Animal News: Snapping Turtle That Was Fed Alive To Puppy By Teacher Has Been Euthanized
Salt Lake TribuneRobert Crosland, the teacher who fed the puppy to the turtle.
This past year an Idaho middle school teacher made animal news headlines when he fed a live puppy to a snapping turtle as part of a science demonstration. State officials say that the snapping turtle was euthanized – though not because it ate a puppy.
The turtle in question, which had been kept in teacher Robert Crosland’s science classroom at Idaho’s Preston Junior High School, was fed a live puppy last week. According to a school parent, someone had brought a sick, abandoned puppy to Crosland, who was known for taking in sick animals.
Three students were in Crosland’s classroom at the time, feeding the other animals Crosland kept there. They watched as Crosland attempted to help the puppy, but eventually deemed it unable to be saved. Then, they watched as Crosland put the puppy into the tank of his snapping turtle, where it drowned and was eaten.
Crosland and Preston Junior High School received backlash from outraged parents, community members, and animal rights groups. Though a school staff member filed a report, Crosland continues to teach at the school.
The gruesome animal news spread and the school and Crosland both received threats of violence online, resulting in police officers being stationed outside the school to protect the safety of the students.
The Department of Agriculture was made aware of Crosland’s possession of the animal. In Idaho, snapping turtles are considered an invasive species, and without a permit, are considered illegal to own. On March 13, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game seized the turtle and “humanely” euthanized it.
