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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Rhode Island

State Laws

Non-codified Policy

“The Rhode Island SEL Standards: Competencies for School and Life Success were developed by the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (RIDE) in response to requests from school administrators, teachers and support professionals. 3B: Individual seeks to understand and demonstrates respect for individuals, including those with diverse backgrounds, cultures, abilities, languages, and identities. 3C: Individual demonstrates empathy for other people’s emotions and perspectives. 5C: Individual evaluates impact of decisions on self, others and the given situation and adjusts behavior appropriately. 5D: Individual considers ethical, safety, and societal factors when making choices and decisions.” (Source)

Reported Animal Abuse Cases

June 2019/Providence, Rhode Island

NBC 10 News reported that 18-year-old Gerald Hazard was arrested and charged with animal abuse after he allegedly posted a social media video that depicted him picking up his family’s pit bull companion, Crystal, by the scruff or collar around her neck and reportedly forcibly holding her in the air by the neck for several moments before throwing her forward. Reportedly, Hazard−a recent graduate of Hope High School− is heard laughing in the video throughout the abuse.

March 2018/Providence, Rhode Island

WPRI.com reported that an 18-year-old was part of a duo facing cruelty-to-animals charges in connection with an incident that left one dog dead and two others severely injured. While trying to break up a fight between dogs, the teen stabbed two of them, and then the two individuals waited more than seven hours before bringing the most severely injured dog to a veterinarian. That dog later died from the injuries. In addition, the pair never sought veterinary care for the other two injured dogs.

January 2016/Richmond, Rhode Island

ABC6.com reported that a teen was charged with the felony killing of an animal after killing his stepdad’s small white terrier as retaliation against a family member and recording the act on his cell phone.