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.

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Connecticut

State Laws

Public Act No. 11-232

“Sec. 2. Section 10-222g of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2011): For the purposes of section 10-222d, as amended by this act, the term ‘prevention and intervention strategy’ may include, but is not limited to, … [(6)] (4) inclusion of grade-appropriate bullying education and prevention curricula in kindergarten through high school.” (Source)

“Sec. 10-222q. Social and Emotional Learning and School Climate Advisory Collaborative. (a) There is established a social and emotional learning and school climate advisory collaborative. The collaborative shall (1) collect information concerning the school climate improvement efforts of local and regional boards of education, (2) document any needs articulated by local and regional boards of education for technical assistance and training relating to fostering positive school climates, (3) identify best practices for promoting positive school climates, (4) direct resources to support state-wide and local initiatives on issues relating to fostering and improving positive school climates and improving access to social and emotional learning in schools, (5) develop an assessment for screening students in grades three to twelve, inclusive, to determine whether such students are at risk for suicide, (6) develop a biennial state-wide school climate survey, as described in subsection (c) of section 2 of public act 19-166*, (7) develop a model positive school climate policy, as described in subsection (a) of section 2 of public act 19-166*, (8) develop a plain language explanation of the rights and remedies available under sections 10-4a and 10-4b for distribution to parents and guardians pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of section 10-222d, and provide such explanation to each local and regional board of education not later than January 1, 2021, and (9) perform other functions concerning social and emotional learning and fostering positive school climates.” (Source)

Reported Animal Abuse Cases

May 2024/Meriden, Connecticut

Fox61.com reported that 18-year-old Carmello Roberts had been charged with first-degree cruelty to animals for allegedly viciously beating to death an adolescent cat named Noodles. During the fatal attack, Roberts allegedly struck him with a large knife, punched him with brass knuckles, and smashed his head with a bowling ball. The teen reportedly texted to friends that “the eyes popped out” and that he “enjoyed it.” The cat had apparently lived next door to Roberts, and his lifeless body—reportedly bearing horrific wounds—was found by following a trail of blood over a backyard fence.

June 2017/Bristol, Connecticut

Fox61.com reported that a 13-year-old boy had been charged with cruelty to animals after police identified him as the suspect in a social media video depicting the mutilation and killing of a rabbit. The video allegedly shows the teenager decapitating the rabbit with hedge trimmers.