Class
Dissection Of Live Dog Outrages Parents, Students
Student: 'It Just Makes Me Sick...'
Update May 19, 2005 Salt
Lake Tribune:
Utah
people actually think like this, come read and you
will be shocked:
CLICK HERE
Silent Vigil
Please, forward this on to all of those that you
know. In numbers we can do anything...
Too many times in a day does an animal lose his/her
life due to incompetence of a human or lack of homes
and education. I believe we are way past due to pay
our respects to those unfortunate babies that fall
short in life.
If we could, we would like everyone everywhere to
hold a Silent Vigil on Sunday evening for our little
guy that fell in to the hands of a biology class.
Please, at 9:00 pm light a candle for him and the 3
minute Silent Vigil will begin..
He will be the first of many that we should pay our
respect to every Sunday at 9:00pm where ever you
live. It's only 3 minutes out of our lives for the
lives of the thousands that die everyday..
The first Vigil will begin this Sunday May 15th @
9:00 pm in memory of the little guy in Gunnison,
Utah. From then on they will be held across the
country every Sunday.. This is the least we can do
for those that have lost their lives or their lives
have been taken from them.
Thank you for your time, they will thank you even
more.. Friends in Need
POSTED: 8:12 am EDT May 12, 2005
Gunnison Valley High School
(435)
528-7256
35 E 600 S
Gunnison, UT 84634
Utah
Governor's Office
Jon Huntsman
Utah State Capitol Complex
East Office Building, Suite E220
PO Box 142220
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-2220
801-538-1000
800-705-2464
Fax 801-538-1528
Lt. Governor's Fax 801-538-1557
|
|
http://www.utah.gov/governor/
UPDATE May 14, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) - A Utah high school expressed regret on
Thursday for the vivisection of a stray dog as part of a biology lesson.
Some parents and students complained after a substitute biology
teacher at Gunnison Valley High School took eight girls, aged 16 and 17, to a
local veterinary clinic on Tuesday to watch abdominal dissection on a dog under
general anesthetic. The lesson was aimed at teaching students about the
digestive system.
"It just makes me sick and I don't think this should go on anywhere
and nobody is learning from it," student Sierra Sears told local TV channel ABC
4 news.
Donald Hill, assistant superintendent of the South Sanpete School
District, said: "This shouldn't happen again. Our schools will not participate
in this again. We don't condone this."
Vet Tom Anderson said the incident, reported in
local television and newspapers, had been blown out of proportion.
"It was about a three-minute procedure involving abdominal surgery.
It was done under general anesthetic. It was an aggressive and abandoned dog. It
was not fit to be adopted," Anderson said. The dog was put to sleep after the
procedure.
The school said permission had been sought and obtained from parents
of the students, and that two students had exercised their right to opt out of
the visit.
"All they did was view it. They did not remove or dissect any parts.
It was not barbaric," said assistant principal Trevor Powell. "(But) we will
have to find a better way next time."
It was not clear what action, if any, would be taken against the
substitute teacher, who has not been named.
UPDATE
05/13/05
10pm News on Ch. 4
in Utah quoted Gene Baierschmidt, director of Utah
Humane Society, tonight saying to Principal, Teacher
and Veterinarian involved: "...using poor judgement...we
have received numerous complaints of outrage
nationally." I recorded the story. But the last
time a "big animal cruelty" Gassing with pick up
truck exhaust in So Utah Small Town, story was aired
nationally, the local decision makers did not make
any changes even with the outrage nationally, and
the town does business as always. Utah did not pass
the Felony Animal Cruelty Bill on the Ballot again
this year, as it did not pass 9 yrs ago. Is there
not a state law at all about inhumane treatment of
pets? Are there not guidelines in the state laws
and in the Humane Society Animal Cruelty guidelines
Jon Fox, our State's only Animal Cruelty Officer,
follows?
A question for
lawmakers, school officials and parents: Is the
mental trauma children experienced by watching a
"pet dog" being dissected while still alive, worth
the "educational opportunity" as the teacher stated,
and principal stated would be continued? Why do
they think this has never been done before in grades
K-12? Just look at the national outrage and the
local student and parent disgust. (below)
According the the Nation's #1 expert on
Animal/Human Abuse, Dr. Frank Ascione, Utah STate
University, and as was written in Utah HB 242 this
year that was not passed by our Legislature,
"...
