This is an outrage!!!

[Mirror]

Class Dissection Of Live Dog Outrages Parents, Students
Student: 'It Just Makes Me Sick...'

POSTED: 8:12 am EDT May 12, 2005
UPDATED: 7:57 am EDT May 13, 2005

A biology class lesson in Gunnison, Utah involving the dissection of a live dog has outraged some parents and students, according to a report.

"I thought that it would be just really a good experience if they could see the digestive system in the living animal," Biology teacher Doug Bierregaard said.

Biology teacher Doug Bjerregaard, who is a substitute teacher at Gunnison Valley High School, wanted his students to see how the digestive system of a dog worked.


Bjerregaard made arrangements for his students to be a part of a dissection of a dog that was still alive.

The dog was still alive, but the teacher said it was sedated before the dissection began.

With the students watching, the sedated dog's digestive system was removed.

"It just makes me sick and I don't think this should go on anywhere and nobody's learning from it," student Sierra Sears said.

The teacher said the lesson would allow students to see the organs actually working.

"I thought that it would be just really a good experience if they could see the digestive system in the living animal," Bierregaard said.

The school's principal, Kirk Anderson, said notifications went to parents explaining the dog was going to be euthanized and that the experiment would be done with the dog's organs still functioning.

The teacher is standing by his decision and calls it the ultimate educational experience.

Principal Anderson said he supports the lesson and it will be allowed to continue because the students are learning.

The dog used in the experiment was going to be euthanized despite the class project.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.


Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

link----------> http://www.local6.com/news/4480144/detail.html

[Pearlgirl]

Outrage!!!!!!Disgusting!!!!!!Er, I can't think of any more words at the moment(not that there aren't plenty)...

[Gina]

I would love to dissect Doug Bierregaard WITHOUT first sedating him. Don't people realise that a far better lesson for the children would be to find out ways that they could stop the dog from having to be euthanised in the first place!!!!!! :mad:

[John Olexa]

Thank you for your message regarding Doug Bjerregaard, a substitute
biology teacher at the Gunnison Valley High School in Utah who took his
students to a local veterinary clinic to witness the cutting up of a
living dog in an effort to "educate" them firsthand about human anatomy.
We've received an overwhelming reaction from people who are outraged by
this.

On May 13, the school district issued a formal apology for this
experiment and stated that experiments like this will not be carried
out in the future (for the school's response, please visit
www.stopanimaltests.com/f-sanpete.asp). While we applaud this step in
the right direction, we are encouraging the district to enact a policy
prohibiting the use of all animals in its curriculum.

Instead of using animals to teach students the basics of human anatomy,
teachers should use one of the following popular methods:

* Non-animal mannequins and simulators
* Educational videos
* Multimedia computer simulations
* Clinical practice and human-cadaver observation

Significant progressive strides have been made in reducing the number of
animals who end up on school dissection tables. Many well-regarded
schools, such as the University of Utah School of Medicine, no longer
use live animals. And countless schools have incorporated the
progressive animal-free learning tools listed above.

Superintendent James Petersen of Gunnison Valley High School's South
Sanpete School District has welcomed PETA's requests to consider
adopting alternatives. We look forward to working with Mr. Petersen, and
we are grateful for his swift and compassionate decision.

To learn how to take a stand against cruel animal experiments in
schools, please visit http://www.peta2.com/TAKECHARGE/t-dissection.asp.

Thank you for your compassion and concern for animals!

Sincerely,


The PETA Staff

above link, stopanimaltest is not working

[Magnum]

That is sick. What in the world did the kids learn seeing a sedated dog being dismantled by a vet. :mad: Interesting to know how much the vet charged for this "educational field trip experience". :rolleyes:

[Kay83]

What kind of vet would actually agree to this??? I thought they were supposed to love and help animals...I guess not this one.

[d_broncochic]

Thats so cruel, moronic and senseless i'm HEAVING MY COOKIES!
HONESTLY! :mad:

[JustJo]

I am in utter shock that this was allowed to happen. What parents would consent to such a thing? These kids were not in veterinarian surgical class! Just what is this teaching these kids? That it doesn't matter what we do to animals because we are going to kill them anyway? GOD this makes me SICK!! Thanks John for posting the site for PETA. I am going to go there and find out what the heck I can do about this from happening in the future. I am still in disbelief that this was allowed! :mad: :mad:

[John Olexa]

the one link i posted won't work, so just go to peta.org it's on the right

[lydowe]

