Our animal rescue group was contacted by a group of concerned students who were asked to dissect cats in their classroom. I have made several attempts to contact the principle, Christopher Kursonis, but he has not returned any of my calls, emails or letters.

The school orders the bodies of cats from Ward Science. I called them several times to inquire how they get dead cats to sell and I was always given the vague answer “from our vendor.” Nobody wanted to give me any more information so I asked to speak with the manager. From the photos I was supplied with, the cats all look to be young calicos leading me to believe that they were bred in a lab just for this purpose. I finally spoke with Jim Collins of Ward Science and he said that they are identical by coincidence and the cats actually come from the animal shelter. Honestly, I am not sure which is more disturbing. Basically the students are cutting up people’s lost or abandoned pets. What kind of a lesson does that teach our children? We expect them to go home and be kind to their pets. They provide companionship and teach responsibility, yet they go to their place of education and are made to cut them up just for the sake of curiosity. After all, these are K-12 students.

I also found it disturbing that for more money, you can purchase a pregnant cat. I asked Mr. Collins how he knew that the cats were pregnant, and he said they just felt the abdomen and that the shelter just “didn’t notice they were pregnant.”

Should cutting up cats be a part of the curriculum? Should we not be teaching our children compassion toward animals? Should students have to fear that they will be made fun of or bullied if they refuse to do the dissection?

There is not only a more humane solution, but a free solution to this supplied by The National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS). I contacted them about this issue and I spoke with a very nice woman who told me about a program they offer called Bio LEAP (Biology Education Advancement Program). It is a FREE lending library of life science teaching tools they will send to any class. They have three-dimensional models representing 18 different species, CD-ROMS, DVDs, interactive computer programs, workbooks, videos and transparencies.

Please sign and share this petition and ask Abby Kelley Foster Charter School to adopt a more humane and compassion curriculum and stop cutting up cats!