Tuesday June 23, 2009, 3:07 pm



Thnx Raffi!

Tuesday June 23, 2009, 3:09 pm
Please take poll-

Cat Killings Fuel Dissecting Debate
PETA, educators clash over cutting cats in the classroom

In the wake of the gruesome killings of several cats in South Florida, and the news that the teen accused in the killings dissected cats in a high school class, educators are questioning whether cutting up animal carcasses in school should be eliminated from the curriculum.

Almost 20 cats have been tortured, mutilated and killed in the in the South Miami-Dade area in less than two months.

When 18-year-old Tyler Weinman was arrested and charged with killing 19 cats in Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay, we soon learned that the high schooler had dissected a cat during an anatomy class during his junior year.

Weinman's arrest fueled the argument for critics who'd like to see dissecting become a thing of the past.

PETA quickly jumped on his former school, Miami Palmetto High, demanding they put a stop to animal dissections in favor of more humane learning methods, like using fake animal models.

"There is no research that shows using real cats is better than non-animal learning methods," Justin Goodman, a PETA researcher, told the Miami Herald.

Supporters of animal dissecting say that the practice, which has been around for hundreds of years, is generally for more advanced science classes, and that it's hard to replicate the real deal.

PLEASE READ MORE AT SITE_

Tuesday June 23, 2009, 3:35 pm
No 86% Thanks Raffi!

Tuesday June 23, 2009, 3:39 pm
I took the poll on the page...
Should cats be dissected in the classroom?

1 Yes 2 No 1 13%Yes
2 87%No
Of course I voted NO.
Thanks Rafael.

Tuesday June 23, 2009, 6:05 pm
I can't believe this is going on. What kind of school is this? A stupid one. Noted with disgust. Thanks Raffi.

Should cats be dissected in the classroom?

1 Yes 2 No 1 12%Yes
2 88%No

Tuesday June 23, 2009, 6:11 pm
Thanks Rafael

Tuesday June 23, 2009, 7:06 pm
89% no

Darn right this practise should be banned completely! What on earth does anyone have the right to cut up a cat, pig, frog etc., in highschool anyway? Or anywhere else for that matter!

Tuesday June 23, 2009, 7:11 pm
Thanks, Raffi! Some of you know that all this is too close to comfort for me - I live in Coconut Grove (part of Miami) and one of my daughters in one of the afflicted neighborhoods, Palmetto Bay!
Now, for God's Sake, disecting ANY animals in a High School classroom is insane!!! This is a course that should only be taught at college level and even then only in advanced studies to only students with an interest in medicine or biology! How can this be tolerated in High Schools where most of the kids are more interested in partying, drugs and alcohol and, let's not forget ... sex, than something as serious than disecting animals. Unless you have a dark underside like Weinman, then you would looove to get at it with them knives ....!
Forgive me for rambling on but this makes me so sick and angry!
By the way, the last Miami Herald article as of today also talks about a beautiful Bengal Cat Mix that was brutally murdered. Now, what they deliberately not tell you is that this last victim was found only this past Sunday! My daughter, who lives diagonally across from the owner (flower shop) had just arrived home from her morning yoga class and when she saw police cars at the place she went over to see what all the commotion was about! Needless to say it was heartbreaking! What was interesting, though, was that the police stated that they would NOT file a police report .... the reason apparently being that since Weinman is under house arrest, this has to be the work of another person (friend, accomplice?)! Looks like they don't want any distraction so they can nail Weinman.
I am not sure what to make of this ... what do you all think? Sadly it seems like there is new terror lurking!
Heide

Tuesday June 23, 2009, 7:14 pm
Voted "no".

Tuesday June 23, 2009, 7:46 pm
No definitely! Thanks Raffi

Tuesday June 23, 2009, 8:06 pm
There should be no animal dissecting in the classroom period!

Tuesday June 23, 2009, 9:37 pm
90% No!!!!

I was a straight A student in my biology class up until they went to make us dissect a frog. I of course refused and ended up having to go to summer school because I failed the semester just because I wouldn't do it. There where about 10 of us just from my class that had to take summer school. In all about 48 students failed that semester and all because we refused to have any part in this despicable act.

Dissection needs to be banned. It doesn't teach anything except reinforcing beliefs that animals are not sentient beings and that they are here to do what ever humans choose to do with them which is simply not the case. We should be teaching our children compassion not apathy.

Tuesday June 23, 2009, 10:18 pm
No, of course.
Tx Raffi

Wednesday June 24, 2009, 12:29 am
What place has animal dissection anywhere else but possibly a vet school. Another example of abuse for abuse sake because ignorant "educators" appaarently know no better! Schools appear to have a wilfull desire to waste everything in their control and animals would seem to me being used in the same way as consumable supplies are with no thought or reason! THere are more where those came from being the overiding principle!

Wednesday June 24, 2009, 2:20 am
Thanks Raffi. The Poll now says 91% 'No" votes.
It is disgusting to dissect cats, or any living animal, in high school biology classes - or anywhere else. Are these the students who then go on to work in laboratories, or where animals are used and abused? As LaJana stated - teach compassion not apathy. What is it really teaching these children???
I opted out of Biology lessons when I was told you would have to dissect a frog. A career in Pathology was thwarted when I discovered what they did to rats & mice. Put my job as chef on the line when I refused to make brawn, which involved the cutting off of pig's ears & taking out their eyes - changed my vocation very soon thereafter.