even the witnessing of abuse, will
desensitize and traumatize a child..." "children
are more likely to commit animal abuse when their
capacity for empathy has been undermined or
compromised ( for example, by years of neglect or
maltreatment – see Bavolek, 2000). Developing a
sense of empathy for animals is assumed to be a
bridge to greater empathy for fellow human beings,
making violence toward them less likely.” "All
50 States have legislation related to animal abuse.
Most States categorize it as a misdemeanor offense
and 41 states and the District of Columbia also have
instituted felony-level statutes for certain forms
of cruelty to animals (“Animal cruelty legislation”,
2003). However, legal definitions of animal abuse
and even the types of animals that are covered by
these statutes differ from State to State (Ascione
and Lockwood, 2001; Frasch, Otto, Olsen, and Ernest,
1999; Lacroix, 1998)). The research literature
also fails to yield a consistent
definition of animal
abuse or cruelty to animals;
however, the following definition captures features
common to most attempts to define this behavior: “socially
unacceptable behavior that intentionally causes
unnecessary pain, suffering, or distress to and/or
death of an animal”
(Ascione, 1993, p. 228).
Thank you to all
National Rescues and Animal Welfare Organizations
that are following up on this to help pets in Utah.
WE all hope that Utah will finally define Animal
Cruelty and its penalty.
To tell Media, the goverment and the school board
people... use this link:
Dear (SAVE A DOG & KIDS),
Thank you for your blind copy e-mail concerning the
Channel 4 story about Gunnison High, Gunnison Valley
Veterinary Clinic, and the biology "project"
involving a dog which was slated for euthanasia as
being a stray and unclaimed by its owner within the
allotted number of days.
The Humane Society of Utah sent out a press release
yesterday (see
attachment) concerning this incident. We believe
that it was inappropriate to expose the students to
such a graphic surgical procedure and then to know
that the dog was going to be euthanized immediately
following the procedure. This can only be
desensitizing to the students, who are at an age
when they are still formulating their initial values
involving their relationships to other people,
animals, and their environment.
While the procedure wasn't "cruel" within the
definition of the Utah state animal cruelty
statutes, I would certainly agree that it was
inappropriate and "disrespectful" towards the value
of an animal's life.
Having spoken with the veterinarian this morning, I
don't believe that this type of procedure will be
done in the future.
I understand that the High School's biology classes
have, throughout the years, visited this veterinary
clinic to observe surgical sterilization procedures.
This, I believe, is a useful and instructional
opportunity. It benefits the animal's health, it
reduces the pet-over population problem, and
introduces students to the benefits which can come
from the veterinary profession.
I believe that because of the outpouring of public
sentiment concerning this incident the school and
veterinarian will likely review their curriculum and
not plan another outing similar in nature to the one
reported upon.
Thank you for your interest and concern.
Sincerely,
John Paul Fox
Chief Investigator
(jfox@utahhumane.org)
MAY 14,
2005
South Sanpete School District Decides to End
Future Live Dog Experiments
Reports have surfaced regarding Doug
Bjerregaard, a substitute biology teacher at
Gunnison Valley High School in Utah's South
Sanpete School District, who took his students
to a local veterinary clinic to witness the
cutting up of a living dog in an effort to
"educate" them firsthand about human anatomy.
This dog was brought from a shelter, and a high
school science class watched as she was
anesthetized and cut open on a cold surgical
table while still alive, in order for
functioning organs to be observed.
Treating animals like scientific "tools" is
clearly not the message that teachers should be
sending to impressionable students. James
Petersen, the superintendent for the school
district notes the following in a
public statement: "We wish to apologize that
the incident happened. Such procedures have not
been a part of our curriculum in the past and
will not be allowed in the future." While we
applaud this step in the right direction, we are
encouraging the district to enact a policy
prohibiting the use of all animals in
its curriculum.
Instead of using animals to teach students
the basics of human anatomy, teachers should use
one of the following popular methods:
- Non-animal mannequins and simulators
- Educational videos
- Multimedia computer simulations
- Clinical practice and human-cadaver
observation
Significant progressive strides have been
made in reducing the number of animals who end
up on school dissection tables. Additionally,
even many well-regarded universities no longer
use live animals, such as the University of Utah
School of Medicine. And countless schools have
incorporated the progressive animal-free
learning tools listed above.
Superintendent Petersen has welcomed PETA's
overtures to consider adopting these
alternatives. We look forward to working with
Mr. Petersen, and we are grateful for his swift
and compassionate decision.
Learn how to
take a stand against cruel animal experiments
at your school.
UTAH LAWMAKERS URGED TO BAN USE OF
SHELTER PETS IN MEDICAL RESEARCH
The Humane Society of the United
States has issued the following statement
after learning that a dog reportedly from a
Utah shelter was used in a school experiment:
The Humane Society of the United States was
outraged to learn that a dog was dissected in
a high school biology exercise about
digestion.
