LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — A Michigan veterinarian who thought she was saving a dog ended up convicted of stealing one, and now she’s headed to jail.

A Grand Rapids judge on Nov. 24 sentenced Dr. Amanda Hergenreder to 10 days behind bars after a jury found she unlawfully kept a homeless man’s longtime pet. Judge Angela Ross rejected her request for community service, instead ordering jail time and $1,000 in restitution. The misdemeanor carried a potential 93-day maximum.

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The case began last year when Hergenreder, in town for a veterinary conference, spotted a 16-year-old pit bull mix tied to a truck outside a coffee shop. Believing the dog was in distress, she drove the animal two hours to her clinic, treated a urinary tract infection, and pulled a decayed tooth—then refused to return him.

Prosecutors said the dog, named Vinnie, belonged to Chris Hamilton, who had cared for him for 13 years despite experiencing homelessness. By July, the elderly dog’s medical problems had advanced to the point that he had to be euthanized.

In court, Hergenreder insisted she was acting out of duty to animal welfare but admitted she had misjudged the situation. “I failed to honor the bond between Vinnie and Mr. Hamilton,” she told the judge.