New Zealanders have rallied over the plight of a Wanganui puppy whose teenage owner was willing to go to jail rather than put him down, as he could not afford the vet's bill to fix his broken leg.
"It's not a story about money, it's a story about love," the teen's father, Kevin Stewart, said.
Bronson Stewart kidnapped his five-month-old puppy Buck, who had been hit by a car, from the local vet's clinic when he was told the dog would be euthanased if he did not pay for the operation to fix its broken leg.
The 18-year-old was told it would cost $2500 for the dog's leg to be pinned back together or $800 for the leg to be amputated, the Wanganui Chronicle reported.
It was a cost neither Stewart nor his father, both beneficiaries, could afford.
The best they could do was offer the vet $5 a week, which was declined. The vet also refused to return the pup because the little dog was in pain.
"I just knew I had to get my dog back. He's like my brother. I need to have him. They can't just kill him because I haven't got any money," Stewart said.
So on Friday he went to the veterinary clinic and asked if he could see Buck. He then grabbed the little dog and ran home as fast as he could him.
Yesterday, the teen was threatened with prosecution by the SPCA unless he had the dog seen to.
The determined owner said he would rather be put behind bars than see his dog put down.
People today rallied to Buck's aid.
Wanganui SPCA manager Val Waters said local people had been into the office all day giving donations to save Buck. They had so far received $900 in cash. They had also fielded "hundreds" of calls from people offering to send donations to them.
"The dog will be just fine," Ms Waters said.
Stewart's father said he was delighted with the news of people's generosity.
"It's a story about a dog that deserves to live."
The puppy was the only survivor of a litter of seven after a farmer put the others down for being too yappy.
He was then apparently targeted and run down by Mongrel Mob members angry with Mr Stewart and his son over upcoming legal action, Mr Stewart said.
He said while he didn't totally approve of his son's actions at snatching the dog from the clinic, he knew something had to be done.
"I love my son dearly and I love my grand-pup dearly too. He's stolen my heart alright."