Some peoples' inhumane treatment of animals never cease to amaze and disgust me. I don't know how many times someone has said to me "Well, it's not like they're human. They don't have souls you know." And by that I take it to mean they don't believe animals have feelings and emotions. How can we encourage our political representatives to pass better laws, our police to do a better job enforcing the laws and the animal shelters, rescues and sanctuaries to do a better job educating the public? It would take a lot of money, time and influence, but wouldn't it be great if at every commercial break on tv you would hear a public service announcement educating the public on the humane treatment of animals and the effects of pet abandonment. (Too bad we weren't all born with a big fat trust fund!!) Other than e-mails to our legislators and other organizations like PETA and fostering for and volunteering at our local shelters, rescues and sanctuaries, I don't know what else can be done. Any suggestions out there? We just passed legislation to get a lottery going in Oklahoma. I love to dream about what I would do with $150 mil -- after taxes, of course. Wonder what that kind of money could do for the animal rights movement? How much does it cost to buy "special interest in DC?" Guess I'll never know unless I win that daggum lottery.

[cryscrossx1]

Oh my gosh!! You guys are being ridiculous! How can you be sure you have the whole story? Yes, I will agree with you. If someone told me that they were going to remove and explore the digestive system of a living dog because they were curious I would be extremely angry. HOWEVER, this is not the case. The dog was already to be put to sleep and the dog was sedated before the operation took place. So I am not understanding what your issue is. Is it that the dog is being put out of its misery? Because that is not Mr. Bjerregaard's fault and he is not the one to blame. If it is that the dog was still alive while they examined the digestive system then that is kind of silly as the dog was not going to be alive much longer anyway and felt no pain during the procedure as he was sedated. These kids are LEARNING! Are you protesting the better education of the children of our nation? Because we have budget cuts and whatnot that have already been taking care of that just fine. But thats a different matter. The fact that these students have the option open to them to have the hands on experience of looking at a digestive system is amazing. I think its an excellent way to put a dog that will die anyway to a good cause. I would feel much better about having my digestive system operated on knowing my surgeon had been doing this since high school and had known how everything worked. I salute Doug Bjerregaard in his efforts to increase the learning and education of the world today.

[John Olexa]

Wow, you will never in a million years convince me this was a noble deed in the name of education :rolleyes:

Bjerregaard made arrangements for his students to be a part of a dissection of a dog that was still alive.

The dog was still alive, but the teacher said it was sedated before the dissection began.

With the students watching, the sedated dog's digestive system was removed.
How can you condon that! Theres a 100 better ways to show a digestive system!!
Instead of using animals to teach students the basics of human anatomy,
teachers should use one of the following popular methods:

* Non-animal mannequins and simulators
* Educational videos
* Multimedia computer simulations
* Clinical practice and human-cadaver observation

Bjerregaard is an animal abuser

[peteybird]

Can I just say that when I was in school and had to do animal dissection I was so grossed out that I didn't learn from it. I felt bad for the animals and didn't think it was fair that I would have received a failing grade had I not done it.

[amstaff]

in 9th grade biology i did not go to school on the day we were to dissect a fetal pig. i do not remember if i failed or not, but my life is certainly not messed up from missing out on it. in fact, im happy that at 14, i stood up for my beliefs.

[Zoebiwan]

I walked out of disecting a pig in 9th grade bio, and that was dead! I never saw the point in doing it, I'm not going to be a doctor, or a vet, and do not need to know what the insides of anything look like...simply disgusting.
And yes I failed bio for that section but kept my average at a B for the year which I don't think my teacher liked because I passed and dared to go against her. :D Oh well, too bad for her.

[Magnum]

I would feel much better about having my digestive system operated on knowing my surgeon had been doing this since high school and had known how everything worked.
You would feel "much better"? You seem to put more emphasis on high school biology than the remaining....uh...let's see a four year bachelor’s degree and four years in medical school, which is followed by residency and internship lasting between three and eight years, depending on the field of study. You think a dissection in high school is going to make a better surgeon? What about the countless students that don't want to be in the medical field, have no idea what they are going to do, but don't care to see a dog gutted before going home to supper... :rolleyes:

[BirdLuver288]

and i thought dissecting a frog was mean :(

and no, i realy dident learn anyting from it either, and next year (10th grade) we have to do the pig, i already decided a long time ago..im not gunna do it! i mean, why kill an animal for such a dumb reason, my other school had those manakin thingys, and they never even brought up the idea of dissection! the frog was in 8th grade to :rolleyes:

i still dont remember anything about other than the boys were intent to cut out the reproductive organs and chase people withthem:@ and i doubt the frogs were humanly euthinized, like throwing hundreds of frogs into a gas chamber is a nice way to die!>=(

[Zoebiwan]

