"I'd Rather Go to Jail": Teen Kidnaps Own Dog to Save Pet from Euthanasia

By: Carlin DeGuerin Miller
Topics: Daily Blotter

(CBS)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (CBS/AP) This time Billy saved Lassie -- or to be more exact, Bronson Stewart saved Buck, and almost went to jail for it.

Stewart was told by a veterinary clinic in New Zealand that unless he could afford $2,500 surgery for 5-month-old Buck, who was hit by a car, his pet would have to be put down.

Stewart asked to see Buck one last time - then grabbed the pup and ran.

"I just knew I had to get my dog back. He's like my brother," Stewart told TV One's "Closeup" program Wednesday. "They can't just kill him because I haven't got any money."

The family, which lives on welfare in the North Island city of Wanganui, offered to pay the veterinary clinic $3.50 a week, but the clinic declined.

After the "dognapping," the clinic and New Zealand's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals then threatened the teenager with prosecution for cruelty to an animal unless he got veterinary care for the dog, which was in considerable pain.

But once the story got out the SPCA was flooded with calls offering donations to pay for the surgery and save Buck's life.

A determined Stewart said later he would rather be put behind bars than see his dog put down. "I'll go to jail for my dog," he told TV One.

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by merricourt March 10, 2010 4:37 PM EST: To the person who offered the solution of having a pool of veterinarians - that is brilliant! More people like you should be running this country - a solution of intelligence rather than just assuming that no one should expect help from someone else. WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH OTHER AND ALL LIVING BEINGS!; Reply to this comment


by x0xBrookersx0x March 4, 2010 5:15 PM EST: Good for him! I would do the same thing for my dog. To hell with putting him down.; Reply to this comment


by OPTICANGIRL February 17, 2010 2:43 PM EST: THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST TINGS I HAVE HEAR IN A LONG TIME, LOVE IS GREAT.; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt February 15, 2010 4:18 AM EST: by rwsmith29456 February 14, 2010 8:20 PM EST
Blaming the SPCA for this? The SPCA doesn't have enough funding to save every sick or injured animal.
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Even though I do not share my space with other species, I donated to the SPCA regurlarly thinking their efforts would help control the feral population caused by "animal lovers" who abandon their pets.

I stopped donating to them when they spent $50G to rescue a dog abandoned on a sinking freighter off Hawaii a few years back. ONE DOG - 50G.

Sheer stupidity....; Reply to this comment

by sheila2u-2009 February 14, 2010 10:18 PM EST

I say GREAT that this young boy is such a devoted animal lover...Good for you...
Surely the money grubbing Vet could have worked something out with this kid rather than threatening to put down his dog !!

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by formrusmcsgt February 15, 2010 5:51 AM EST: Yeah right...the dog would be 14 years old (or most probably dead)before they paid off the bill @ $3.50/wk...and that's if it were an interest-free loan.

Sheesh.


by rwsmith29456 February 14, 2010 8:20 PM EST: Blaming the SPCA for this? They are sesponsible for mistreated pets, runaway population and fixing an injured dog to the tune of $2500. That's the owners responsibility. The SPCA doesn't have enough funding to save every sick or injured animal. I'm glad the kid was able to raise the money, one dog saved.; Reply to this comment


by Clemsson February 14, 2010 5:45 PM EST: It's ironic that the SPCA (in all its international iterations) CLAIMS to be the champion of animals, yet THEY are directly responsible for murdering millions of beloved pets.

SPCA=Hitler; Reply to this comment


by roger_inkart February 14, 2010 9:59 AM EST: If you own a dog it is YOUR responsibility to keep it safe. Accidents happen, but if your dog is hit by a car it the fault of the person who allowed it to happen.

People are too cavalier and careless with their animals. If the owner had been watching the animal, especially a puppy, this wouldn't have happened. He's not a hero, this is actually his fault.; Reply to this comment

by hifiguy14 February 14, 2010 5:38 AM EST

It appears that the SPCA is fielding enough calls and the donations will cover the surgery. Love knows no limits. One really has to ask though, when the vet is turning the child in for animal cruelty yet wont help the dog, yet was going to kill it? Its all about the money, isn't it doc?
Welcome to health care in America.

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by displeased February 14, 2010 11:35 AM EST: This is actually in New Zealand. Regardless, I wouldn't expect a business, especially one with high operating costs, to give services for free. The vets I know are in that line of work because of their love for animals. I'm sure if they could, they would save every animal in the world. So if you perform a surgery for charity, where would you draw the line? The vets I know aren't filthy rich. They might be able to donate their time towards a surgery, but you can't expect them to pay the other costs out of their pocket every time a kid shows up with a puppy they can't afford to own.


by cuffhead February 14, 2010 12:03 AM EST: The person that said pets were a luxury and not a necessity is an idiot. Ask someone like me who suffers from a mental illness and has just went though the trama of having his dog die in his arms if his companion was not a necessity. IDIOT; Reply to this comment