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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Nevada

State Laws

NAC 389.195.

“2.In addition to the courses prescribed by subsection 1, a course of study in academic achievement, career exploration, and personal and social development is prescribed for pupils in seventh or eighth grade.” (Source)

Social Emotional Learning: “The Nevada Department of Education works to equip educators, families, and communities with tools and resources to support students in developing social emotional skills throughout their educational journey.” (Source)

Reported Animal Abuse Cases

August 2022/Las Vegas, Nevada

8NewsNow.com reported that a young teen was facing a felony charge of cruelty to animals after allegedly drowning a dog in a community swimming pool in July.

July 2018/Las Vegas, Nevada

KTNV.com reported that a Chihuahua, now named Roger, had reportedly been burned by teenagers with flames, chemicals, or a firecracker in a public park. He has since recovered at a local animal hospital and has found a permanent home. The suspects have not yet been identified.

August 2017/Pahrump, Nevada

IBTimes.com reported that a 17-year-old boy had been charged with cruelty to animals after he allegedly beat a puppy with shoes and threw one of them at the dog before kicking the animal. A necropsy revealed that the puppy’s cause of death was blunt-force trauma to the chest.

July 2012/Las Vegas, Nevada

Forbes reported that two 16-year-old boys were arrested and face felony cruelty charges for allegedly drowning a pair of newborn kittens. A neighbor apparently heard the kitten’s cries and, after looking over their shared backyard wall, reportedly recorded video footage of the teens laughing while drowning the two-day-old kittens in a cup by holding them underwater with a barbeque tool.