The snapping turtle that was fed a puppy by science teacher, Robert Crosland at Preston Junior High School, Idaho, after school hours in front of students, was humanely euthanized last Thursday, March 14th. The Idaho Department of Agriculture seized the turtle while Crosland is investigated for animal cruelty.
The Agriculture Department said the teacher did not have a permit for a non-native species aka snapping turtle. The Ag department is responsible for implementing the state’s Invasive Species Act. The turtle was seized on March 13th by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and was humanely euthanized the next day by the Department of Ag.
“Snapping turtles are highly-adaptable, top-tier predators in their habitat,” the department wrote in a Friday news release. “The public is urged to avoid propagating invasive species or from bringing them in to Idaho from other states and countries.”
So not only did this teacher show how inhumane it is to feed a (live or drowned) puppy to a snapping turtle, he kept an animal he wasn’t allowed to have without a permit.
Will the school take action against Crosland now? They have supported him as well as students and parents alike despite the outrage from people around the world.
Who in their right mind would think feeding a puppy, whether “terminally ill” or drowned by Crosland, to a snapping turtle is not only okay but normal? Makes you think what they’re being taught at Preston Junior High School.
A petition asking to have Crosland fired has reached 128,000 signatures. A petition supporting Crosland has over 35oo signatures. The community supports Crosland as well as the administration at Preston Junior High School.
Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a television talk show host, speaker, writer and is an unabashed animal advocate. Her love for animals and quest for the hard truth is what drives her passion for all things animals. She hosts the show, ” A Close-Up Look at Animal Welfare Issues.” She adores her once-abused tripawd, Brody. If you’d like Tina to talk to your group or have a story, please email her at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com. Like https://www.facebook.com/ACloseUpLookAtAnimalWelfareIssues and check out AnimalWelfareIssues.com for all the tv shows, articles, and podcasts you may have missed!
What morons! Y did they do that? The turtle didn’t have to lose his life because of the stupid actions of one teacher. They could’ve found another home for him. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Charge him and then fire him!!
WTH???? That makes no sense! Idiots.
Sadistic teacher.
That’s why they should fire him.
What happened to this idiot teacher?