Idaho officials euthanized a snapping turtle Friday, days after a biology teacher allegedly fed a sick puppy to the animal in front of the students in his class.
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The snapping turtle, which is deemed an invasive species by the Idaho Department of Agriculture, was seized amid an investigation into possible animal cruelty charges against a Preston Junior High School teacher, whom authorities have not yet identified.
The story generated outrage across the Internet, and police said they are increasing security at schools in the district because of threats linked to the alleged March 7 incident.
"It was enough of a threat that our parents thought we ought to have a bit of a presence over there," Preston Police Chief Mike Peterson said Friday.
He said two police officers and four Franklin County sheriff's deputies were stationed at schools on Thursday that are normally patrolled by one sheriff's deputy. The district doesn't hold classes on Fridays, but officers may return to provide added security on Monday.
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Preston parent Farahlyn Hansen said she is upset about the treatment the teacher has received, not the act of feeding the puppy to the turtle, which she called "humane." Hansen's two boys were among the three students who witnessed the act, the Preston Citizen reported.
"My kids are very upset about the way (he) is being portrayed in the news," Hansen told the Citizen. "I'm outraged at people making the comments they have about him. He's spent his whole life showing kids how to care for and feed animals."
Local animal rights activist Jill Parrish filed a police report after hearing about the incident, Salt Lake City TV station KSTU reported.
"Allowing children to watch an innocent baby puppy scream because it is being fed to an animal. That is violence. That is not OK," Parrish told KSTU.
The 2004 film "Napoleon Dynamite" was set in Preston, which has a population of about 5,200.
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Contributing: The Associated Press
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