwave.

November 2017/Jalalpur Bhattian, Punjab, Pakistan

IBTimes.co.in reported that a 14-year-old was arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a chicken and then killing her. The teen was booked on multiple charges.

August 2017/Aberdeenshire, Scotland

PressAndJournal.co.uk reported that a teenager and a 20-year-old man had been accused of killing a gecko by shredding the animal in a blender. The gecko was reportedly the companion of a woman and her 12-year-old daughter.

August 2017/Kilkenny, Leinster, Ireland

KilkennyPeople.ie reported that a 16-year-old had been charged after allegedly abusing a horse, who was euthanized as a result of the mistreatment. The horse’s injuries reportedly included a broken leg and oral cuts (indicating that the animal’s bit was too tight).

July 2016/Hyderabad, Telangana, India

NDTV.com reported that eight boys between the ages of 10 and 17 had been arrested after allegedly burning three puppies to death. A video that appears to show them killing the puppies went viral on social media.

November 2014/Margate, Kent, England

DailyMail.co.uk reported that four teenagers had pleaded guilty to charges related to cruelty to animals after they stole a puppy, fed him drugs, tortured him, and dumped him in the garbage after believing that he was dead. The teens reportedly kicked and punched the dog, breaking his neck and leg, and set fire to his face. He survived and was recovering from the ordeal.

December 2013/Taichung City, Taiwan

Metro.co.uk reported that a Providence University student had been charged with cruelty to animals after allegedly stuffing her cat inside a sealed glass container as “punishment.” The case garnered international attention after a photo of the cat in the jar was posted on the student’s Facebook page.

November 2013/Tallaght, South Dublin, Ireland

Independent.ie reported that a number of young people were believed to have been involved in killing a horse by dousing her with petrol and setting her on fire. The case was reportedly under investigation.

May 2013/Orange, New South Wales, Australia

CentralWesternDaily.com.au reported that a 17-year-old boy had been arrested and charged with numerous counts of cruelty to animals in connection with dead sheep who had reportedly been stabbed to death and/or mauled by a dog. A photo was reportedly posted on social media that appeared to depict the teen and another male showing off the bloody sheep with their “hunting dog.”

April 2013/Central Israel

TimesOfIsrael.com reported that three 15-year-olds had been arrested for allegedly torturing and killing a cat. They allegedly became infuriated after the cat scratched them and proceeded to dunk the cat in water, slam him against a wall, throw him in the air, and hang him by a rope.

January 2013/Isle of Sheppey, Kent, England

DailyMail.co.uk reported that two teenage girls, ages 15 and 16, had allegedly filmed themselves swinging an 8-week-old kitten by the tail and throwing her around a room—at one point, appearing to knock the cat unconscious—and posted a video of the act on social media. The teens were reportedly fined, given a nine-month referral order, and prohibited from keeping animals for a year.