Agriculture teacher charged with animal cruelty after witnessing a cat undergo 'deeply disturbing' procedure in class

PALESTINE, Texas (Gray News) – A high school agriculture teacher has been arrested following a “deeply disturbing” classroom incident involving a cat.

Emily Marie Benner, 25, is accused of animal cruelty to other animals after she allegedly instructed students to staple the wound area of ​​a cat.

According to a press release from the school, the behavior during a livestock education class was “animal cruelty.” According to KLTV, the school “deeply regrets” the suffering caused to the students who witnessed the incident.

In a video obtained by CBS19, students are allegedly instructed to staple a cat's cut.

The video allegedly shows Benner instructing the students to grab the awake and resisting cat and place it on a table. The cat “screams” as the students restrain it as instructed and turn it onto its back. Benner then tells the students to staple the cat's cut.

The cat is being cared for by a local veterinarian.

“This behavior is not consistent with the values ​​and standards we uphold in our district, and we are committed to taking immediate and decisive action to address this issue,” Westwood ISD Superintendent Wade Stanford said in a letter to parents.

According to KLTV, Benner was arrested on Sunday and posted her $7,500 bail the same day.

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