Humane Education Kits Rushed to Kent Schools After Boys Attack Pig and Violently Kill Chickens

For Immediate Release:

4 January 2018

Contact:

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

HUMANE EDUCATION KITS RUSHED TO KENT SCHOOLS AFTER BOYS ATTACK PIG AND VIOLENTLY KILL CHICKENS

PETA Warns That Animal Abusers’ Behaviour Is Likely to Escalate Unless Stopped

Sittingbourne, Kent – After hearing that four boys broke into Westlands School’s farm, killed 11 chickens by stamping on their heads, and beat a pregnant pig until she could no longer walk, 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. The incident, captured on CCTV, is reported to have happened on 28 December.

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.

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