PETA says Michigan players who owned wallaby ‘dropped the ball'

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PETA vs. the Big Ten. It's becoming an increasingly common occurrence.

This past December, you might remember, the well-known activism group advocating for the ethical treatment of animals was very upset — and rightfully so — after a Nebraska defensive lineman Jack Gangwish killed a raccoon with a wrench. Gangwish's actions were idiotic and cruel, as he killed the raccoon after he stopped to take a selfie with it and it bit him on the leg.

Well, PETA is once again angry at a group of Big Ten football players, though this time it's not over cruelty, rather questionable actions involving a wallaby. Yeah, you read that right.

Last week, a group of Michigan football players, including quarterback Shane Morris and wide receiver Jack Wangler, revealed they have been keeping a wallaby as a pet.

[MORE BIG TEN: Odd Braxton Miller comment has everyone talking transfer again]

Shortly after this, the wallaby was listed as for sale on a website called Exotic Animals For Sale, and though Wangler's name was attached to the listing, the football players claimed they didn't actually own the wallaby (despite the phrase "owning a wallaby in our home" in Morris' tweet).

PETA tried to get the wallaby to the Detroit Zoo, and the group was in contact with the supposed owner of the wallaby, who isn't a member of the Michigan football team, even offering a few hundred dollars to ensure the wallaby had a good home at the zoo. The Michigan student wanted more money and after talking with a couple of people from PETA decided to return the wallaby to the breeder he got it from.

It's a ridiculously detailed situation, and you can find all those details over at MLive.com.

The bottom line is that PETA isn't happy, and one of the principles involved in this whole ordeal made thematically appropriate wolverine and football references in a statement of disappointment.

"Ultimately a wallaby doesn't belong in a private home any more than a wolverine does," PETA deputy director of captive animal law enforcement Brittany Peet said. "These students and the University of Michigan had an opportunity to step up and set a great example by allowing the wallaby to spend the rest of its life with other wallabies in a natural habitat in an accredited facility. Unfortunately, they dropped the ball."

Everyone should be nice to animals, though if you're playing football at a Big Ten school, you should be especially nice to animals. Because PETA seems to have it's eye on you.

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