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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Idaho

State Laws

IDAPA 08.02.03.23

“Student Learning Goals (Outcomes). Statements describing the general areas in which students will learn and achieve. Student learning goals typically reflect what students are expected to know by the time they leave high school, such as to read and communicate effectively; think critically and solve problems; develop positive self-concept, respect for others and healthy patterns of behavior; work effectively in groups as well as individually; show appreciation for the arts and creativity; demonstrate civic, global and environmental responsibility; recognize and celebrate multicultural diversity; exhibit technological literacy; have a well developed knowledge base which enhances understanding and decision making, and demonstrate positive problem solving and thinking skills.” (Source)

Reported Animal Abuse Cases

July 2023/Jerome, Idaho

IdahoNews.com reported that a juvenile had been arrested after allegedly breaking into an animal shelter and poisoning most of the dogs with rat poison. The teen, who reportedly called 911 to report himself, was charged with felony burglary, felony malicious injury to property, felony poisoning animals, felony grand theft, and misdemeanor criminal trespassing.

June 2023/Swan Valley, Idaho

Newsweek reported that a teenager was taken into custody and faces felony charges after allegedly admitting to shooting 5 cows to death. Reportedly, authorities have stated that “cattle shooting occurs in the area every year.”

November 2021/Idaho Falls, Idaho

East Idaho News reported that a 17-year-old boy was arrested following a string of investigations, including by the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which revealed images on the teen’s phone of him having sex with the family’s Dachshund, along with pictures of him sexually abusing a child who was around 6 years of age.

March 2017/Rexburg, Idaho

EastIdahoNews.com reported that a family had discovered their cat, Vador, in their garage with a crossbow arrow that had gone through his front right leg and broken a bone. A teenager admitted to shooting him but claimed to have done it accidentally. However, children in the neighborhood reportedly said that they had seen teenagers actively looking to shoot the cat. No charges had been filed.

August 2014/Post Falls, Idaho

The Associated Press reported that a 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals for allegedly physically abusing and abandoning a dog named Bridger, who ultimately died as a result of his extensive injuries. Reportedly, the teen was “unhappy” with Bridger and allegedly threw rocks at the canine and stabbed him with a knife before dumping Bridger’s injured body into an irrigation ditch to die.