Classroom hamster beaten
Pasadena, TX (US)Incident Date: Friday, Jan 7, 2005
County: Harris
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» 14 year old boy
» 15 year old boy
Pasadena Independent School District police arrested two Queens Intermediate School students for allegedly torturing a class pet. The boys are 14 and 15 years old, according to Troy Harrison, PISD assistant police chief.
On Jan. 7, the students were reportedly seen by a substitute teacher handling the classroom pet. The class had been instructed on that day not to handle the hamster, Harrison said.
On Monday, the hamster (named Kiwi) was not acting naturally, Harrison said.
The hamster had a substance coming out of its eye sockets, Harrison added.
The teacher took the pet to a veterinarian who said that the animal had suffered trauma to the head. It is believed that the students thumped the hamster on the head, Harrison said.
The animal had to be euthanized. District police were contacted by the teacher on Wednesday, Harrison said.
He said the investigation was completed on Thursday.
The students admitted taking the hamster out of the cage and treating the hamster in a rough manner, Harrison said.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office accepted felony animal cruelty charges against the students, Harrison said. Authorities said the teens have never been in trouble before and will most likely receive probation. References« TX State Animal Cruelty Map
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