We disected frogs when I was in the seventh grade. I was disgusted, but still did it, I wasn't the type to speak up then. We also did a worm in 9th grade and the pig was later in the year.
Had I wanted to continue with biology for another year it would have been a cat, which is just awful. :(

[cryscrossx1]

You guys DO NOT KNOW THE WHOLE STORY!!!!! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX She framed him. I would know, I know him personally. I have known him all of my life and visit him all the time. It was a learning experience. You guys take animals to seriously. Yes, I have a dog, whom I love dearly with all my heart, but did you know that students in medical school dissect humans? I know that they're dead, but still. This dog donated its body to the good of science. I also read a reply from yesterday that said that animals would go to heaven before us. Well I guess you belive in God. Did you know that God created the animals for us to eat, and learn from? Bet you didn't did you. Thats okay we all make our mistakes. I guess you should know everything, shouldn't you? Okay here it goes. Mr. Doug Bjerregaard is the mayor Mayfield. The woman who wouldn't let her son take part in the dissection wasn't paying her water bill so Bjerregaard had to turn off her water, but he brought her a 50 gallons of water so she wouldn't be with out water. She owed money to the vetranarian, and the onwer of a store, who is Kirk Anderson, the principal of Gunnison Valley High School. So by telling the news that they were doing this she got revenge on person who HAD to turn off her water (she wasn't paying her water bill by the way and was supplied 50 gallons of water by Bjerregaard) and the person she owed moneyt to. Also Doug Bjerregaard has been the mayor of Mayfield for over 20 years. Do you honestly think that someone who did that would be mayor for that long. And let me point somthing out to you. YOU GUYS ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE OBSESSING OVER THIS!!!!! Everyone else belives Bjerregaard!! Come to reality, please!!! Did you know that he called his granddaughter to get her to deny that she was his granddaughter?! Look what you people XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXhave done to him!!! You really hurt him. How could you? I will leave that to you to think about.

[dlaura]

Attn cryscrossx1 --- you are allowed to state your opinion here but we respect other members and do not call others names or suggest that we are not people. WE ARE PETLOVERS and anyone who could dissect a live animal is inhumane in my book! The whole story was not needed for us to OBSESS over this poor dog -- again we are petlovers here and resent any type of abuse of animals. Your acceptance of this procedure does not qualify you as a petlover in my book so maybe you need to look for a more appropriate board. Also why would a person who has seen a DOG's digestive system make you more comfortable to have him/her operate on you in the future. Does your digestive system resemble a dogs? I would much rather someone who had observed a human cadaver's digestive system operate -- as that would be comparing oranges to oranges.

[John Olexa]

This dog donated its body to the good of science. You really hurt him. How could you? I will leave that to you to think about.


And did the dog tell you this :rolleyes:

As for what we did. I didn't and still won't lose a seconds sleep over it, Because I don't believe any thing you just said.

How was he "framed"? he either did it or didn't do it, and it clear that he did it

Besides this thread was done a long time ago YOU stated it back up again LOL

[Magnum]

I think the name "PETLOVERS" pretty much covers how we feel about animals.... ;)

[dlaura]

This board is the one place we can come where everyone understands and knows we aren't just obsessing. One can own an animal and not be a petlover -- this thread shows just that.

Thanks John for pointing out how long ago this thread was started. Puts another spin on it doesn't it.

[Zoebiwan]

I would have to agree...PETLOVERS...hello... :rolleyes: We've done nothing wrong, we're just discussing an issue, which is quite far from being obsessed. In fact this thread has just kind of sprouted into how we don't like disections in general.
Personally having a doctor that didn't do a live disection of a dog's digestive system wouldn't phase me at all in his ability to take care of me. I would wonder what type of a person he was if he had. On the fact that human cadavers need to be disected is obvious if one is going to be a doctor. I think we would all appreciate having a doctor who knew what our insides looked like. Same would go for a vet and animals. But how many of these kids are going to do that?
On the sake of not knowing the whole story, maybe we don't. It sounds like a number of people were in the wrong, but that doesn't make him right. I'm not even going to comment on some things that we have caused by discussing it on here, especially when I hadn't heard about it since you brought the thread back on to the front page. You opened it all up again, were you searching for his name and found us that way as you have only posted on this thread? I don't see how you are doing him any good either.

I'll stand by PETLOVERS and my animals. I'm not for what happened whether you think it is justified or not.

[JustJo]

All quotes by cryscrossz1:

"You guys take animals to seriously."

