Woman Tries to Trade Baby for Puppy

[Dooby]

The Associated Press
Wednesday, April 3, 2002; 12:12 AM

ENID, Okla. –– A woman accused of trying to trade her baby girl for a Chihuahua puppy has been charged with trafficking in children.

Kathryn A. Smith, 21, surrendered on an outstanding warrant Friday and was released after an initial court appearance.

Prosecutors said Smith offered to give her mother's neighbor custody of her 7-month-old daughter if the woman gave her a Chihuahua she was selling for $200.

Smith later upped the price to $2,000, authorities said. The neighbor told police she agreed because she believed Smith was neglecting the child and she wanted to help the girl, authorities said. The deal was never completed.

Smith, who now lives in Springdale, Ark., briefly stayed with the neighbor last April after she was kicked out of her mother's home.

Smith signed papers allowing the woman to seek medical treatment for the baby if necessary and promised to give her legal custody, an affidavit said. Smith's mother later told the neighbor Smith tried to sell the child in Arkansas, authorities said.

The girl remains in Smith's custody.
************************************************** **

Chihuahua? You'd think she could have at least gotten a pure-bred labradore for the child.

[TheKid]

that's cold Dooby.

I tell you what though, in all seriousness this women needs help and I swear if they let this girl get this baby back for ANY reason, the authorities needs to be shot.

[Dooby]

This lady needs serious help.

You are absolutely right. If this lady ever gets to see her child again, it will be unfortunate. That being said, it is very difficult to terminate parental rights. In two years, she will get out of rehab, be clean for a month and sue the state to get her kid back. Because it isn't about the kid, it is about her.

I hate stories like this.

[Smiles]

some states have really horrible laws regarding parental rights. in Texas, in the 80s, my parents worked at a kids home and wanted to adopt two brothers who lived with us and were part of our family. every three weeks their mom was supposed to pick them up for a weekend with her. every three weeks, they got packed and we stood by the kitchen door waiting for her to show ...i remember that for months and months she would promise and then never come. in most states she would have lost her parental rights for going so long w/out seeing her children. when the boys were older she took them to live with her, and my parents and i moved to another state. for years i dreamed that they came to live with us. it was hard to adjust to them being gone, and i worried about how they were doing... still wonder what happened to them....
i hope they are glad for the way things turned out. i hope they don't think we let them down...

i hope OK does what's best for this little girl, but i've learned to brace myself for bitter disappointment. my mom eventually wants to be a child advocate - in government. she already is on a local level.

[Dooby]

Smile, you are right. The other side of the coin is that adoption requires the termination of parental rights by the birth parents. Which is why it can be so hard to do.