Emergency Humane-Education Packs Rushed to Rochester Schools

For Immediate Release:

17 August 2012

Contact:

Ben Williamson 020 7357 9229, ext 229; [email protected]

Rochester, Kent – Following news reports that a cat was microwaved by an 8-year-old boy in Rochester, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is rushing emergency humane-education materials to primary schools in the area.

PETA’s mailing points out that research in criminology and psychology shows that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals often go on to harm humans. Instilling empathy in children and teaching them to take responsibility for any animals in their care is vital.

History shows that incidents that have involved cruelty to animals regularly appear in the records of serial rapists and murderers. Young killers Mary Bell, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables as well as serial murderers Ian Huntley, Thomas Hamilton (Dunblane school massacre), Fred West, Dennis Nilsen, Ian Brady and Raoul Moat all started out by deliberately harming animals.

“Animal abuse should never be overlooked in children”, says PETA Associate Director Mimi Bekhechi. “Putting a stop to violent tendencies as soon as they become apparent should be a priority and the responsibility of all of society. After all, the whole of society pays the price when these violent tendencies escalate.”

PETA’s educational materials are designed to help children of all ages recognise the importance of compassion towards all living beings.

For more information about the link between cruelty to animals and violence against humans or to order a free education pack, please visit PETA.org.uk.

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