Utah is one of only five states that require
animals from animal shelters to be made
available for scientific experiments.
Currently, 15 other states ban the use of
animals from shelters for research purposes.
We call for the Utah legislature to ban
seizure of animals from shelters and humane
societies for use in research.
Animal shelters should not be used as a cheap
supply house for researchers, and we believe
that the continued use of animals from
shelters destroys the public confidence that
they have worked so hard to build.
The surrender of impounded animals from
shelters to research facilities that use
animals for experimental teaching or testing
purposes is unethical. Research conducted on
shelter animals contributes to a breakdown of
effective community animal-control programs
and undermines public confidence in the
ability of shelters to provide humane care for
the animals entrusted to them.
The Humane Society of the United States is the
nation’s largest animal protection
organization representing more than nine
million members and constituents. The
non-profit organization is a mainstream voice
for animals, with active programs in companion
animals and equine protection, disaster
preparedness and response, wildlife and
habitat protection, animals in research and
farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all
animals through education, investigation,
litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field
work. The group is based in Washington and has
numerous field representatives across the
country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
--30--
CONTACT: Rachel Querry, 301-258-8255, rquerry@hsus.org
|
More info regarding who to contact regarding this
mess in Utah.... Thank you Kristi and Denise for
letting us know of this. Arizona cares and we
will help send our thoughts you can COUNT on
that!!! Here you go everyone...read to the
bottom for full scoop then lock and load!
Cindy
From: Tres CIC
tres@c...
>
> Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 12:41 PM
> I just SPOKE to the Schools SUPERINTENDENT!!! Mr
PETERSON
>
>
> Ok everyone... I just had a good conversation with
a man who was
actually UNAWARE this had happened. His name is Mr.
Peterson and is
the superintendent of the school this took place in.
He listened
offered lots of info and was very helpful in
answering my
questions... and PROMISED he would see that this
would NEVER happen
again in his school. He also said, that the school
principal was
very wrong in trying to defend the teachers actions
and that this
wasn't even a 'regular full time teacher there'. I
urged him to try
to take this horrible event and turn it around and
use the schools
high press profile to turn this around and push for
a law to make
such actions illegal. He has issued as statement
that is on the
schools website that I have read. They do say on the
site: this type
of thing will NOT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. It also goes
into more
details about what happened and that the dog was
under anesthesia. I
did call him back after reading this to say this
statement was in
the right direction but I felt it needed a bit of
rewording. He was
on the phone so I left a message with the secretary.
And guess
what... HE DID call me back! He is a calm man who
does seem like he
CARES and didn't have any idea about what happened
till after the
fact and personally is horrified by it all. I urge
you now to WRITE
HIM.. not call and ask him to USE HIS VOICE and
PRESS CONTACTS to
CHANGE THE LAW and MAKE THIS ILLEGAL ANYWHERE IN THE
US> To UTILIZE
the power of the computer learn biology. To teach
kindness and
compassion. Let's now encourage this man to step up
to the plate to
change things!
>
> Write him: Mr. James Peterson
> 39 South Main
> Manti, Utah 84642
Sent: Friday, May
13, 2005 3:15 PM
Gunnison Incident
(response from Chief Investigator in Utah)
Dear Mr. Fox: In
addition to what we in rescue view as a
horrendously
ill-conceived idea for children in this or almost
any age group under
adulthood, the odds are that there will be one
among these children,
probably a male, who will proceed with a similar
procedure on their own
or another's animal or stray behind their barn, or
in the family garage,
a section of wooded area or similar secluded
spot. Thus, through the
wonder of education, a seed is planted for an
abuser. The amount and
severity of animal abuse by children/teens is hard
to imagine, much less
the people who are now mature and continuing with
the torture and abuse
of animals they initiated as children. Similarly,
the film industry has
no clue about this either and should preface all
their idiotic animal
jokes and situations (such as a cat flushing a
small dog down a toilet)
with "don't try this at home" or "these are not
real animals." I wonder
how many small dogs were "flushed" down toilets
after that stinker hit
the screen. Fake animals are thrown across the
room against a wall and
that is supposed to be funny. In fact, it is an
immediate devaluation
of that animal's life, something that "plants" an
attitude in an
impressionable, or maybe just not that bright,
mind. This misbegotten
idea in Gunnison, whose time has hopefully now
expired with your
assistance, calls into question the underlying
motives of the adults
involved. For me personally, when any adult wants
to expose the insides
of a living, sentient being who might have been
someone's family pet, to
a group of children under his care and control, I
question the
unconscious motives of that person and would
really like to look under
his mattress for other "prurient" material.