Ummmm...did you notice the name of this group at ALL that you joined? I have to ask you WHY you joined this forum and chose as your first two posts to attack and ridicule long time members of this forum. Seems a bit anti-social to me. probably the FIRST thing to do when you join a forum is to introduce yourself and tell why you are interested or involved with the general idea of the forum (once again...we are PetLovers.com).

"Yes, I have a dog, whom I love dearly with all my heart, but did you know that students in medical school dissect humans? I know that they're dead, but still. This dog donated its body to the good of science."

I think we are all aware of medical students dissecting human bodies that people chose to donate to medical science. We are NOT stupid or idiots as you have very blantantly stated. I guess I am wondering how you can even say that this dog chose to donate it's body. Did you know this dog personally also? Did the dog tell you that these were his wishes? Are you a dog psychic? Just wondering....


I am not going to even bother quoting the rest of your psycho-babble. Whether the story of the girl's being upset and the teacher doing it himself, whatever, is a "set-up" or not...the vivi-section DID occur. That IS a fact unless the news is lying. You blast Petlovers.com as "hurting" this friend of yours. Have you also joined and written to the dozens of other sites discussing this same issue? Did you realize that there are almost 100 sites discussing this? You have certainly got your work cut out for you bub. Go visit them and leave us alone. Personally, I don't give a rat's ass about why this happened, I only care that it DID and it is WRONG and unnecessary.

Oh...and as far as heaven goes...I don't want to be there if my dogs aren't. How dare you come on here and make statements like that. Look in the mirror honey and you will see exactly what you have been calling us here. Go away...you irritate me.

[John Olexa]

All quotes by cryscrossz1:

"You guys take animals to seriously."

Ummmm...did you notice the name of this group at ALL that you joined? I have to ask you WHY you joined this forum and chose as your first two posts to attack and ridicule long time members of this forum. Seems a bit anti-social to me. probably the FIRST thing to do when you join a forum is to introduce yourself and tell why you are interested or involved with the general idea of the forum (once again...we are PetLovers.com).

"Yes, I have a dog, whom I love dearly with all my heart, but did you know that students in medical school dissect humans? I know that they're dead, but still. This dog donated its body to the good of science."

I think we are all aware of medical students dissecting human bodies that people chose to donate to medical science. We are NOT stupid or idiots as you have very blantantly stated. I guess I am wondering how you can even say that this dog chose to donate it's body. Did you know this dog personally also? Did the dog tell you that these were his wishes? Are you a dog psychic? Just wondering....


I am not going to even bother quoting the rest of your psycho-babble. Whether the story of the girl's being upset and the teacher doing it himself, whatever, is a "set-up" or not...the vivi-section DID occur. That IS a fact unless the news is lying. You blast Petlovers.com as "hurting" this friend of yours. Have you also joined and written to the dozens of other sites discussing this same issue? Did you realize that there are almost 100 sites discussing this? You have certainly got your work cut out for you bub. Go visit them and leave us alone. Personally, I don't give a rat's ass about why this happened, I only care that it DID and it is WRONG and unnecessary.

Oh...and as far as heaven goes...I don't want to be there if my dogs aren't. How dare you come on here and make statements like that. Look in the mirror honey and you will see exactly what you have been calling us here. Go away...you irritate me.


Jo, I think this is your best post yet!
I have a new hero!!!! :D

[dlaura]

I will second that John! Thanks Jo.

[JustJo]

Thanks guys... :rolleyes:

Anyone who thinks they can ridicule us AND Robert Louis Stevenson is not gonna last long in my book!

I got really confused at this point:

"Yes, I have a dog, whom I love dearly with all my heart, but did you know that students in medical school dissect humans?"

What does one have to do with the other? Can anyone answer that for me? It's kind of like saying "Yes, I have a sister, whom I love dearly with all my heart, but did you know that every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury?"

I think that almost sounds like a Windwatcher thread don't you? Title: Make Up The Most Psycho Analogy You Can Think Of.

[Zoebiwan]

Ah, now I realize where that comment about heaven came from. Jeez...who is she trying to refute there? A dead famous author? Sorry, he's already in heaven.

And as for that analogy...everyone would have gotten that wrong on the SATs. :rolleyes:

[rileystar04]

That is disgusting...

I remember in 9th grade or so we were supposed to disect some kind of animal, I think frogs. The company sent the wrong box to us and it was a cow uterus instead. My 'teacher' said "what the heck" and made us all stand around and watch her as she cut it open. Inside was a baby cow... I was disgusted. It's bad enough they kill these animals so high school punks can disect them (when half the time they aren't really learning anything anyway because they're not paying attention), but they had to kill a mama cow and her baby? Sick. :mad:

[Magnum]

OMGosh Riley.......that IS discusting!! :eek: In college I learned how they obtained piglets for dissection, and that was equally as horrid. How in the world do these people sleep at night when they kill pregnant animals by day. :mad:

[krazy4birds]

Sorry guys I am a little late here to lend support but looks like you all did a wonderfull job! I love Jo's little "go away, you irritate me" thought I would keel over laughing. I like that...short, simple and to the point!!!!!
Thumbs up for jumping in on this with both feet everybody!!!!

