One of the most disturbing statistics contained in The HSUS's
2001 Report of Animal Cruelty Cases is that 20% of the
intentional acts of animal cruelty were committed by teens.
This percentage is based on a review of 1,677 high-profile
cases reported in the media. Most of the perpetrators were
boys. That's a serious problem, not just for the animals
affected, but also for society as a whole. Why? Because there
is a direct connection between animal cruelty and human
violence.
The First Strike campaign is reaching out to teens in an
effort to help stop animal cruelty. We're providing advice on
what teens can do if they witness animal abuse. We're also
hitting the airwaves with an edgy Public Service Announcement
(PSA) produced by University of North Carolina students as a
music video. You can find out more about the PSA in "Behind the
Scenes: Lessons From a Music Video PSA," written by Ginger
Prevas, First Strike manager, and told from the point of view
of Molly Spence, student producer of the video.
Britney Spears, Frankie Muniz, Mandy Moore, and Jessica Biel
head the list of celebrities who support First Strike. Vanessa
Semrow, recently crowned as Miss Teen® USA 2002 also joins the
list. And a variety of magazines, websites, and organizations
with teen audiences have become partners in the effort to
empower teens to fight animal cruelty.
You can help, too. E-mail this page to your friends,
schoolmates, family members—to everyone you know. Do it today
and take a step toward fighting animal cruelty and breaking the
connection!
