Sign: Teacher Made Students Hold Down Screaming, Unanesthetized Cat To Staple Stomach

Published: September 05, 2024 at 08:25 PM Author: PENNY EIMS

Palestine, Texas – A 25-year-old teacher with the Westwood Independent School District is under fire, and facing charges, after a deeply disturbing incident took place in the classroom – and it was captured on video.

The incident

On Friday, August 23, Emily Marie Benner, an agriculture animal teacher, used an unanesthetized cat, with a gaping wound on the stomach, for a “teaching moment” for her students. The cat was provided NO pain relief when students in Benner’s class were instructed to hold her down and staple an incision closed. The cat writhed and screamed in pain, desperately trying to escape, as students stapled her flesh closed.

  

Wade Stanford, the school’s Superintendent, issued a statement following the cruel classroom “lesson,” describing it as “deeply troubling,” and referencing the procedure as “animal cruelty.”

 

Benner was arrested and booked into the Anderson County Jail; she was released the same day on a $7,500 bond.

We think this is torture! If you are sickened by what this “teacher” made her students do to an innocent cat, please add your name to the petition. Emily Marie Benner has to face the consequences of her actions, and we cannot let this happen again.

Note: We are told that the cat survived and is being treated at an area veterinary hospital. 

Targets

  • Anderson County Criminal District Attorney
  • Superintendent of the Westwood Independent School District

 

WHY THIS PETITION MATTERS: 

 

We the undersigned demand Emily Marie Benner be fired from her position, and her Texas Educator Certificate be revoked. Additionally, we want to see Benner receive the maximum sentence for her charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals. Benner’s actions were cruel, morally corrupt, and ethically indefensible. Her behavior caused unimaginable suffering on an innocent cat and set a dangerous precedent for acceptable conduct within educational environments. It is crucial that she faces full accountability to ensure that no other students or animals are subjected to such horrific treatment.

Individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Animal Victory relies upon the authorities and the court system to determine guilt or innocence.

News:

KLTV

CBS19

Daily Mail

Law and Crime

Update 11/17/2024: Animal Victory sent petition to the District Attorney with updated signatures. 

Update 10/26/2024: Emily Banner was charged with a Class A Misdemeanor cruelty to non-livestock animals.  She bonded out on a $7,500 bond. Emily Marie Benner, Case No. 69437, is scheduled for pre-trial on 11.22.2024 at 1:30 pm. C.S.T. with Judicial Officer B. Jeffrey Doran.

Update 10/22/2024: Animal Victory sent petition to the District Attorney and Judge with updated signatures. 

Update 9/23/2024: Animal Victory sent petition to the District Attorney. 

Update 9/10/2024: Animal Victory has been told that this cat is back with the owner (via Brookhollow Vet Clinic).

Teacher Made Students Hold Down Screaming, Unanesthetized Cat To Staple Stomach

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Latest Signatures
17,439 Mary W. 0 Dec 12, 2024
17,438 Janine V. 0 Dec 12, 2024
17,437 Sharlene L. I don’t understand why the parents are not all speaking out. I would be horrified if somebody did this in a classroom with my child. 0 Dec 09, 2024
17,436 greg e. 0 Dec 08, 2024
17,435 Donald R. 0 Dec 08, 2024
17,434 Vianney J. SICK FREAK 0 Dec 08, 2024
17,433 Jacqueleen R. 0 Dec 07, 2024
17,432 Patricia N. 0 Dec 07, 2024
17,431 Truly T. 0 Dec 07, 2024
17,430 Lori S. She needs prison time and mandatory psychiatric help. Students' parents should sue the school. The school board needs to evaluate those who they have hired and make adjustments/terminate those who did nothing to report this, including the head of school if that person, in any way, had any knowledge of the incident and chose to do nothing about it. 0 Dec 06, 2024
17,429Anonymous 0 Dec 06, 2024
17,428 0dette R. 0 Dec 06, 2024
17,427 brenda D. 0 Dec 05, 2024
17,426 Virginie C. 0 Dec 04, 2024
17,425 Shari H. The teacher is a monster! 0 Dec 03, 2024
17,424 seema r. 0 Dec 03, 2024
17,423 Barbara A. She should lose here job and go to jail pay a fine and work in a sheter 0 Dec 03, 2024
17,422 carol d. 0 Nov 29, 2024
17,421 Luciana V. 0 Nov 29, 2024
17,420Anonymous 0 Nov 29, 2024
17,419 Lisa V. Give this sick,evil lady the max sentence for what she did to this innocent baby!! She should be charged with a felony animal abuse not a mistimener. 0 Nov 28, 2024
17,418 Debra D. Vivisection should never be used as a teaching tool for adolescents! Inflicting pain on a living creature can gave disastrous mental health complications! 0 Nov 27, 2024
17,417 Yvonne R. 0 Nov 26, 2024
17,416 Mary D. 0 Nov 26, 2024
17,415Anonymous 0 Nov 25, 2024
17,414 sandy r. 0 Nov 24, 2024
17,413 Gaby A. 0 Nov 24, 2024
17,412 Barbara G. 0 Nov 23, 2024
17,411 Jacqui R. Really who does this ! Wake up people this deranged crazy woman must do terrible crimes besides this one . This poor cat please make sure this animal gets justice . 0 Nov 23, 2024
17,410 Barbara D. 0 Nov 21, 2024
17,409 Brian S. 0 Nov 21, 2024
17,408 Jennifer M. 0 Nov 21, 2024
17,407 Bernice G. 0 Nov 20, 2024
17,406 Jill S. 0 Nov 20, 2024
17,405 Elexas A. 0 Nov 20, 2024
17,404 Caridad O. 0 Nov 19, 2024
17,403 Lori J. 0 Nov 19, 2024
17,402 Silvia S. 0 Nov 18, 2024
17,401 tracy b. 0 Nov 17, 2024
17,400 Leetta A. 0 Nov 17, 2024
17,399 Elizabeth F. 0 Nov 17, 2024
17,398 Sheri C. 0 Nov 17, 2024
17,397 Andrea C. 0 Nov 17, 2024
17,396 Ava F. 0 Nov 16, 2024
17,395 Tina W. 0 Nov 15, 2024
17,394 Jennifer P. 0 Nov 15, 2024
17,393 Cassidy T. 0 Nov 15, 2024
17,392 Tara M. It is our responsibility as humans to care for the innocent that cannot speak for themselves. Acts like these are done by the true scum of the earth. I couldn't image if this was my pet. I would be absolutely livid. 0 Nov 15, 2024
17,391 Teresa S. 0 Nov 15, 2024
17,390Anonymous 0 Nov 15, 2024