Stacey Champion, the woman accused of trying to send a puppy in the mail from Minneapolis to Atlanta, lost custody of her dog at a City Hall hearing Monday. The city has been caring for the dog since Jan. 25 at its shelter and has received many adoption offers, but a Minnesota statute allows an appeal hearing after an animal has been impounded due to a cruelty investigation.
Champion, 39, appealed to regain custody of her four-month-old poodle-schnauzer mix, named Guess. The appeal halted the move to put the dog up for adoption on Saturday. The loss of custody isn’t official until a resolution is reached in the animal cruelty case. Champion must produce bond in five days to cover the care of puppy or it will be put up for adoption.
The city's case was presented by Minneapolis animal control and the postal inspector. The custody hearing is separate from the criminal case involving animal cruelty charges against Champion. Champion was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty after officials said she tried to mail the dog in a box with no air holes, water or food via the U.S. Postal Service, but the dog was found after the package moved unexpectedly and a postal worker heard panting inside.
Officials said the dog most likely would not have survived the journey. Many people, including the postal clerk who discovered Guess, have expressed an interest in adopting the dog.
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/minnesota/dog-in-mail-custody-hearing-feb-7-2011