This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

A demented Agricultural Science teacher in Ocala, Florida forced students to help him violently drown a pair of trapped raccoons and an opossum in a garbage can full of water. One brave student defied his teacher’s orders not to film and brought these horrific acts of cruelty to light. Dewie Brewton bullied his students into participating in animal abuse and must face just punishment immediately.  

Brewton first made students of Forest High School fill a 55 - gallon garbage receptacle with water. He then had them assist in submerging two captured raccoons and one opossum beneath the water until they drowned. The panicked animals fought to escape the “humane traps” they were imprisoned in. Rods were used to push them down into the traps to ensure they drowned. 

Brewton warned students that there would be demerits if anyone videoed or took pictures of his vicious act. He sentenced the raccoons and opossum to a horrid death and subjected his students to emotional trauma all because he was angry that one of the raccoons had killed a chicken raised in his program, despite the fact that under his care, the chickens’ fate wouldn’t turn out any differently. Why the opossum was “punished” for something one of the raccoons did is also confounding and shows a clear lack of critical thinking and behavior. 

One brave student disobeyed his teacher and hid behind classmates to capture the disgusting act on video, which he shared with his mother. The infuriated parent called out the school and the video ignited global outrage and condemnation. 

This vile incident follows just weeks after an Idaho biology teacher fed a puppy to a snapping turtle in class. 

The Marion County School Board released the statement, “While law enforcement tells us the teacher may not have done anything illegal, his actions before students are certainly questionable.” 

In a statement to In Defense of Animals, a school board representative said that Dewie Brewton was no longer involved in the school system. When pinned down, we were told he “retired.” This is a grossly inadequate resolution with no justice for the animals or the students. 

Shockingly, Forest High School's Future Farmers of America Alumni Chapter posted a statement of support for Brewton, claiming that he has done “so much good” that this lack of judgement should be overlooked. Animals surely would not agree with this ridiculous statement, as Brewton specializes in turning sentient animals into flesh served on dinner plates. Even if he had been someone who had ever done anything worthwhile, vicious acts always deserve an appropriate response. 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is “investigating” the egregious act. Let’s help them make a decision and get justice for these horrifically murdered animals. 

What YOU Can Do 

Please join us in writing to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Chairman Bo Rivard by filling out the form on the right-hand side of this page. We will inform him that two recent incidents involving the torture and death of opossums in Ohio and Georgia, have resulted in charges being brought of felony

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.