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INDUS, Minn. - A school principal has resigned and could face felony firearm charges after he shot and killed two orphaned kittens on school property last month.

Wade Pilloud, who resigned as principal of the K-12 Indus school, 40 miles west of International Falls, said he shot the kittens to spare them from starving to death after their mother was killed in an animal trap.

Pilloud said the shooting, which occurred on school grounds, endangered no one.

"I have bred cats, and I currently own two myself," he wrote Friday in an e-mail to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I am not a cat hater. I did not want the animals to suffer."

The incident happened Sept. 21, and several students still on the grounds for after-school activities heard the shots.

"There were parents who felt, apparently some rather strongly, that there were concerns about the safety of their children," said Joseph Flynn, an attorney for the South Koochiching/Rainy River School District. "The district's position is that safety was not compromised."

John Mastin, acting sheriff in Koochiching County, said Pilloud could be charged with felony possession of a firearm on school property and reckless discharge of a firearm, a misdemeanor.

County Attorney Jennifer Hasbargen said Friday that the case was under review.

Mastin said the shooting put no one in danger but said Pilloud used "poor discretion and poor timing," especially amid the growing fear of gun violence in schools.

The district put Pilloud on administrative leave after the incident. Flynn said Pilloud agreed to an undisclosed settlement and resigned.

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Originally posted by Alliance
Animal shelters exist for a reason.

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Originally posted by Darth Revan
It's not unlikely that the animal shelter would have killed them eventually, also. I'm not a big fan of them, personally. Heard some ****ed up stories about people's lost pets being euthanized "accidentally" by self-proclaimed low-kill shelters.

As for the guy shooting the kittens, that probably wasn't the best solution, either, but it wasn't any more cruel than what a shelter likely would have done.

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Originally posted by The Pict
What a cruel, stupid man. I hope he gets charged.

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Originally posted by Darth Revan
It's not unlikely that the animal shelter would have killed them eventually, also. I'm not a big fan of them, personally. Heard some ****ed up stories about people's lost pets being euthanized "accidentally" by self-proclaimed low-kill shelters.

As for the guy shooting the kittens, that probably wasn't the best solution, either, but it wasn't any more cruel than what a shelter likely would have done.

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Originally posted by FeceMan
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15266666/?GT1=8618

He "jumped the gun," so to speak, but I think it was the most humane way to kill them.

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Originally posted by FeceMan
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15266666/?GT1=8618

He "jumped the gun," so to speak, but I think it was the most humane way to kill them.

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Originally posted by PVS
cruel? how the hell is he cruel? stupid, yes i agree, but cruel?

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Originally posted by ThePittman
Shooting an animal is not the most human way of killing them at all and it very painful and not always a quick death, this should only be done if there are no other options available and this guy did. He should be charged for cruelty to animals at least.

The human shelter would have been the better choice, they would have a chance to live and being that they were kittens a very good chance since they are adopted far more then older cats. People look at human shelters as killers when it’s the people that have pets that don’t spay/neuter them so they have no other choice to euthanasia thousands of cats a day.