But veteran agricultural science teacher Jane Bender won't face criminal charges, and supporters say she used a humane method to euthanize sickly rabbits that would have died anyway.
Investigators say Bender killed two rabbits and buried them in a field near the agricultural lab with two others from the same litter that had died.
``We felt this person had to be held accountable,'' said Hillsborough County Animal Services investigator Dennis McCullough, whose agency filed two civil counts of animal cruelty against Bender. ``It's just not what we want to teach people to do with injured or sick animals.''
Hillsborough County sheriff's spokesman Lt. Rod Reder said a litter of rabbits was born in Bender's agriculture lab last month. Two died at birth, and the mother rejected the other two, pushing both out of the outdoor pen in the school's agricultural complex soon after they were born, Reder said. One was found covered with fire ants, and the other was lying in a water trough.
Bender told investigators that on Feb. 12 she asked one student to dig a hole and explained to the class that the rabbits could not survive after being rejected by their mother. She then placed all four in the hole and, in view of the class, killed the two live rabbits by dismembering them with a shovel, Reder said.
The rabbits were about the size of chicken eggs. It wasn't clear how close the students, who range in age from 15 to 18, were when Bender euthanized the animals.
One student told investigators Bender asked the class members to help her bury the rabbits, but they refused, Reder said.
Bender told deputies none of the students asked to be excused, and none raised concerns the next day.
``She did say if she had it to do over again, she probably would excuse the students from the process,'' Reder said.
Bender could not be reached for comment.
The state attorney's office ``rejected any notion'' of filing criminal charges against Bender, Reder said.
``They were 1 day old, in poor health, and she used a shovel,'' he said. ``It's a tough call. Some people would say these kids are taking this class, and this is part of the learning process.''
McCullough said Bender had options.
``She could have called us, and we'd have come out and picked them up,'' he said. ``What compelled her to do this, I don't know.''
The civil penalties imposed by Animal Services require Bender to pay $310 for each count, a total of $620, or request a court hearing.
The Hillsborough County school district is reviewing the case, district spokesman Mark Hart said. He questioned why Bender didn't use a more humane way to dispose of the rabbits and why she did it where students could watch.
A Plant City resident and former student of Bender's said she is being railroaded for killing two baby rabbits that were suffering and stood little chance of survival.
``The lady did exactly what needed to be done,'' Terry Sharp said. ``This is a necessity of farm life. You don't let something that is suffering that badly suffer any more. You put it down.''
Linda Baker, executive director of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, said sick animals should be euthanized humanely - preferably by lethal injection.
Hart said Bender will meet with the school district's Office of Professional Standards when she returns from spring break Monday.
Reporter Jim Sloan can be reached at (813) 657-4535.