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

Arizona

State Laws

§ 15-719

“A. Each common, high and unified school district and charter school may provide instruction to kindergarten programs through the twelfth grade on character development.”

“B. Each district may develop its own course of study for each grade. At a minimum, the character education program must include: 1. Instruction in the definition and application of at least six of the following character traits: truthfulness, responsibility, compassion, diligence, sincerity, trustworthiness, respect, attentiveness, obedience, orderliness, forgiveness, virtue, fairness, caring, citizenship and integrity.” (Source)

Reported Animal Abuse Cases

September 2021/Phoenix, Arizona

KTAR News reported that a 16-year-old allegedly threw rocks at and punched a pair of horses with the help of an adult.

October 2013/Chandler, Arizona

AZFamily.com reported that four boys faced felony cruelty-to-animals charges for allegedly hitting a kitten with a soccer ball, throwing the cat to the ground, then kicking and throwing the animal into a pool. The kitten eventually died.