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

Title 33: Chapter 16 Courses of Instruction

“The basic values of honesty, self-discipline, unselfishness, respect for authority and the central importance of work are emphasized.” (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.

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.