How can we stop the cycle of violence towards animals and people?
No More Bullying!® aims to stop the cycle of violence by promoting social and emotional development in students. Social and emotional learning is the process through which children and adults achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
Benefits to Students
Students who participate in programs that emphasize social and emotional learning have:
Better social-emotional skills
Positive classroom behavior and fewer conduct problems
Improved attitudes about self, others, and schools
11% point gain on standardized achievement test
Less emotional stress
Lower drug use
Why does an animal shelter care about bullying?
Wayside Waifs implements No More Bullying!® to directly address the link between various forms of violence. Research has shown that the way people treat one another is directly related to the way people treat animals.
Research has found:
- Children who abuse animals often have experienced abuse or neglect.
- When children abuse animals, it is likely a precursor to future violence.
- There is a direct link between school-age students who practice bullying and adult perpetrators of domestic violence.
- Most teen school shooters have a history of abusing animals.
- Many people who are incarcerated for violent offenses to people, report abusing animals as part of their first experiences with violence.
- The majority of families experiencing domestic violence report their family pet was also abused by the perpetrator of violence.
- Virtually all serial killers report tormenting and abusing animals early in life.