| | Animal CrueltyPage 1 of 3 (1, 2, 3) | | Need advice here. I work at a school as a maintenance supervisor. I am a contracted employee. Over the past few weeks I have noticed that a kindergarten teacher keeps a rabbit in her room in a cage. She leaves him there all weekend. Many times I have noticed the rabbit had no food or water. I take it upon myself to give the poor thing food and water. I have talked with another kindergarten teacher about this, and she usually defends the other teacher as having alot on her mind. I can tell she does not want to get involved. I don't want to get involved either as I am contracted and not a "real" employee like the teachers, and I don't know how it would sit with the Principal if I told him about this. Tonight I went and bought food for the rabbit as he was without for 2 days. Am I overeacting? I really do not know much about rabbits. The teacher seems like a nice lady but I cannot understand why she neglects this poor creature. Help? | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/18/2008 11:51:49 PM | Well OP ... I too don't know a lot about the eating requirements of rabbits. Some animals like reptiles (I think) can go for extended periods without food, but I would question any warm-blooded creature being without fresh water for more than 24 hours. What I would do is first find out if rabbits are normally OK without food for a weekend -- perhaps the internet could help. If, as I suspect, they cannot, I would talk to the teacher directly -- and immediately. And if there is nothing done about it by her, speak to her superior (the principal of the school). Sorry ... but 'having a lot on one's mind' just doesn't cut it when it comes to the responsibility for care of another living creature.
cdn guy | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/18/2008 11:59:51 PM | ^^^^^^^What he said.
Go to the teacher immediately and directly, person to person.
Do NOT talk to someone else until you have done this most basic of ethical requirements.
IF you can not find a reasonable solution or answer THEN go to her superior.
IF this causes you employment problems you MAY have a lawsuit, but that would require the advice of a labor attorney.
Good luck to you friend....and give my regards to "Buggs". | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 12:46:41 AM | OP, it is a good job you are there or the rabbit could well be starved over the weekends. you are not over reacting at all.
even if the teacher does have a lot on her mind, it is no excuse for animal neglect \ cruelty.
make an anonymous call to the RSPCA | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 1:15:50 AM | I can't understand why the teacher hasn't involved the students in the care of this animal. that's generally why an animal is allowed to stay in a classroom setting to begin with, unless this animal was "given" to the classroom with good intentions, but without making sure that it would be truly accepted as a responsibility by all concerned (teacher, student, parent volunteers, etc.).
lol, I was once a parent that "adopted" a chinchilla for summer break, I don't know who enjoyed the task of caring for it more--me, or my sons!
I've been an elementary school employee for 18 years and I know how sometimes "things" and teachers are overlooked. teachers unions are very strong and that can make for weak leadership and poor judgment calls. jmo | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 1:18:04 AM | OMG...that is just CRUEL,& i cant stand cruelty to animals........one of the few things in life that can make me cry.
So,im begging you to please contact someone in authority & if nec, ring an animal welfare agency.
Its inexcusable what this teachers doin,  | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 1:29:50 AM | I have a good friend, an elementary school teacher who, every spring acquires a dozen or so duck eggs, sets up a cage in her classroom and lets the grade 1 and 2 children watch the hatching and growth of the ducklets (is that the right word?) until the children leave school for summer vacation. Then she calls another friend with a farm that takes the ducks from her and puts them on his farm. She's done this every year for many years now.
On some long weekends, when she can't get into the school once or twice a day to check on them and feed them, she has to take them all home with her for the weekend. I must admit, phoning her on those weekends and listening to the little quackers in the background wandering around her home is one of the funniest moments of my weekend. I don't know how she does it. But the point is, she does ... on the weekends when she can't get into the school to care for them, she takes them home. If she wasn't willing to take this responsibility, she wouldn't agree to keep ducks in her classroom.
cdn guy | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 1:44:21 AM | I believe what you are seeing is WORSE then what one may see on the street. At least if a stray animal is left to fend for itself on the street, it can. Being gaged, this animal has NO choice.
This is bothering you only because YOU know it's not right, and it IS your right to take a stand no matter what your work stauss is.
Going to the person directly, IMO, would have very little effect, if they aren't smart enough now to realise this is wrong, then someone saying something shouldn't have much effect, UNLESS you state that if it isn't changed you WILL report her to animal cruelity. Taking it to the head cheese MIGHT do something faster, but in the end 80% of us no it's not right.
