US science teacher 'fed sick puppy to snapping turtle' in front of students

The snapping turtle was seized by state officials and euthanised several weeks later
Shutterstock / Ryan M. Bolton
Ella Wills3 June 2018

A US teacher allegedly fed a sick puppy to a snapping turtle in front of several students.

Robert Crosland, a science teacher in Idaho, was charged with misdemeanour animal cruelty on Friday.

Several parents from Preston Junior High School, in rural Preston, came forward to say Mr Crosland fed the puppy to the turtle on March 7.

The turtle was seized euthanised by state officials several weeks after the incident as it is considered a non-native species.

The incident sparked petitions for and against the teacher, who has worked at the school for a number of years.

One calling for him to be dismissed has gained nearly 190,000 signatures.

The petition organisers branded the teacher's actions "sick and disturbing".

But more than 3,400 have signed a counter petition titled 'We support Crosland' including former students, colleagues and members of the local community.

Some say the puppy was dying and it was the right thing to do.

The Idaho attorney general's office handled the investigation after Franklin County Prosecutor Vic Pearson cited a conflict of interest.

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