Vet charged for not returning homeless man’s dog

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, a veterinarian named Amanda Hergenreder is facing allegations of theft after taking a dog from a homeless man under the guise of rescuing it. Hergenreder encountered the dog, a 16-year-old pit bull mix, tethered to a truck and decided to bring it to her clinic two hours away. She treated the dog, later named Biggby, for a severe urinary tract infection and conducted a dental procedure. Now thriving, Biggby has been in Hergenreder’s care for nearly four months.

The Kent County prosecutor claims that Biggby belongs to Chris Hamilton, a man without permanent housing in the Grand Rapids area, who knows the dog as Vinny. Hamilton, who has had Vinny for 15 years, expressed his distress over the situation, explaining how they had shared a deep bond. “I just want my dog back,” Hamilton, aged 57, said. “I felt like I lost part of my body after that.”

Prosecutor Chris Becker characterized the case as straightforward larceny due to the absence of consent in taking the dog, which could result in a maximum of 93 days of incarceration for Hergenreder. Jury selection for the trial is set for March 6. “People have a very big attachment to their animals,” Becker stressed, emphasizing the significance of pets across different walks of life.

Hergenreder recounted seeing the dog in November near a Biggby coffee shop while attending a professional conference. In an effort to address the dog’s apparent lethargy, she consulted the police and local animal shelter and conversed with a nearby employee before taking the animal. “It was just very sad,” she described.

Hamilton admitted to leaving his dog tied up at the truck as he went to a gas station. Upon his return 45 minutes later, a coffee shop worker informed him about a woman in a van, who had removed his dog by cutting the rope.

Miles Greengard, Hergenreder’s legal representative, is staunchly defending her actions. He voiced concerns over whether Hamilton could provide the necessary care for the aging dog, especially after Hergenreder invested $3,000 in medical interventions. “Mr. Hamilton didn’t even take such basic steps as licensing the dog,” Greengard contended, questioning the expectation for the doctor to relinquish the dog after nursing him back to health.

“This is an unfortunate situation,” Greengard remarked, “but I’m glad Biggby is living his best life.” As the legal proceedings approach, the fate of Biggby remains uncertain, drawing attention to the complex issues of pet ownership and welfare.