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School regrets dog vivisection



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.
05/13/05 11:06


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