A Boy And His Hedgehog

CBS Evening News: Smart Kid Battles Mom And City Hall -- And Wins

(CBS)  Of many battles that mothers face daily, few are fraught with more passion and determination than the battle that always begins with: "Mom, can we get a …"

In the case of the Kansas family CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman met, the animal in question was a small, spiny mammal native mostly to Asia and Africa - a hedgehog.

"When I saw them I thought they were the cutest thing alive," Judson argued to his mom.

"I said we're not getting a hedgehog, I'd never heard of a hedgehog," said his mother, Rebecca Weeks.

That's how exotic pet debates always start.

What makes this one, in the Weeks family, different is how it ends: at the city hall of Lawrence, Kansas.

Lawrence Mayor Mike Denver said that Jud provided him with "a portfolio of information - the photographs of hedgehogs - he had justifications."

That all started more than two years ago. As a typical kid, Jud argued owning a hedgehog would teach him responsibility.

"But that's when she said, 'Why don't you start early - go take care of the dogs.' And I'm like - Oh, I didn't think that was going to be involved."

So he took care of the dogs, thinking that would earn him a hedgehog. Unfortunately for Jud, his mom is a lawyer.

"She did some research and found out - whoa - they're illegal," Jud said.

Rebecca said: "I thought, alrighty then."

"End of story?" Hartman said.

"That's right," Rebecca said.

Well, not quite.

Last month, Jud put on his best suit and tie to tell City Council there was no logical reason to disallow hedgehogs.

"He got up and he just delivered it like a pro," Rebecca said.

"It was amazing, one of the best laid-out arguments that I've seen since I've been on the commission the last two years," said Mayor Denver.

Needless to say, it is now perfectly legal to own a hedgehog in Lawrence, Kan. Jud named his new pet Little Luke.

"Is it as much fun as you thought it would be?" Hartman asked Jud.

"Oh it's a lot more too. He is prickly but he doesn't charge at you that much," Jud said.

"Oh, that's good," Hartman responded.

Plus, Jud says this whole experience has taught him a valuable lesson.

"If you're a kid - if you don't like a law - if you feel it's unfair - change it," said Jud.

[mellie1957]

JudsMom1 - You go girl !! I''m glad Jud got his hedgehog. I suspect Jud will do great things as an adult. What a terrific Mom you are !!

[judsmom1]

Oh, and to the gentleman that thought he had to be "forced" to care for his dogs .. they weren''t "his" dogs .. they are my husbands, and Jud takes care of them and plays with them, walks them, and suggests ideas to make they life more fun when they aren''t hunting. So, before you go shooting your mouth off .. maybe you should have more facts.

[judsmom1]

cont
4. Hedgehogs were legal everywhere in Kansas except Lawrence, even in the County where Lawrence is located, and they were legal to own in Lawrence until 1992 when the law was changed from one of inclusion, to one of exclusion. Therefore, there are good arguments to make them legal in town.
Now, if you still are cranky about the story, I suppose you''re just a cranky person in general who can not appreciate the hard work and effort that an 11 year old went through; the courage that he showed in public speaking in front of adults (who were seating above him in podiums) while a crowd listened behind him, and wonder what in the world it is that YOU''VE done recently to make a difference?
~Rebecca

[judsmom1]

Cont
3. Jud is neither "spoiled" nor did he "go over" anyone''s head for this. He showed incredible resilience in wanting one for three years, and in the meantime, kept his grades up (making honor roll), participated in several sports, guitar lessons, has served at LINK (Lawrence Interdenomination Soup Kitchen)and took on more and more age appropriate chores. Furthermore, it was I, his mother not a hired lawyer, who helped him in going to City Hall. He wouldn''t need to hire a lawyer because not only am I one, but so is: his father, his step father, his aunt and uncle (for whom little Luke gets his name). This was a project that he and I researched and I thought it would help him learn about City Government. Obtaining a hedgehog was the bonus for his efforts. And, even if he HAD hired a lawyer and "gone over" anyone''s head to get the right for hedgehogs to be legal, what good would that have done him if I would have said "no" to having a hedgehog in the house? That doesn''t make sense .. I initally said NO because I did not know what owning one would entail, however, once I was able to do enough research, we were going to buy him one last year for Christmas .. how else do you think I would''ve have gone through the trouble of finding out if they were legal or not?

