Kitties are off the dissection table in the San Antonio North East ISD, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
"Moving forward, we will no longer be using cats for dissection purposes," District Executive Director of Communications Aubrey Chancellor says.
Last year, the NEISD was embarrassed by a viral video showing an eviscerated cat from a dissection at Churchill High School, and some of the students using the cat's intestines as a jump rope.
Chancellor said that was an 'isolated incident' and the teacher of that class was 'instructed that it shouldn't be done.'
But she says the district was in the process of reevaluating what items are appropriate for dissection in high school biology class.
"We've decided that cats a domesticated animal and we do understand that perhaps there are better options."
But People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which publicized the video, says the best option is to eliminate animal dissection entirely.
"Non-animal educational tools, such as interactive computer programs, have been shown to teach biology as well as..and in many cases better than dissection," said Marta Holmberg, PETA's Senior Director of Youth Outreath and Campaigns. "Ending cat dissection was an important first step, and PETA stands ready to help the district replace all dissection exercises with humane and effective tools that teach both anatomy and respect for life."
But Chancellor says NEISD will continue to allow students to dissect formerly living animals. She says science teachers have agreed that computer simulations don't provide the students with the same level of learning as hands-on contact with actual organs and veins.
"We reexamine things on an every day basis, and this is something we have been exploring for quite a few months now," she said.
Chancellor says animals like minks and frogs, as well as animal organs like pigs heads and sheep's hearts will continue to be dissected at NEISD high schools.