Dog set on fire
James Island, SC (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Jun 24, 2007
County: Charleston
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Open
Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!
Joslyn Brown was sitting on her front porch when she heard her mother's dog yelping in the backyard of their James Island home. She ran to the back of the house in time to see the dog, laying next to his doghouse, in flames.
On June 30, nearly a month after the incident, Cheeko, an 18-month-old chow mix, was released from Advanced Animal Care of Mount Pleasant.
Pet Helpers, a rescue and adoption center, created a $250 reward to encourage tips about the person who burned Cheeko. The burn was not an accident, says Carol Linville, president of Pet Helpers.
"It was an intentional act," she said. "What we feel happened is someone poured an accelerant, possibly gasoline, on his lower stomach, through his groin area, and set him on fire."
Marcus Grant, the animal control supervisor with the Charleston Police Department, is looking for a suspect.
"We canvassed the area and asked a lot of people questions," he said, "but no one knew anything."
Grant said he got a call about the incident two days after it occurred, which might have slowed the investigation process.
Cheeko's owner, Louise Mitchell, and Linville, who has visited Mitchell's home, said they suspect the person entered the yard from behind the house and was someone familiar with the dog.
"I don't know who we're dealing with, but they were familiar with the property," Linville said. "You couldn't just walk up to this dog and hold him down without him barking."
Now that Cheeko is home, Mitchell doesn't plan on letting him play outside again.
"We're making him an inside dog. That person might try it again," Mitchell said. "We're just giving him lots of love now."
Pet Helpers also is trying to get help paying Cheeko's medical bills, which exceed $2,000. He was in the hospital June 5-24 and required extensive medical care.
"This care will easily run you a $100 a day," Linville said. "He's still very sore and very red. The vet is hopeful they won't have to do another skin graft, which would cost even more."
South Carolina has one of the strongest animal cruelty penalties in the country, according to Linville.
"This is being taken very seriously," she said, "and if an adult is convicted, they will face maximum penalty, which is a five-year felony. I will stay with this case until it is resolved, and get Cheeko justice." References« SC State Animal Cruelty Map
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