C On Your Report Card and Rocky the Hamster Gets It!

Creative punishment? A Mom is in jail for forcing her 12 year old son to execute his pet hamster with a hammer because he got a bad grade in school.

From the Augusta Chronicle here:

Police have arrested a Georgia woman who they say forced her son to kill his pet hamster with a hammer as punishment for earning a bad grade.

Lynn Middlebrooks Geter, 38, is charged with one count each of animal cruelty, child cruelty and battery after she forced her son to kill his pet hamster with a hammer as punishment for bad grades.

The 12-year-old boy told his teacher about the killing. The teacher reported it to the Division of Family and Child Services, who contacted police. The pet’s death took place at the family’s Warm Springs home.

The comments on the story at the Chronicle are not all full of outrage. This one made me smirk:

Why is this a problem? If the goal was to kill the hamster, a hammer is an excellent tool. If the goal was to punish the boy, hamster execution is an excellent method.

I think the critter was armed and the Mom was only defending herself. Below is a photo of the hamster assailant. Hey, killing that hamster probably saved lives.

Thanks to Kristen for the story!