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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New Hampshire

State Laws

Chapter 193-F: Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention

“IV. A school board or board of trustees of a chartered public school shall, to the greatest extent practicable, involve pupils, parents, administrators, school staff, school volunteers, community representatives, and local law enforcement agencies in the process of developing the policy. The policy shall be adopted by all public schools within the school district and, to the extent possible, the policy should be integrated with the school’s curriculum, discipline policies, behavior programs, and other violence prevention efforts.” (Source)

New Hampshire Administrative Rules Ed 306.04 Policy Development.

“(a) In accordance with Ed 303.01, the local school board shall adopt and implement written policies and procedures relative to: (1) Absenteeism and attendance; (2) Promoting school safety; (3) Discipline; (4) Records retention, including electronic files; (5) Character and citizenship; […] (i) The policy relative to character and citizenship development shall: (1) Include those elements of character and citizenship to be incorporated in courses of study or instilled, by example, in a caring educational environment, including but not limited to: a. Self-discipline, self-respect, and self-control; b. Pursuant to Part 2, Article 83 of the New Hampshire Constitution, humanity, benevolence, and truth and honesty with self and others; c. Fairness, integrity, and justice; d. Respect, courtesy, and human worth; e. Responsibility to oneself and others; f. Community service; and g. Pursuant to RSA 186:13, the rights and responsibilities of citizenship; and (2) Be developed in consultation with school staff, administration, parents, and other representatives of the community.” (Source)

Reported Animal Abuse Cases

September 2019/Conway, New Hampshire

WMUR.com reported that a group of teenagers in Conway had lured wild ducks out of the water with food and then beaten one of them over the head with a broomstick, eventually killing the animal.

July 2019/Raymond, New Hampshire

WGME.com reported that a rabbit had been found in a river with a rope around her neck and a 5-pound weight attached to it. Police learned that a juvenile may be involved after family members came forward, and cruelty-to-animals charges are pending.