Wednesday June 24, 2009, 7:31 am
Sherbet... what are they teaching or allowing these kids to do... teaching them to become like the "Chainsaw Mascare"... this is disgusting, it should not even be contemplated in schools... How disapointing, and careless, perhaps they will grow up with no regard to pets and other animals.

Wednesday June 24, 2009, 9:10 am
Bout time, too, that somebody "looked into this..." Shame all those cats were murdered before it was done! Thx Rafael

Wednesday June 24, 2009, 10:14 am
Thanks everyone for your comments. Gemma-like you- I as going into pathology but the realities of the ways animals were used for demonstration and the rest -I just couldn't do it anymore than you could.

The way I see it... it dissociates the person doing the dissecting from the life force that was in that creature before it was made into a tool for them to experiment with-thereby rendering it to simply a commodity-disposable and of no value.

The schools in Broward County north of Miami--phased that practice out a decade ago-There are computerized ways to learn these things that are being implemented in many schools. I want to see that poll rise to 98%...

Another thing that is coming out of this killing spree in Miami is a debate on the rights of animals and the degree of punishment that should be exacted on someone who commits these crimes.

Wednesday June 24, 2009, 2:26 pm
We had mice/frogs when I was at school with the choice not to participate. I didn't. This school is putting across how worthless domestic animals/pets are. I don't agree using any animasl in this manner. There must be another way.

Wednesday June 24, 2009, 2:42 pm
This is shocking. What has happened to our society when children walk the streets of South Florida killing cats, No animal should endure this kind of pain. I vote no on dissecting of animals in High Schools.
Shirley H.

Wednesday June 24, 2009, 3:12 pm
I care very deeply about dissedting any animal in a class. This is just something that should not be done. I realize the the cats are dead when the kids get them, but still, what a horrible horrible example for anyone teenager to go through. When they have been taught (we hope) respect for humans, and for animals, then say ok, just cut this up. How terrible that this is even expect of our children.. Mine stayed home on those days and were threaten of failing, but once I went to school and had a talk with the teacher we came to a good understanding that I would be up there every day with a picket sign in front of the school, they decided she just would get a low grade, didn't brother us, but still wasn't right. We try to teach our children what is wrong and right and then they get in trouble for standing up for what they believe is right. What do you call that talking out of both side of your mouth. As far as the boy is concerned, they need to throw the book at him, give him a fine, make him do jail time, make him have years of community service, do not allow him to ever have a animal of any kind as a pet and just in general get him out of society, because it will be a human next. What ever excuse he uses is not good enough, he knew right from wrong, and if he had done it one time but to do it as much as he did, he knew it was wrong and sickly perverted. He will go on to much worst stuff. Sorry for his parents if they care, why did they not know what he was doing??? I have stop now because this so upsets me I could just go on forever.

Wednesday June 24, 2009, 3:19 pm
In the UK dissection is not part of the biology course up to 18 years old, I think that that is when your High School finishes. It is only necessary to perform dissection if you are doing a degree which involves research into wild animals (& you find a dead animal and need to know why it died) or are becoming a vet.

Now, I would point out that the library (an archaic building where books - sheets of paper attached to each other - with writing & sometimes pictures on them) has books showing pictures of anything that High School students would need. In addition, most children have access to the internet which also has pictures of anything that the children would need and this could be seen in 3D.

Wednesday June 24, 2009, 4:19 pm
I thought I would put this in here-as an indication of some of the mindset that is going on in the background of this issue...

This one is a very good detailed article-
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-animal-dissections-bn092209,0,1669635.story

And this one-well, you have to read it-
http://www.momsmiami.com/?a=profile&u=2638&t=blog&blog_id=1980

Wednesday June 24, 2009, 5:43 pm
Thanks Raffi for the update. I left a comment on the second one (kittykares) - I had to register on the site but it was worth it. I can't believe that some people actually advocate this because they think that by dissecting an animal their child might decide to become a doctor or veterinarian. Even if their child decides they want to become a doctor how exactly is dissecting an animal going to help them?? When they get into medical school they will be working on human cadavers - that will help them become a doctor not knowing what the inside of a poor dead frog or cat looks like. As far as becoming a vet then they at that point would have to work on a cat but the frog?? How many vets do you know do surgery on frogs or even fetal pigs for that matter??

Wednesday June 24, 2009, 7:27 pm
When I was in high school-1966, our science teacher dissected a cat. The information he provided from this
"great feat" was inaccurate as for medical information he told the class. We did frogs and worms that year for each student. Very little, but more probably no information was learned or retained by the students. I was in the nursing program in high school. My goal always was to become a veterinarian and when I was in college we had to dissect a fetal pig.I didn't like the idea, but being in the vet program, it was part of the required assignments. Due to the fumes of the preservatives used to pickle the bodies, I could not complete the classes, as non-chemical animal cadavers were not available. This part of the classes had to be complete to go on to the next class.This was well before the day of the Internet and computers were only being talked about. I wish they had the needed information back then so I could have completed my vet training then.

I still care for many animals and people and neighbors still bring my the lost, sick or injured animals in my area for my to take care of or to find someone who can.

I think this school practice should be eliminated except for those who would learn anything from this practice and only then should it be allowed to college students who will enter a field of working with animals. Anything else borders on the side of sadism.

Thursday June 25, 2009, 5:13 am
All these outdated and horribly cruel practices must be eliminated.

Thursday June 25, 2009, 11:05 am
OMG they can't do that in the schools. Those might be somebody's pet.

Thursday June 25, 2009, 11:06 am
OMG that pic looks just like cuddles.