There was outrage last week when it was reported an animal had been castrated at a Georgia high school. I became interested in this case because Toccoa, located in Stephens County, is only one county over from where my maternal family lives. I covered the story here on Examiner, as it wasn’t announced whether a cat or dog was involved. We now understand that it was a cat.
The actual act of castration was conducted by the science teacher but the students participated in holding the cat. The students were accomplices.
I also understand that the cat belonged to the instructor at Stephens County High School and was taken into their Animal Science (agriculture) class. During this class it was held down by the students and castrated, without benefit of anesthesia. Bryan Dorsey, Superintendent for Stephens County Schools, says he was notified of the situation, and has made the following media statement
“We have had high school administration looking into one, our first concern, about the safety of our students, making sure there were no protocols we need to be checking on there so that is being done. We are making sure we review the curriculum and appropriate protocols with our staff. We want to make sure that is also being done. Concerning any further questioning of the staff member involved, that person has chosen to resign, so we are not able to follow up with that. The teacher that resigned was Mr. Hebert.”
While Dorsey believes there is a place in an appropriate farm setting for students to learn the proper procedure for castration, it shouldn’t take place in a classroom. Dorsey goes on to say that the behavior isn’t condoned.
The Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter Director Jeff Roberts says Animal Control has reached out to other state agencies to investigate the incident. Local agencies are conducting their own investigation. There is the issue of whether animal cruelty charges should be filed against Mr. Hebert.
Can you imagine the mental, as well as physical anguish, inflicted upon this helpless cat? I can’t imagine the fear it experienced from being held down by a bunch of strangers. The pain of being castrated without anesthesia of any kind. To me, this was a sadistic act that was performed not only on the cat, but on the students in the class. A lot of students are hesitant these days to dissect a dead animal, much less a pet like many probably have at home.
I wonder how many students spoke out against this, and were chastised, belittled or ignored. How long will these students have nightmares about that day? Will any of them require counseling? These are all valid concerns the parents need to take up with the school board.
As for the readers, please comment on whether you believe animal cruelty charges are needed for this despicable act.
Well if this area of the state is ambivalent about sadistic animal abuse and torture then they need to hear from the rest of the country that isn’t. This teacher committed a crime that involved a helpless, innocent victim and had students help him commit the crime. He should not be allowed to be around kids or animals. Ridiculous that this is being debated.
My sentiments exactly but people defended him. Please make more comments. They’ll be published instantly.
Mine are awaiting moderation and have not been published instantly.
All future comments of yours will be published immediately. Thanks for commenting.
I live near this county, and I agree the teacher should be DISMISSED immediately, and charges brought…however, in this part of the state, the residents are backward, and completely ambivalent about it. The local elected officials are ultra-conservative (this county was part of that combined drug force that threw the flash-bang grenade into that baby’s playpen a few months back) and are trying to take this county back to 1948. They are only interested in downtown revitalization, “just like it used to be.” It is well-known for its high-school drop-out rate, the dwindling local economy, and service-oriented menial job opportunities. The city/county are the two largest employers in the county. It is the joke of the state of Georgia. So, don’t get your hopes up too high.
Hi, your comment adds nicely to the page and helps me understand why some people defend his actions, which I discuss in a follow up page:
https://pictures-of-cats.org/people-defend-teacher-who-castrated-two-cats-in-school-classroom-while-students-assist.html
Thanks for sharing your “on the front line” experiences. Come back, please 😉
I covered that one! http://www.examiner.com/article/georgia-swat-team-threatened-after-toddler-critically-injured-by-flash-grenade
Thank you for posting this. I am from Toccoa-Stephens County Georgia. All of this is true. The agriculture teacher castrated two kittens in class. Some of the students participated by holding down the kittens. One student was bitten. The kittens were given ibuprofen (i know, toxic to cats) and lidocaine spray for pain. No charges against the teacher, Mr. Daniel Hebert, have been filed yet. Animal Control is investigating. A few of us have spoken out against Mr. Hebert but most of the county’s population see nothing wrong with this. We “trouble makers” are still writing letters and speaking out. Please join us in making noise. This is animal cruelty and illegal and Mr. Hebert should be charged. You can read news articles at http://www.wnegradio.com Thank you.
Your comment backs up what another visitor has said. I wrote about this on a follow up page:
https://pictures-of-cats.org/people-defend-teacher-who-castrated-two-cats-in-school-classroom-while-students-assist.html
Thanks for helping us to understand the attitude of people in this area. It seems that a proportion of society have a less than enlightened approach to animal welfare.
I’m not even going to look at that article as i feel disgusted. How can anyone do such a thing. Especially in a School Enviroment. Deeply sadeened. 🙁
…as long as I am “there”, these are the conversations I imagined would be had with our dear Michael, given his former vocation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL5M00bXNzc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LG7WQfpEs8
🙂 I almost choked on my tea. I remember this skit from years ago. I am not actually like that… LOL. I’m quite normal (well I think I am).
The reason why you comment was held for moderation had nothing to do with me but the anti-spam software. If I sees two links it holds the comment because spammers include links.
When the original “Declaration of Independence” was drafted in protest to your King, dear Michael, those claiming “Titles of Nobility” (specifically ‘Esquire’) were to be “set off from the shore”.
No mention was ever made of providing them with a boat.
I wish we could share a bit of tea, dear Michael. Mine has a taste of juniper and coriander in it this morn, as you might surmise.
OK new article, which links PoC back in and has all the contact info included.