Dec 13, 2007 8:13 am US/Central
Texas Students Kill, Cook, Eat Raccoon In Class
COLUMBUS, Texas (AP) ―
The killing, cooking and eating of a baby raccoon as part of a class in Columbus has raised animal cruelty questions.
Police Chief Danny Jackson says usually the animals are dead when they're part of a wildlife management and harvesting class at Columbus High School.
Jackson says the October incident apparently involved two students who took a live raccoon to school.
"Started stepping and stomping on it, joking they're tenderizing the animal," Jackson told a Houston television station.
He says the youths then skinned that raccoon, cooked it and ate it.
Superintendent Randy Hoyer says a substitute teacher was in the class that day and "did not know any better" -- but it won't happen again.
Hoyer adds with the substitute teacher, the students in essence had permission to process the animal on site.
But student Stephan Zavala calls it animal cruelty. Columbus is located about 55 miles west of Houston and has about 4,100 residents.
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