Besides, like others have said, why not have the kids do a weekend taking care of it, isn't that the whole point of having an animal in class, learning how to take care of it properly? What kind of example is see REALLY teaching these kids? Not one that I would want my kids learning, thats for sure.... | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 1:50:18 AM | | This is precisely why I do not go to zoos, county fairs, rodeos, circuses and such. No cages alowed in my life so I share your feelings about the poor animal. And yet I have no right to judge others. You see, I use animal products for my own pleasure and consumption which subjects animals to far worse cruelty than this rabbit in a cage. So my advise to you? If you eat meat, wear leather belts, ride on leather seats in your car or in any way take advantage of animal products, you have no rite to judge and therefor you wanna keep your mouth shut. | |
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rune3
| | Joined: 7/13/2006
Msg: 10 | |
| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 3:18:11 AM | What is happening is definitely cruel. Rabbits need water to be always available, and food and they also need company.
The most subtle approach would be this: go to the teacher in question and say how great it is that the kids have the opportunity to have contact with an animal and ask her for advice on how to care for a rabbit: "do they need water to be available at all times?", "how often do they need feeding", "do they need company?".
If she clearly hasn't a clue, she may be prompted to do her own research. If not, you could go back to her and say that you've been doing some research of your own and that you are concerned about the rabbit in the classroom. It would be best to offer an easy solution: maybe you could offer to take the bunny home with you each weekend?
If she clearly doesn't care about the animal then I think you should take the matter to the principal, and simply express your concern that the animal is being mistreated and that the children and therefore their parents will be upset and angry if it dies due to the neglect that is happening.
Last resort is to contact whatever charity/group acts when there is animal abuse. In this country there is the RSPCA which pursues cases like this and may even get the police involved -- and there would be serious loss of face in the newspapers if a school was found to be abusing an animal in this way.
My own pet rabbit died last month, after over 11 years. I think cruelty to animals is abominable but bunnies have a special place in my heart. To be completely honest, I think that wringing the poor creature's neck may be a kinder last-resort solution than allowing the suffering to continue indefinitely. | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 4:55:55 AM |
I have a good friend, an elementary school teacher who, every spring acquires a dozen or so duck eggs, sets up a cage in her classroom and lets the grade 1 and 2 children watch the hatching and growth of the ducklets (is that the right word?) until the children leave school for summer vacation. Then she calls another friend with a farm that takes the ducks from her and puts them on his farm. She's done this every year for many years now.
I have a farm, and this happens to me every year. The problem is, the teacher never arranges it ahead of time. He knows my daughter is a sucker for cute little critters, so he gets her to talk me into keeping them....another bunch of hungry little mouths to feed (for some reason they never learn to fly and hang around all winter, quacking for food).
OP; I agree that you need to talk to the teacher. My daughter has a bunny (part of our vast zoo), and they do need food and water every day. There are water bottles and feeders that will last over a weekend, or even 3-4 days. | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 5:49:12 AM | I was brought up to look after your animals FIRST. That means every morning to let them out , feed and water them before you do anything for yourself. They can not do it for themselves. I would not hesitate talking to the teacher in charge of the rabbit. If you saw no results then go directly to the principal. This is animal cruelty and should not be tolerated the same as child abuse. How would those children feel if Monday morning they came to school and the rabbit was dead? What is this teaching the children. Take action my man..
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 6:07:29 AM | Rabitts are continuious grazers in the wild. HIgh metabolic rates means they need to eat and drink almost continually.
Did the critter have a water bottle. (If it did you will have seen it Trust me)
If not I'm surprised it didn't die of thirst. | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 6:17:42 AM | I would immediately speak to the person about it if I saw an animal not being fed or given water on a daily basis. No one forces anyone to have a pet...........it's a choice the human being makes and there is a responsiblity there. The poor animals are totally dependant on us providing for them when we choose them as pets and if you can't remember to take care of them, just don't have them!
I had my two cats for 14 years and lost them both last year...........And I'm such a freak about taking care of animals that I'm not sure if I should get another pet because I'm 58 and I won't get one unless I know that I can take care of it for another 15 years! (I would be 73...........am I going to be able to take care of a new pet until I'm 73?)
But knowing me, I will get another one at some point. Animals have feelings just like we do. They don't just need food and water, they need attention, too. I love watching the shows they do on the mountain gorillas who they are trying to teach language, too. That one mountain gorilla REMEMBERED his mother being killed in the jungle 15 years later!!!! And he got sad and had tears in his eyes!
If a wild animal experiences that, surely our pets realize a lot more then we give them credit for! When an animal does something "wrong", they feel guilty.........they know they have done something we didn't want them to do.............just watch animals.... even ducks! ......... it's hysterical..........fascinating! Some of them are stubborn. Some of them are grouchy..........some are lovers...........they have personalities, too........
I love animals obviously! | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 6:19:03 AM | you what I'd do IF I could get away w/ it...take it out of there, & make it look like it got out...
I consider myself an honest, moral person w/ good character...BUT how moral is this teacher neglecting a LIFE????
