A veterinarian technician who took home a dog that was supposed to be euthanized has been charged with animal cruelty.

Andrea Oliveira worked at the Briarwood Veterinary Hospital in Howell. She was allowed to take home a dog that was scheduled to be put down because it was sick.

News 12 New Jersey reported that the family who owned the dog thought that it had been put down until they received an anonymous phone call that the dog was in fact still alive. Howell police helped return the dog to the family, who again made the decision to euthanize the dog due to his illness.

Howell police say Oliveira took the dog hoping to help the animal get better.