Kate del Castillo Makes the Animal Abuse–Human Abuse Connection

Before gunning down 17 students at a Florida high school, Nikolas Cruz shot squirrels, killed frogs, and tried to crush animals trapped in rabbit holes. Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock also had a history of violence toward animals. And Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold boasted about mutilating them for fun.

People who commit acts of cruelty to animals don’t stop there—many move on to harming their fellow humans. That’s why actor, activist, and longtime PETA friend Kate del Castillo is urging her fans to speak up.

“When it comes to gun violence, what if there were one sign that we were all missing?” she asks in her new PETA video. “What if there were a common thread that could save lives?”

The powerful images in the video drive home her point: A boy aims an assault rifle at a man working in his garden and throws a homemade bomb at another man relaxing in his backyard.

“You wouldn’t miss these signs,” Kate says, “so why miss these?” The boy then trains his rifle on a squirrel and lights a dangerous M-80 firecracker that he throws at a dog.

What can we do?

Kate—who has spoken up for animals imprisoned at SeaWorld and other marine parks, urged that cats and dogs be kept safely indoors, and appeared in a breathtaking “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” ad—spells it out: “Please, always report animal abuse to police, a parent, or teacher. Never be silent.”

If you see something, say something.

Also, join PETA supporters in urging the Department of Health and Human Services to require a psychiatric evaluation of anyone who’s applying for federal funding to conduct experiments on animals.