PRESTON, Idaho - The investigation continues at Preston Junior High School after a parent reported a biology teacher fed a live puppy to his classroom turtle.
A petition supporting the teacher started by the students has gotten nearly 1,600 signatures.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office did not release the teacher's name, but the petition identified him as Robert Crosland.
Superintendent Marc Gee said the incident occurred after school on March 7.
The sheriff's office was also investigating the teacher after receiving a complaint of animal cruelty.
While the biology teacher has many backing him, some parents are simply outraged.
"It was not a biological specimen, it was a puppy," Jill Parrish said. "And it was fed to the snapping turtle alive. It was a sick puppy, that's beside the point. It was probably going to die, that's all beside the point. It's inhumane what they did to that puppy. And that is my outrage."
The teacher remains in the classroom pending the results of the investigation.
In a prepared statement, school district officials asked community members for patience and said the teacher has shown care, effort and passion on the job for years.
