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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Oklahoma

State Laws

§ 70-1210.229-6

“A. Program of character education. The board of education of every school district in this state may develop and implement a comprehensive program for character education in any single grade or combination of grades, prekindergarten through twelfth. The character education program shall focus on development of character traits in students.”

“B.4. A character education reading list of books that may include, but is not limited to, books that illustrate models of good character and books that relate to the development of good character traits that may be used by schools in a character education program.” (Source)

Reported Animal Abuse Cases

April 2023/Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

KFOR.com reported that two juveniles were allegedly seen violently beating a pair of dogs in an online video. The footage—which community members expressed difficulty watching due to its distressing content—reportedly circulated among area students and was followed by a second video that featured a threat against a local middle school.

April 2022/Tulsa, Oklahoma

KJRH.com reported that a minor was caught on film viciously beating, slamming onto concrete, and hauling away a dog by the flesh of the neck—apparently in punishment for wandering a short distance away from her during a walk.

June 2018/Rogers County, Oklahoma

NewsOn6.com reported that a 14-year-old boy had been arrested and was facing felony cruelty-to-animals charges for allegedly shooting his neighbor’s four horses. According to authorities, he shot each one in the heart and left them for dead.

June 2014/Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Newson6.com reported that 18-year-old Malcolm Young was arrested and charged with one count of felony cruelty to animals after allegedly being apprehended by a patrolling police officer who apparently witnessed Young violently beating a 4-month-old pit bull puppy. The officer reportedly saw Young punch the puppy, who was wailing in pain during the attack. Apparently, when questioned by police, Young allegedly attempted to deflect, telling the officer, “I was training my dog to make it mean.”

February 2013/Tahlequah, Oklahoma

KRMG.com reported that local authorities were investigating the death of a pit bull after a teenager allegedly posted a photo online showing the dog after he had been shot to death by an arrow. The teen also allegedly posted a boastful statement about killing any pit bulls who show up near his home.

February 2009/Lawton, Oklahoma

NBC Philadelphia reported that a pair of teenage siblings was allegedly responsible for two videos posted on YouTube of one of the brothers, 14-year-old Kenny Glenn, apparently torturing the family’s cat, Dusty, for over a minute. One of the since-deleted videos reportedly contains footage of a masked Glenn picking Dusty up by her neck in what he refers to as a “laboratory,” before repeatedly throwing the cat against a wall, punching her, and slamming her onto the floor.