Humane Education Kits Rushed to Waltham Abbey Schools After Boy Kicks Duck to Death

For Immediate Release:

5 June 2018

Contact:

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

HUMANE EDUCATION KITS RUSHED TO WALTHAM ABBEY SCHOOLS AFTER BOY KICKS DUCK TO DEATH

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

Waltham Abbey, Essex – After hearing that a schoolboy was seen kicking a duck to death on Round Hills before throwing the bird’s lifeless, bloody, beaten body into a nearby garden, 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 – who was in school uniform and is estimated to be between 11 and 13 years old – was accompanied by two boys of a similar age, who fled the scene with him after he was caught in the act

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’s 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.

Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.

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