['too crazy]

I too am late getting to this. I must say cryscrossx1, your on the wrong board and obviuosly unwelcome here. :mad:

[cryscrossx1]

Whatever, I think that you guys are the cruel ones. In my opinion you have absolutly no heart.

[cryscrossx1]

" You seem to put more emphasis on high school biology than the remaining....uh...let's see a four year bachelor’s degree and four years in medical school, which is followed by residency and internship lasting between three and eight years, depending on the field of study. "

At lest when he goes to college he/she will know a little more than the rest of the class.

[JustJo]

Cryscrossx1,

I find it amazing the level of people skills, etiquette, and knowledge you have accrued in 24 years of life. Therefore I will answer your post in a language you will understand.

Blah blah blah blah, blah waah blah blah blah.

Blah Blah Waaaah

[Magnum]

At lest when he goes to college he/she will know a little more than the rest of the class.
Very little I might add, at the huge expense of an animals life. :mad:

OMGosh Jo, I didn't know you were bilingual.........LOL.

[JustJo]

Yes Magnum...another of my hidden talents. i learned to speak this particular juvenile language when I was forced to communicate with my ex. Had to learn it in a crash course too - LOL!

[Zoebiwan]

Really I know how to speak that language too! It's called four years of high school. And even after doing disections in high school, I can say that I (nor the rest of my class learned anything). Blah...that is what I remember. :D

[John Olexa]

Whatever, I think that you guys are the cruel ones. In my opinion you have absolutly no heart.

You are 100 % wrong
Anybody who can watch a still living dog being dissected ... has no heart!! :mad:

[Magnum]

Whatever, I think that you guys are the cruel ones. In my opinion you have absolutly no heart.
Well, in my opinion.......blah, blah, blah, blah!!

[Jerica]

I just have a few things to say. First I want to know if the dog was euthanized immediatly after the dissection without first being woken up. If so then this is not quiet as cruel not that that makes it better. Also was the digestive tract completely removed or was the dog just cut open? If the dog was just cut open and the kids just looked, then it would be ok, because vets cut open animals to check inside if they need to find out what is wrong all the time. I think this is completely cruel if anything was actually removed while the dog was alive even if it was sedated unless it is something not necessary for the function of the dog (obviously if it was the digestive tract, this is necessary). I guess I should have read the posts and articles to find out exactly what happened.
Also I want to say that at least at my highschool when they have biology classes disect pig fetuses the mother pig was already sent to be butcherd so whether she was pregnant or not she would have been killed and then they use the fetuses plus there is some kind of health "rule" or something when breeding pigs that after their sixth litter it is better for the health of the mother if the piglets aren't allowed to be born. Although if this was completely humane they wouldn't allow the mother to breed this last time in the first place. As far as frogs go I am against that, even though I did learn from the one I dissected and I am going into veterinary technology so it was useful. I have also dissected worms and giant grasshoppers. These were at my old school but here my class didn't dissect the pig fetus because it wasn't the honors class (I should have been in the honors class, but had chosen not to be even before I knew they would dissect a pig fetus).

[Magnum]

Jerica, I can't quite understand what you are saying here. It's okay if the dog was cut open, the kids took a sneak peak, then closed up for euthanasia. But it's not okay to remove any organs? The dog was doomed for death with or without the organs left in it's body. :confused: Was the dog adoptable, or just one of the 10 million euthanized every year because the world has a surplus of them.

On the pigs: When I took biology in college, it was explained to me that the Sow is allowed to go 1 week prior to farrowing, they either shock her, shoot her, or just slit her throat, pull the babies out and dump them into a 55 gallon drum of formaldehyde. :mad: Farm animals do not have the same laws of euthanasia as pets do, and this includes Greyhound racers.

[JustJo]

Wow! Thanks Magnum for putting it into actual words here. The whole thing is just WRONG...dogs, pigs, frogs...you name it. We have computers now for junior high and high school students. No need to do the real thing. These are not vet-med students or pre-med students, these are high school kids and there is no ethical reason for it period.

Like Magnum says...what does it matter if they put the dog to sleep immediately after or not? The whole "experiment" was unnecessary for all involved (that includes the dog).