A high school agriculture teacher in Texas is facing charges of animal cruelty after allegedly instructing her students to staple a cat‘s incision while the animal was awake and in visible distress. The incident, which was captured on video, has sparked widespread outrage.
Emily Marie Benner, 25, a teacher at a high school in the Westwood district of Palestine, Texas, was charged with animal cruelty to non-livestock following the incident. Palestine is located approximately 112 miles southeast of Dallas. According to a report by CBS 19, Benner was taken into custody and later released from the Anderson County Jail on a $7,500 bond.
The graphic nature of the incident, which was recorded on video, has made it too disturbing to be publicly shared, according to CBS 19. The footage allegedly shows Benner instructing her students to restrain the cat on a table as it resisted and cried out in pain. Despite the animal’s distress, the teacher proceeded to guide the students through the process of stapling the incision.
The video concludes with the classroom erupting in cheers, a moment that has further fueled public outrage. Following the incident, the cat was taken into the care of a local veterinarian.
Benner, who received her Texas Educator Certificate on June 9, 2022, is certified to teach agriculture, food, and natural resources to students in grades six through twelve. The Texas Education Agency records confirm her certification.
In response to the incident, Wade Stanford, superintendent of the Westwood Independent School District, issued a statement to parents and students, condemning the actions as animal cruelty. “This behavior is not in line with the values and standards we uphold within our district,” Stanford stated. He assured the community that the district would take immediate and decisive action to prevent any similar incidents in the future.
The district has not yet disclosed whether Benner will continue in her role as a teacher. School representative Britni Calzada declined to comment on personnel matters, noting that the investigation is ongoing.
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