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Animal Cruelty

Animal rights group to contact schools after cats killed with firecrackers in Drogheda

ARAN has said it wants schools to allow its campaigners to talk to children about the importance of treating animals with kindness and respect.

ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP ARAN has said it will start contacting schools in Drogheda first thing tomorrow morning in relation to reports of children in a housing estate using firecrackers on two cats.

It is understood that the incident took place last week but the bodies of the cats were only found over the weekend and the group described reports of the violence against the cats – one of which was a kitten – as “horrendous”.

The group said in a statement today it wants teachers to open up their doors for its campaigners to visit the children in the local area “in order to bring light on the cruelty of animals and the importance of treating them with respect and kindness”.

The group recently made a public appeal after the popular RTÉ drama Love/Hate featured a scene in which a cat was shot, causing an uproar among animal lovers, with the broadcaster receiving more than 40 complaints.

ARAN’s John Carmody said cats are “classed as vermin” and that the group is “absolutely heartbroken to see that some children turned on the most vulnerable animal for a few moments of “fun””.

“We are calling on teachers across Drogheda to let our experienced campaigners into the schools in order to show children that cruelty to animals is not cool or fun, but is nothing more than a cowardly act on those weaker than us,” he added.

Related: Animal rights charity calls for Love/Hate boycott after cat shooting scene>

Read: Over 40 complaints lodged over Love/Hate cat shooting scene>

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