9 August 2018 | MEDIA RELEASE

SAFE calling for humane treatment of animals to be taught in schools following teenagers’ involvement in seal shooting.

SAFE says four teenagers’ involvement in the shooting of a protected leopard seal near Dargaville shows a desperate need for compulsory animal education in schools.

The animal was fatally shot in the face at Glinks Gully Beach two weeks ago. The police have now identified four teenagers, two aged 15 and two 16, in relation to the attack.

SAFE spokesperson Hans Kriek says it is completely unacceptable to have teenagers in society who think shooting seals is fun.

“When we have 15 and 16 year olds involved in senseless violence to animals, we need to ask ourselves what we as a society have done to contribute to this behaviour,” he says.

“Teaching values and attitudes of compassion and respect to animals needs to be part of our curriculum. It's time New Zealand made humane education compulsory in schools.”

SAFE’s education programme, Animals & Us, has been promoting and fostering compassionate and respectful attitudes towards animals for over a decade. The programme’s textbooks are aimed for use within the NCEA curriculum and cover topics including animal rights, factory farming, and animal experimentation.

“If we want to live in a society where kindness and respect are important values it’s time we started rewarding and encouraging those behaviours in our young people,” says Mr Kriek.

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