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

Mississippi

State Laws

Mississippi Administrative Code 7-3-15.1 Character Education

“The policy of the State Board of Education shall be to encourage each school district and each school to ensure the inclusion of character education in the entire curriculum and to include character education in the staff development programs for teachers. Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 37-1-3. (Revised 10/1997)

37-13-181 This program of character education shall focus on students’ development of the following character traits: courage, patriotism, citizenship, honesty, pride in quality work, fairness, respect for and obedience to the law, respect for others, kindness, cooperation, self-respect, self-control, courtesy, compassion, diligence, generosity, punctuality, cleanliness, cheerfulness, school pride, respect for the environment, patience, creativity, sportsmanship, loyalty, perseverance, friendship, responsibility and self-discipline.” (Source)

Reported Animal Abuse Cases

March 2025/Petal, Mississippi

PEOPLE reported that an 11-year-old in Petal, Mississippi, faces an aggravated cruelty-to-animals charge for allegedly beating a dog named Chico to death using a large stick, with the violent attack apparently captured on video. The footage, which Chico’s guardian reportedly deemed “very brutal,” allegedly shows the child approach the dog—who was apparently leashed behind his guardian’s place of business—and proceed to bludgeon him multiple times. Chico’s lifeless body was reportedly still tied to his leash when authorities arrived at the scene.

July 2022/Oxford, Mississippi

Fox13Memphis.com reported that a teen was accused of killing multiple kittens on video, reportedly by attacking one with a blade, smashing another with a folding chair, and dropping a car battery on the head of a third. The horrifying footage was then reportedly shared via social media, after which the teen was apparently arrested for allegedly “methodically and sadistically” killing the kittens “one at a time … in different ways for entertainment.”

May 2021/Tate County, Mississippi

People.com reported that that a 12-year-old had allegedly set the face of a stray dog on fire in Tate County.

March 2020/Perry County, Mississippi

WLBT.com reported that an investigation was ongoing after juveniles allegedly recorded themselves shooting and killing a dog. The video was shared on the social media platforms Snapchat and Facebook.

May 2017/Warren County, Mississippi

VicksburgPost.com reported that four teenagers had allegedly shot and killed a family’s dog while burglarizing their home. They were reportedly charged with cruelty to animals, among other charges.