[judsmom1]

Okay, you naysayers are taking what should be a great story of a boy and his accomplishments out of context, and I suppose, it''s because not all of the items of the story were posted, here is my response:
1. The "parent" ME, did not just "give in" for a hedgehog. We researched and found out that they actually make great pets, and though they do require exercise, we have provided Little Luke a set up encouraged by the Hedgehog Associations as he has an excercise wheel, a heating source, a constant fresh water source, etc. I can assure you, that he has plenty of time out side of the cage to run around, and when Jud can not take care of him, I make sure that he''s taken care and will be throughout his life, which is why we did not immediately get him one when he asked (when he was much younger, legalities notwithstanding). Jud has shown himself with our other animals and his younger siblings to be loving, patient and extremely caring.
2. The hedgehog is not ''wild''; he never was. He was obtained from a breeder. The ordinance in Lawrence was changed to only allow "domesticated" hedgehogs, not those "plucked" out of the wild, as there are no "wild" hedgehogs in Kansas. Now, maybe THAT is an argument, but not one that I''m going to make as this was happening long before we became interesting in hedgehogs.

[wvu74621]

Just another spoiled brat. I see he had to be forced to care for his dogs. This kid will loose interest in Mr. Hedgehog just like he did his dog.

[poohbearcole]

how cute!!!!

[blackyowe]

I had one for 8 years named Spiney Norman. They are very easy to care for and not prone to get sick. I loved him until he passed away.

[valerie777]

What a sad story. Sad for the hedgehog: a wild animal removed from its native habitat, no mate, confined to a cage for the rest of its life, to be played for a while and then discarded. Sad for the boy''s mother, who said: "no hedgehog", but who is so little respected that the child completely ignored her and sailed right over her head. Sad sad story!

[erasmus606]

It should be illegal to own exotic animals.

This kid should not have been allowed to own a hedgehog. I have owned a hedgehog and the reason I had him is because someone else wasn''t looking after him properly. They need the right food, and they need LOTS of exercise. They are a lot of work and a child should not be responsible for it''s care.

[darrylrusk]

Good story! Hoorah for kid power!!!!

[darrylrusk]

I like this story on many levels: a great human interest story; a great kid ''wins'' story; a great story about a mother and son working together to correct what the boy sees as a ''wrong; and a city willing to listen to, even its smallest, citizens. It''s sad, however, to see self-righteous, judgmental, and I assume environmentalist, who separates humans from the animal kingdom. Odd. Often, the same people tend to be athiests. But, f humans aren''t part of the animal kingdom, where did we come from? Anyways...! Hoorah for kid power!

[Meg003]

Change a law prohibiting a wild animal from being made a pet just for a spoiled kid to get his way? I guess in our "kids rule" society, it was too much to expect the adults to explain that he could survive without getting his way.

What will he do when he gets caught running a red light? Fails a class? Stubs his toe on a crack in the sidewalk? Get a lawyer, and go to court, naturally.

[Krazcarl]

Raising a wild animal as a pet is not a wonderfull thing.Have raised a raccoon had to feed him with a dropper at fist {fell in the barn} eventualy let him to his life in the woods {could tell looking for a mate and wasn''t up to it} after 18 months best friend I ever had. I was raised on a farm and well versed in taking care of animals to the put of letting back to their habitat if not for supper. Children will torment these creatures andwill hurt the creatures or themselves then take it out on the creature. This is bogus and not a good thing. Millions of dogs and cats are killed yearly that have been bred for pets let''s leave our paws off wild creatures imprisoning a creature that has not harmed you or set up for consumption is just plain wrong, Do you simpletons get it this is not a good thing period.Take a look at our prisons.

[whatnow12]

Way to go, Mom!!! It is so nice to read about a child that is encouraged to follow his dream. Our kids need to be taught more about government and how to work within the system to change it. Smart Mom - smart kid!!!

[evian_ycnan]

I named my new dog "stay". He has become very jittery and shacks all the time. I don`t understand. When I call him I say " come here stay" and he faints. What should I do?

Posted by bunwiper at 08:20 PM : Jan 30, 2009

I had a dawg. Taught him to obey commands, "set and lay down." Talk him to speak too. And when he`d learned that he said, "It`s sit and lie down"

[evian_ycnan]

Found an injured hedgehog while living in Europe as a kid. Kept it 3 months until we thought it would survive when we turned it out in the spring. They are amazing friendly. As a wild animal it took readily to handling and feeding. Of course, gloves help.

[cjw3cma]

We''re on our second hedgehog. Harley (male) our first lived a solid 7-1/2 years. His habitat is now occupied by Chaco (Count Chocula), our soon to be 1 year old male. Our 5 year old cats (brother & sister) and our 7 month old Pug (MOOSE) all share our place in Oregon. One day we would like to have a couple litters as a side business.

[miriambk]

I''ve had little contact with hedgehogs, but the ones I have held and handled have all been quite nice little creatures. Cool story.

[apndrgn]

A former co worker gave me his golden retriever that was having siezures. pass out roll back eyes siezures. Sunshine never had siezures with me, not one. She was eight when I got her and I think it was just spending more time, recognizing when she needed her walk, going places in the car. I even trained her to pull me on a skateboard and she was eight when I got her.