Jury Finds Veterinarian Guilty of Theft in Shocking Dog Custody Battle
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Michigan veterinarian has been convicted of misdemeanor theft after refusing to return a pit bull mix to its homeless owner, in a dramatic case that has drawn national attention.
The Dog at the Center of the Storm
The dog, originally named Vinny, was found tied to a truck in poor condition. Brought to Dr. Amanda Hergenreder’s clinic, he was treated for a severe urinary tract infection and had a rotten tooth removed.
Hergenreder renamed him Biggby after a local coffee chain — and decided not to give him back to his owner, Chris Hamilton, who was homeless at the time.
“Doing What’s Right” vs. “What’s Legal”
Hamilton pleaded for his companion’s return, but Hergenreder refused, citing her duty to protect the animal’s welfare. In court, she told jurors she would make the same choice again:
“I felt I was doing what was right, even if the law said otherwise.”
Her defense attorney echoed her stance: “What’s right and what’s legal are not always the same thing.”
The Jury’s Verdict
After a two-day trial in Grand Rapids, about 150 miles west of Detroit, the jury convicted Hergenreder of theft. In Michigan, misdemeanor larceny carries a maximum penalty of 93 days in jail and fines.
Heartbreak: Dog Already Gone
Tragically, by the time of the verdict, Biggby — once Vinny — had already been euthanized in July due to age and declining health.
Hamilton told local reporters he had tied his dog to a U-Haul while running into a gas station, never expecting it would be the last time they were together.
“Never felt the same after losing him,” he said.
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