A Michigan veterinarian who claimed to have rescued a distressed dog tied to a truck is now facing a theft charge for failing to return it to a homeless man.
Amanda Hergenreder drove two hours to bring the dog to her clinic, where she performed procedures to treat a severe urinary tract infection and extract a rotten tooth. She named the dog Biggby and says the 16-year-old pit bull mix is recovering well nearly four months later.
However, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker stated that Biggby belongs to Chris Hamilton, a man who has recently lacked permanent housing in the Grand Rapids area. Hamilton asserts his ownership of the dog, whom he knows as his beloved Vinny.
“I just want my dog back,” said Hamilton, 57, in an interview with WOOD-TV. “I had him for 15 years. I never neglected him, and we love each other. I felt like I lost a part of my body when he was taken. I’ve never felt the same since losing him.”
Prosecutor Becker explained that the case involves simple larceny, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail. Jury selection for the upcoming trial is scheduled for March 6.
“You don’t have the right to take something just because you believe something is wrong,” Becker told the news station. “People have a deep attachment to their animals. No matter where you are in life—rich, poor, or anything in between—this is something that matters greatly to an individual.”
Hergenreder stated that she had traveled to Grand Rapids in November for a professional conference when she spotted the dog tied to a truck near a Biggby Coffee shop. She reportedly called the police and an animal shelter and also spoke with a store employee.
“He had no energy, very lethargic,” Hergenreder said about the dog. “We took him into our vehicle. It was heartbreaking.”
Hergenreder claimed she provided $3,000 worth of medical treatment at her clinic. She says the dog now runs and plays at her home, adding that “you can slowly see the light returning to his eyes.”
Hamilton admitted that he had tied his dog to the truck while walking to a gas station. He said that when he returned about 45 minutes later, coffee shop employees told him that “a lady in a van came and took my dog, cutting the rope.”
Hergenreder’s attorney, Miles Greengard, is vigorously defending the veterinarian. He argues that she fears the dog will not receive the necessary care in his old age if returned.
“Mr. Hamilton didn’t even take basic steps like registering the dog,” Greengard told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “Now, he expects a benevolent doctor to provide Biggby with the medical treatment he was previously denied and will continue to need—and then just give him back?”
“I think it’s an unfortunate situation all around,” Greengard added. “But I’m happy that Biggby is living his best life.”