Woman, charged with animal cruelty for trying to ship a puppy in a sealed box, asks for the puppy back
The Minneapolis woman recently charged with animal cruelty for attempting to mail a live puppy to Georgia in a sealed box asked for the animal to be returned to her in a hearing Monday.
Stacey Champion, 39, has said she intended to give the puppy, named Guess, as a birthday gift for her 11-year-old son in Atlanta. She claimed at the hearing that she made attempts to provide for Guess' welfare by punching air holes in the box and placing water bottles in it, but postal officials denied the presence of water bottles and said the holes were covered with packing tape, negating their purpose.
Postal workers reportedly noticed the box moving on its own and heard noises coming from inside when Champion brought it for shipment. Champion admitted telling a postal clerk that the box contained a "toy robot" to account for its movement, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Because the puppy didn't arrive in Atlanta as she planned, "I was deprived of my son not receiving his gift for his birthday," Champion said at the hearing. "I felt really, really bad as a mom."
Administrative hearing officer Fabian Hoffner denied Champion's request to have Guess returned to her, saying he doubted her ability to provide proper care for him. (You think?) For now, the puppy remains at a Minneapolis-area animal shelter. Multiple potential new owners have expressed interest in adopting the 4-month-old poodle mix, but he won't be made available for adoption until the conclusion of Champion's animal cruelty case unless she fails to pay a bond to provide for his care.
RELATED ANIMAL CRUELTY NEWS:
• San Diego County groups to offer rewards for information in animal cruelty cases
• U.K. 'Cat Bin Lady' pleads guilty to animal cruelty charge for dumping cat in trash bin
-- Lindsay Barnett
Video: Minneapolis Star Tribune
300 million people in America, there are bound to be plenty of total idiots.
Posted by: Tom | February 09, 2011 at 02:17 PM
she "felt really bad as a mom" ? seriously?? she's an epic failure as a human being! not only should she NOT be given the puppy back but CPS should investigate the care and well being of her child/children! C'mon social services!! this is your WAKE UP CALL!!!!!
Not only is she STUPID STUPID!! STUPID!!!!! she has reproduced!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: lisa cofer | February 09, 2011 at 03:18 PM
Sad but true, Tom.
This really makes me believe in the saying "The more I get to know people, the more I like my dog." I like this poor dog much better than this idiot woman.
Way to go lady. Your son would have opened the "toy robot" box to see a dead puppy. Nice one!!!
And I wonder why her son doesn't live with her, hmmmm????
Posted by: Jackie | February 09, 2011 at 04:32 PM
no do not let her have have the dog back any person that does something like that there is something worng with them.
Posted by: bennis beecherl | February 10, 2011 at 02:47 PM
there's a reason her kid doesn't live with her. Child Services was smart enough to take him away. Now the animal rights groups have to do the same.
Posted by: ThankGoodness | February 12, 2011 at 01:20 PM
What a brainless moron! At 39 years old this woman ought to know better. And then to outright lie about the package's contents??
Thank you to the powers that be for saving this poor little pup.
Posted by: Cynthia Cotton | February 13, 2011 at 04:53 PM
Good lord what a nut case! I hope someone seals her in a room with a padded wall because she definetly needs to be in one.
Posted by: marney | February 13, 2011 at 05:51 PM
She felt really bad as a mom? How would she have felt when her 11 year old son opened the box to find a dead puppy? Happy birthday son now let me traumatize you, yeah she should be mother of the year
Posted by: Kitty T | February 14, 2011 at 01:58 PM
This woman must be mentally unstable. I cannot believe I am reading this right now. I cannot believe a human would put a puppy in a box, and attempt to ship it somewhere THROUGH THE MAIL! There is no way this woman is stable. She lied saying it was a toy robot? That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. She should not have a lawyer also. She should be thrown in jail
Posted by: Brooke | February 16, 2011 at 07:40 AM
Sooo, the puppy is going to the pound? :/ It's just going to get killed there, ...idiots all-around.
Posted by: rX | February 21, 2011 at 07:21 AM
Please have her admitted to a mental institute, they lock people up for things nowhere near as bad as this anyway.
Posted by: Joey | March 01, 2011 at 10:01 AM