Veterinarian Faces Jail Time in Controversial Dog Rescue Case
A Michigan veterinarian who believed she was saving a distressed dog has been sentenced to over a week in jail after refusing to return the pet to its homeless owner. Amanda Hergenreder was found guilty of misdemeanor larceny under $200 and ordered to serve 10 days in jail by Grand Rapids Judge Angela Ross on Monday.
The Incident That Sparked the Legal Battle
The controversy began in early November last year when Hergenreder was in Grand Rapids for a conference. She discovered a 16-year-old mixed pit bull tied to a U-Haul truck in a parking lot. After her colleague checked the nearby Biggby Coffee Shop, employees confirmed the dog belonged to a homeless man but indicated he would return for his pet.
Hergenreder waited only 30 minutes before taking the elderly dog on a two-hour car journey back to her veterinary practice near Frankenmuth. Before removing the dog, she contacted Grand Rapids Police Department, where an intern advised her: "I can't give you advice or anything like that, but, um, just do what you gotta do."
Conflicting Accounts and Legal Consequences
The dog's owner, Chris Hamilton, who is currently homeless, had left his dog Vinny tied up while visiting a gas station. When he returned, coffee shop employees informed him a woman in a van had taken his dog. "My health really went downhill after she stole him," Hamilton told reporters. "I used to cry thinking about losing my dog while I had him. He's my dog. We were best friends."
Despite Hamilton's pleas for his dog's return, Hergenreder refused, claiming she believed authorities wouldn't properly investigate the dog's living conditions. She estimated performing $3,000 worth of veterinary work on the dog, including treating a urinary tract infection and removing a rotten tooth.
Legal Proceedings and Tragic Outcome
Kent County Animal Control records showed they had received previous calls about Vinny but consistently noted the dog appeared fine. A GRPD officer explained to Hergenreder's attorney that animal control had already investigated and "deemed the dog was good to be with Christopher and cleared him of any animal cruelty."
The officer reminded Hergenreder's legal team that she had committed larceny and was "now in possession of stolen property." Her lawyer, Miles Greengard, had requested 120 hours of community service for the misdemeanor, but Judge Ross determined jail time was more appropriate, along with $1,000 in restitution.
Tragically, during the legal battle over the dog's custody, Vinny was euthanised in July due to health problems related to old age. The case highlights the complex intersection of animal welfare concerns and property rights, even when the owner is experiencing homelessness.
