An Idaho animal welfare group is blasting the acquittal of a teacher who was accused of feeding a live puppy to a snapping turtle in front of several students.

The Idaho Humane Society called the Franklin county jury’s decision on Friday to find Robert Crosland not guilty of misdemeanor animal cruelty a “grievous error in judgment”.

Witnesses testifying during Crosland’s trial said the Preston Junior high school teacher first tried to feed the living puppy to a large snake, last March. When that failed, the witnesses said Crosland dropped the puppy into a tank where the turtle killed and ate it.

During the trial on Friday, the jury heard Crosland say in a recorded interview with investigators he thought he was doing the right thing, because the puppy was sick and likely to die.

In a statement, the IHS said: “This travesty does not create any new precedence for allowing cruelty but rather, will undoubtedly serve as a rallying cry for those who care passionately about the welfare of animals to renew their efforts in communities throughout Idaho.”