CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Concerning social media posts have sparked outrage and concern among area residents after an incident involving two chickens and the boys’ locker room at Zane Trace High School.
Videos circulated on Snapchat allegedly show members of the school’s football team with a rooster in the locker room. In one of the videos, a student is seen shoving a rooster into a plastic bag and sealing it shut.
The videos were sent to the Guardian newsroom, and after reviewing the footage, the Guardian reached out to the Fayette Regional Humane Society. Brad Adams, Chief Humane Agent, confirmed that their agency is aware of the incident and has been in contact with Zane Trace Superintendent Tyler Wertman. According to Adams, the school district is actively investigating the situation.
Local reactions have been mixed. Some residents who viewed the video expressed deep concern, calling the footage “disturbing,” while others dismissed the incident as “boys being boys.”
As of this writing, no animal cruelty charges have been filed. The Guardian reached out to Superintendent Wertman for comment regarding the district’s response. Wertman released a statement saying, “Building administrators are finishing up an investigation into this matter today as information came forward over the weekend. While the district cannot comment on any individual student’s specific disciplinary action, I can confirm that the students involved will receive punishment this week. We have been in direct communication with the Ross County Humane Society about speaking with our students and using this as a learning experience moving forward. We can confirm that both chickens recovered from hypnosis and are currently on a family farm in the district.”