Michigan vet who kept homeless man’s ‘sick’ Pit Bull after treatment faced court. Her candid admission led to a verdict that stunned everyone.

The case of a Michigan veterinarian drew nationwide attention this week after a court ruling brought an unexpected outcome. The story centers on a homeless man, his aging Pit Bull mix, and a vet who chose to keep the dog after treating him. On Monday, November 24, 2025, the matter returned to public view as court records were reviewed. The vet’s open admission about her actions shaped the final verdict in a way that surprised many who followed the case closely. 

The incident began in 2024 when veterinarian Amanda Hergenreder spotted the 16-year-old dog tied to a truck during a trip to Grand Rapids for a work conference, as reported by ABC News. She later said she acted out of concern for the animal’s health. Hergenreder took the dog to her clinic two hours away, where she treated a serious urinary tract infection and extracted a decayed tooth. She also said the dog was not licensed and stressed what she believed were her ethical duties as a veterinarian.

However, her actions were scrutinized and she was dragged into the court for not returning the dog to its original owner, Chris Hamilton. Prosecutors charged her after she refused several requests to return the dog to Hamilton, who did not have a permanent home at the time. During the trial, she said all she saw was a “dog in distress,” but later admitted she “failed to see the whole picture.” She told the judge she “failed to honor the bond between Vinnie and Mr. Hamilton.” Further emphasizing how she "failed to recognize the heartbreak that would follow" and "to stop, think, and ask questions." 

At trial, jurors heard that she had renamed the dog Biggby and believed he was doing well in her care, as per Newsweek. A jury convicted her after a two-day hearing held in September this year. Hergenreder also told jurors that she would repeat her actions “in a heartbeat” if it happened again. The case concluded with the vet being sentenced to 10 days in jail for not giving the dog back to his owner. She was also ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution after a misdemeanor larceny conviction. Judge Angela Ross rejected a request from her lawyer, who had asked for 120 hours of community service instead of jail. 

Her attorney, Miles Greengard, argued that she kept the dog because she feared there would be no review of the living conditions he had been in. He said, “She believed, as I believe, she did the right thing. What is right and what is legal are not always the same thing. We’re disappointed in Dr. Hergenreder being sentenced to jail, but we take solace in the fact that Biggby/Vinnie spent his last few months in a warm, safe, loving, caring environment.” The pet dog was euthanized in July due to age-related health issues.

Hamilton shared in an interview with WOOD TV about how he had tied his pet dog to the truck while he walked to a gas station. He also expressed his grief over the loss of the canine. “I had my dog for [sic] 15 years. Never neglected him and, you know, we loved each other. I mean, I felt like I lost part of my body after that.” His words showed the depth of his attachment to the dog he called Vinnie.