Humane-Education Kits Rushed to Ipswich Schools After Local Teen Stabs Hedgehog

For Immediate Release:

6 January 2017

Contact:

Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327, ext 222; [email protected]

HUMANE-EDUCATION KITS RUSHED TO IPSWICH SCHOOLS AFTER LOCAL TEEN STABS HEDGEHOG

PETA Warns That Animal Abusers Are Likely to Escalate Behaviour Unless Stopped

Ipswich, Suffolk – After hearing that a teenager in Ipswich was banned from keeping animals for 10 years as punishment for repeatedly stabbing a hedgehog, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is rushing emergency humane-education materials to primary schools in the area to prevent future instances of violence. According to reports, the boy’s social worker saw him stab the hedgehog three times – in addition to using a brick to cause further injury – before throwing the dying animal over his neighbour’s fence.

PETA’s educational materials are designed to help children of all ages recognise the importance of compassion and empathy for all living beings. The charity’s letters to the schools also point out that experts in mental health and law enforcement consider the callous disregard for life and desensitisation to suffering evidenced by all forms of cruelty to animals to be red flags for other kinds of violence. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation uses reports of crimes against animals to analyse the threat potential of suspected and known criminals. Experts agree that it is the severity of the behaviour – not the species of the victim – that matters.

“PETA wants to prevent any further acts of cruelty”, says PETA Director Elisa Allen. “Instilling empathy in children and teaching them to respect others, human and non-human, is vital. The safety of the whole community depends on it.”

PETA’s letters to the schools are available upon request. For more information about the link between cruelty to animals and violence towards humans – or to order a free humane-education pack – please visit PETA.org.uk.

#