Puppy kept from woman who tried to mail it

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- A Minneapolis administrative hearing officer has ruled against returning a puppy to the woman who attempted to send the dog in a sealed box via U.S. mail.

Administrative hearing officer Fabian Hoffner ruled the 4-month-old Schnauzer-poodle mix should not be returned to Stacey Champion, 39, labeling her actions "disgraceful," the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported Tuesday.

Champion admitted to putting the dog in a cardboard box with no food and attempting to mail it to her son in Atlanta at the Loring Post Office on Jan. 25. Postal officials said the puppy likely would have suffocated or died of exposure while being transported via cargo plane.

The Minneapolis Animal Care and Control shelter said the dog may be available for adoption as early as next week.