There is a "shock and awe"
aspect to this entire matter that has a very
unhealthy aura. The
alternative to this scenario is that these are
just not very bright
people, and it is in just such an unhealthy and
uninformed atmosphere
that the abuse of animals as objects on which to
inflict pain, suffering
and sexual deviances is begun. Thankfully, from
what I have seen
reported on this, there will be no repeat
performance. Thank you for
the press release and for the undoubtedly strong
influence you have had
in bringing this very disturbing matter to a
close. Very truly yours,
PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST
Susan A. Trear
Legal Assistant
2030 Main Street, Suite 1200
Irvine, CA 92614
Dir: 949.851.7466
Fax: 949.752.0597
email:
strear@jdtplaw.com
From East Coast Rescue:
I find it
extremely difficult to find the proper words to
express my disgust and utter disbelief over what
has been allowed in your school under the
guidance of the substitute Biology teacher Doug
Bjerregaard. I do not even know where to begin
to tell you how outraged the entire nation is
about this. I live in a small northeastern town
in VT and everyone involved in rescue and the
humane treatment of animals are in shock that
this not only can happen in a school but also be
condoned by the rest of the staff including the
principal.
This is so
beyond abuse I cannot even find a name for it.
In VT this is a felony and that teacher would be
in jail. Every parent of the children exposed to
this cruelty would be calling attorneys and
suing not only the teacher but the board of
education. Did you feel just because some
irresponsible owner dumped their precious
companion animal off at some dog pound that was
going to kill it anyway may as well be of some
use to society? Is this your idea of how to
teach how the digestive system of a dog works?
Do you also teach how the digestive system of a
human works? What do you use for a subject?
Perhaps a child that is nothing but a burden or
nuisance to the community? Some elderly person
who is bordering senility because after all,
they wouldn't know what was going on anyway? The
entire graphic image I have of this precious dog
being alive while mutilated in the name of
science is just sick and demented.
The emotional
trauma you have exposed these children to is
inexcusable. This so called teacher isn't even
up on a level with Jeffery Dahmer. At least
Dahmer had the decency to kill his "subjects"
before he mutilated them. And how many already
troubled children are you pushing to be the next
Dahmer? How many will go home thinking they are
now knowledgeable in doing this procedure and
try it on their neighbors dog, or worse, another
animal to see how they differ? It is a proven
fact that people, especially young and
vulnerable ones, who abuse animals will and do
go on to do the same to humans. Do you fully
realize what these actions have started? Do you
know how many innocent children will need
professional help for what you felt was all in a
day of learning? Rescues like myself across the
US work everyday to help save abused and
neglected animals. My own grandchildren have to
be shielded from many of the things we as adults
see everyday because the trauma would be too
much for them to bear. The oldest, a 14 year old
female was upset for a week after watching a one
hour Animal Cops show on television about abused
and neglected animals. I don't even want to
think about what an hour in your school would
have done to her.
This is
unacceptable and has to stop. The nation is
watching. Rescues, Humane Societies and other
abuse agencies are all aware and nobody is going
to let this slip through the cracks. I for one
would highly suggest you reprimand and suspend
this so called teacher. Make a public apology
statement to the parents, children and the
community and just count your blessings no if
lawsuits appear on your desk.
Kathie
NORTHEAT LAB
KINGDOM RESCUE AND RELOCATION
Dear Denise,
I am sickened
beyond belief. We'll indeed crosspost to as
many media people as we can...
Bonnie
(national pet relocation transportation MOvie
Producer)
Denise,
Thank
you for your concern in this situation. We
have received a great number of inquiries such
as yours and are indeed amazed that this was
allowed to take place, especially in an
educational setting.
Donald Hill, assistant superintendent of the
South Sanpete School District in Utah has
stated this will not take place again. You can
read more at:
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3180218
If you wish to express your feelings about
this situation, use the contact information
listed at Petabuse.com:
http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/4554
It is great to know there are people out
there like you who are dedicated to making a
difference in the lives of animals!
Sincerely,
Deborah
Delgado-Hand No More Homeless Pets Best
Friends Animal Society 5001 Angel Canyon
Kanab,
Utah 84741
(435) 644-3965
ext. 4401
deborahd@bestfriends.org
www.bestfriends.org
Mr Anderson,
How cruel can one be, imagine your mother or
wife or daughter, sedated and then
dissected that would have been a great lesson
for the kids to see live organs functioning,
what's next? Old people in nursing homes, they
can also be sedated and dissected. or poor Terry
Schiavo she was brain dead anyway, that would
have been even better, don't you agree?
