The woman who tried to mail a poodle from Minneapolis to her 11-year-old son in Atlanta cannot reclaim the puppy, an administrative hearing officer ruled Monday, calling the woman's actions "disgraceful."
Hearing officer Fabian Hoffner denied the request by Stacey Champion, 39, to regain custody of the 4-month-old Schnauzer-poodle mix she tried to send in a cardboard box on Jan. 25, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
The puppy, named Guess, will remain at the Minneapolis Animal Care and Control shelter for now.
"Guess is doing well," Minneapolis police Sgt. Angela Dodge told the paper. "Despite the trauma he endured, he appears to be a healthy and happy puppy who likes to play and receive attention from staff."
Several people have inquired about adopting Guess.
At the hearing, Champion admitted putting Guess in a box without food, though she maintained the box had air holes and held water bottles. But postal officials said the air holes were covered by packing tape and there were no water bottles, according to the paper.
Champion said Guess was supposed to be a birthday gift.
"I was deprived of my son not receiving his gift for his birthday," she said at the hearing, according to the paper. "I felt really, really bad as a mom."
Champion is charged with two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. She will be asked to post a bond to pay for Guess' care at the shelter from now until her court date, Feb. 28, the Star Tribune reported.
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