Idaho Junior High Teacher Accused of Feeding Puppy to Turtle

A junior high school teacher is under investigation in Idaho after allegedly feeding a puppy to a turtle.

Robert Crosland, a science teacher at Preston Junior High, allegedly fed a live puppy to one of his reptiles in front of students during class recently.

A local animal activist filed a police report after hearing of the incident.

“Allowing children to watch an innocent baby puppy scream because it is being fed to an animal. That is violence. That is not okay.”

The puppy was apparently sick and not expected to live long.

At least two parents said that they had no problem with it considering that aspect.

“If it was a deformed puppy that was going to die anyway ... is very much circle of life,” said Annette Salvesen.

Another parent, Julie Johnson, called Crosland “the best science teacher Preston Junior High has.”

“There’s a lot of humane things you can do. Feeding a live animal to a reptile is not humane and it’s not okay,” said Parrish.

“He is a cool teacher who really brought science to life,” a former student said. “I loved his class because he had turtles and snakes and other cool things.”

Crosland hasn’t commented publicly on the situation.

Preston School District 201 Superintendent Marc Gee said in a news release that his administration became aware of “a regrettable circumstance involving some of the biological specimens” on March 7, reported East Idaho News.

“The event occurred well after students had been dismissed and was not a part of any school-directed program,” Gee said in a news release. “We emphasize that at no time was the safety of students or staff compromised.”

However, some students did witness the incident, the outlet confirmed, although it was unclear how many were present.

Crosland still has his job and no charges have been filed as of yet.

Fryar declined to confirm if a live puppy was fed to a turtle.

“I was just talking to the prosecutor on the phone,” Fryar said. “The prosecutor said, ‘Until he decides, he considers it an open book.’ He doesn’t want us to do anything to hamper the investigation.”