Teacher Allegedly Beats Rabbits To Death In Front Of Kids

POSTED: 6:40 a.m. EST March 25, 2004

PLANT CITY, Fla. -- Authorities in Plant City said a high school science teacher killed a sickly pair of baby rabbits with a shovel in front of her stunned class. She then asked the students to help bury the day-old animals.

Teacher Jane Bender won't face criminal charges, but she is facing two civil counts of animal cruelty that carry fines of $620.

One Animal Services investigator said Bender has to be held accountable, because her actions are "just not what we want to teach people to do with injured or sick animals."

The rabbits were not likely to survive on their own.

A sheriff's spokesman said Bender told investigators she asked a student to dig a hole, but the class refused to help in burying the rabbits.