A Boy And His Hedgehog

(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.