Woman Tried To Air-Mail Puppy

A 39-year-old woman has been charged with animal cruelty after she tried to air-mail a live puppy in a sealed box to Atlanta from downtown Minneapolis.
The woman, Stacey Champion, tried to send the male 4-month-old Schnauzer and poodle mix, named "Guess", from the post office on 12th Street North last Tuesday afternoon. The box was wrapped entirely in packing tape that completely sealed air holes. Had the box been sent along in an airplane's unheated, non-pressurized cargo hold, the dog would almost certainly have died.
Champion paid $22 for the puppy to be sent to Georgia by priority mail. A clerk asked her the standard questions about the box's contents, including whether there was anything perishable, liquid or hazardous. She responded no, but did tell the clerk that the package may make some sounds because it contained a toy robot. She asked postal workers to be careful because its contents were so delicate.
After she left, postal workers noticed the box was moving. Scared clerks listened - and heard puppy panting inside. They contacted the Postal Service's enforcement arm because they needed approval to open priority mail and let the puppy out.
The postal inspector also contacted Champion, whose return address was on the box. She returned to the post office and tried to demand a refund for the $22 she paid to have the box mailed. Her demand was rejected.
Stacey Champion was cited for misdemeanor animal cruelty. She has 10 days from being cited to appeal. If she declines or loses her appeal, Guess would go up for adoption. The dog is now at the city's animal control facility.