Teens Admit to Torturing Dog, Prompting PETA to Send Humane-Education Kits

For Immediate Release:

26 November, 2015

Contact:

Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 78376327, ext 222; [email protected]

TEENS ADMIT TO TORTURING DOG, PROMPTING PETA TO SEND HUMANE-EDUCATION KITS

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

Margate, Kent – On the heels of reports that four local teenagers pleaded guilty to stealing a young Chihuahua cross, feeding him drugs, breaking his neck and leg and setting his face on fire before leaving him for dead earlier this year, PETA has rushed letters and humane-education materials to primary schools in the area.

PETA’s educational materials are designed to help children recognise the importance of having empathy for all living beings and to prevent further abuse. The group also warns educators that abusing animals can lead to continued antisocial behaviour, from further acts of cruelty against animals to bullying, aggression and violence towards humans.

“This dog’s agonising experience is a painful reminder that we must teach young people kindness towards all living beings if we want to prevent any further acts of cruelty”, says PETA spokesperson Elisa Allen. “Instilling empathy in children and teaching them to take responsibility for any animals in their care are vital. The safety of the whole community might depend on it.”

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 a red flag. 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’s the severity of the behaviour – not the species of the victim – that matters.

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 education pack, please visit PETA.org.uk.