I think that people and animals were put in this
earth by God, and that each one deserves
respect, love, warmth, and care.
Even animals that are sick they deserve to die
with respect, and sometimes we as responsible
pet owners have to put them out of their pain
and misery.And it hurts a hell of a lot.
I think that you as the principle of this school
should not allow this. This is inhumane,let the
poor dog die in peace. Why should he be abused,
even if he was to be euthanized, he should have
been euthanized.not sedated and dissected.
I think that by accepting this cruel and
inhumane action you are sending out a wrong
message to the kids of the school, they look
up to their principle, their leader
If you think that dissecting a live dog is
educational, then you probably agree with Hitler
and his perfected race, and the ovens, and it
is obvious that you are a sick and abusive
person and should not be the principle.
Leave the poor animals alone, if you are not
going to love them, rescue them
or feed them or teach the kids about
unconditional love, and responsibilities and the
,
joys and wonderful times spent with them.
Dr.
Zigg, Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine Doctor from
South Beach, Florida
_____________________________________________-
Thank you for your coverage of the Horrible
Inhumane act of the
Veterinarian.
I have found online the Veterinarian Practice Act
at:
http://www.le.state.ut.us/~code/TITLE58/58_0E.htm
abandonment statute
58-28-9. Animal abandonment.
(1) Any animal which suffers abandonment for a
period of 10 days may be sold or placed in the
custody of the nearest humane society or county
dog pound if the animal is not picked up within
seven days after mailing a notification, by
certified mail, to the last known address of the
person placing the animal in the veterinarian's
custody. If no humane society or dog pound is
located in the county, the animal may be disposed
of in the humane manner.
(2) A veterinarian who complies with this section
is relieved from liability for the disposal or
sale of abandoned animals.
I have voiced by complaint to the lisensing board
of Utah.
Please add to your site a petition at
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/339755891?ltl=1116206624
Joella Teague" <jteague@stx.rr.com>
Most of the Major Medical Schools have closed their dog labs. They have
incredible models of humans that are
anatomically perfect. They operate just like
humans; they bleed and they are amazing. They
are more realistic for students and no dogs
are suffering.
Call or email Physicians Committee For
Responsible Medicine. Neal Benard or a member of
his staff can tell you about these. I saw the
video and heard a talk from the guys who makes
these. They are remarkable.
Please sign petition.
Ann Katcef
Ban Animal Dissection in the classrooms
Thank you for your message regarding Doug Bjerregaard, a substitute biology
teacher at the Gunnison Valley High School in Utah who took his students to a
local veterinary clinic to witness the cutting up of a living dog in an effort
to "educate" them firsthand about human anatomy. We've received an overwhelming
reaction from people who are outraged by this.
On May 13, the school district issued a formal apology for this experiment and
stated that experiments like this will not be carried out in the future (for the
school's response, please visit www.stopanimaltests.com/f-sanpete.asp). While we
applaud this step in the right direction, we are encouraging the district to
enact a policy prohibiting the use of all animals in its curriculum.
Instead of using animals to teach students the basics of human anatomy, teachers
should use one of the following popular methods:
· Non-animal mannequins and simulators
· Educational videos
· Multimedia computer simulations
· Clinical practice and human-cadaver observation
Significant progressive strides have been made in reducing the number of animals
who end up on school dissection tables. Many well-regarded schools, such as the
University of Utah School of Medicine, no longer use live animals. And countless
schools have incorporated the progressive animal-free learning tools listed
above.
Superintendent James Petersen of Gunnison Valley High School's South Sanpete
School District has welcomed PETA's requests to consider adopting alternatives.
We look forward to working with Mr. Petersen, and we are grateful for his swift
and compassionate decision.
To learn how to take a stand against cruel animal experiments in schools, please
visit http://www.peta2.com/TAKECHARGE/t-dissection.asp.
Thank you for your compassion and concern for animals!
Sincerely,
The PETA Staff
Thank you for contacting ALDF about this unnecessary and outrageous
"project" at a Utah veterinary clinic. As you may know,
there are no Utah laws (or laws in any state) that make dissection illegal.
Certainly this was most inappropriate and completely
unnecessary, especially considering the wonderful computer models and other
models available today to teach students about anatomy.
We have received the following email from the Humane Society of Utah, which we
think articulates the problem well and includes information on how to write to
the board of education there. We strongly suggest that you write to them and
get others to do so as well.
Thank you so much for your concern about this despicable act.
Eileen Stark
Anti-Cruelty Division
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