When I was 20 years old, I lived w/ a female roomate, & I used to hang my laundry out of the window on a clothesline & I noticed the next door neighbors had a cage in the yard w/ rabbits...They had a TODDLER, about 18 mos. old who I used to see playing w/ the rabbits & I thought how cute...then my Italian American roomie told me they raised rabbits to EAT..I flipped out & told her I ws gonna sneak in the yard & let them out...she said they'd die anyway wild & I'd get arrested or in BIG trouble
...so I did NOT do it....
I SHOULD HAVE...how heinous...have a baby play w/ an animal & then EAT it????
I'm not a vegan, but I can understand WHY people do it...maybe I should too....
I have 2 cats, they are like little children! Domestic animals have the cognitive ability of a 4 year old child...& the emotions too!
I used to have a cat that was very sick & dying...my other cat used to take care of him & help him.... when he died, even the other cat mourned him..I got another cat & they bonded...the cat who took care of the sick cat died a few years later...the surviving cat grieved & went into DEPRESSION! I got another cat a year later....they still don't get along, very jealous of eachother....
Animals can have emotions & intellect, & the rabbit being left like that makes me ill. Makes me think of the cosmetics I use...don't they test makeup on rabbits????
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 7:39:35 AM |
I SHOULD HAVE...how heinous...have a baby play w/ an animal & then EAT it????
I'm not a vegan, but I can understand WHY people do it...maybe I should too....
If you eat meat, it hypocritical not to acknowledge WHERE that meat comes from. It's all too easy to close your mind and pretend that it was never alive and that it comes from the supermarket on a styrofoam tray. My kids play with the baby farm animals, fully aware that they are destined to be food; they accept it as "the way it is". If we eat meat, the best we can do is to make sure that meat animals have a good life and humane death. | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 7:51:09 AM | | This thread is certainly different. What does it have to do with dating, though? And why is it in Over 45? | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 7:55:11 AM |
This thread is certainly different. What does it have to do with dating, though? And why is it in Over 45?
Oh I suppose if you stretch a little you could say that after a few dates even those of us north of forty five can still do the nasty like rabbits? | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 8:13:16 AM | LOL - do the nasty I'm okay with, multiplying not so much.  | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 9:27:42 AM | OP
Express your concerns, discreetly, to the teacher involved. She obviously is not teaching by example when she shows this type of apathy. Continue to provide care and comfort for this creature. Jeopardizing your employment by ruffling someones feathers is admirable but we are all too familiar what happens to " whistle blowers "
This thread is certainly different. What does it have to do with dating, though? And why is it in Over 45?
These fora allow us an insight to personalities. What we post is indicative of character.
Don't confuse sensitivity with weakness
But knowing me, I will get another one at some point. Animals have feelings just like we do. They don't just need food and water, they need attention, too. I love watching the shows they do on the mountain gorillas who they are trying to teach language, too. That one mountain gorilla REMEMBERED his mother being killed in the jungle 15 years later!!!! And he got sad and had tears in his eyes!
I hope the link works. The program is scheduled to repeat on Sunday, January 20, 2008
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/cruelcamera/ | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 9:48:36 AM | Maybe be nice to the bunny & nice to the teacher at the same time.
Since you have already taken on the responsibility of caring for the lil bunny on week-ends (or whatever), maybe approach the teacher & volunteer for the job "officially"?
Maybe approach her & suggest she leave food in some agreed-upon place so you dont have to pay for the food though.
If she is truly as stressed or has lots on her mind, I would think this would be a kind way to help her AND the bunny out... a way to kill 2 birds with one stone.
*disclaimer* In no way do I advocate the actual killing of birds with stones or any other implements. No animals were harmed in the typing of this post. | |
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Tramp
| | Joined: 2/8/2007
Msg: 23 | |
| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 11:01:44 AM | | It seems both the teacher and the rabbit need help; take your change, see what is bothering the teacher, and, since Spring is almost here, set the rabbit free. | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 11:04:49 AM | | Speak up for the animals- they have no voice and rely on moral people to come to thier aid. | |
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| Animal Cruelty
Posted: 1/19/2008 11:21:57 AM | Remember the story about the shoemaker who was overwhelmed with work and every morning he woke up and all his shoes he couldn't make were made for him by little eleves while he slept?
You are doing a kind thing by taking care of that little creature.
Take pride that you are doing the right thing and enjoy nurturing the creature. You may find it rewarding and you will indeed be rewarded for being an anonymous particpant. Everyone will wonder who the angel is. It is apparent you are a kind and nurturing man. Rabbits don't live long anyway.
Your other option would be to kidnap the rabbit, put it out of its misery and make rabbit stew. But, then you would be fired and have criminal charges filed against you for cruelty to animals.
Keep up the good work. Kudos to you! | |
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