Putting a stop to animal abuse, starting with children

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- As children, we are exposed to behavior both good and bad -- and sometimes the bad stays with us.

And sometimes, animals pay the price.

Now, the Harris County District Attorney's Office has created a pilot program to teach young children -- elementary school age -- how to properly care for their pets, and treat animals.

"Many of the cruelty cases we see start with young people and they often stem from a lack of education, a lack of compassion and the cyclical nature of abuse," says DA Devon Anderson.

HOPE, or Helping Our Pets through Education, aims to create empathy in children, teach them how to recognize animal abuse, and show them how to stop it.

HOPE has an ambassador, by the same name.

Prosecutor Jessica Milligan and her family adopted the Border Collie who was found near to death on the Trinity River. She had been shot in the leg, muzzle and chest. Another dog had been struck with a machete. The animals lived, thanks to a witness who rushed them to a vet.

The Milligans later adopted Hope, who lost a leg to the injuries, which were likely inflicted by a stranger.

Hope will visit schools, and show kids the consequences of cruelty.

"We believe children learn abusive behavior from their environments and that cycle continues if they don't learn it's wrong," says Milligan.

Milligan and Hope will give one hour presentations on pet care, cruelty laws, and what happens to neglectful pet owners.

Teachers who want to sign up for the HOPE program can fill out a request form on the DA's website, under the 'crime prevention' tab.

People who want to report animal abuse and neglect can now file a report online by going to dao.hctx.net and pulling down the 'victims help' tab.