Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog chained to tree, set on fire

Dog chained to tree, set on fire
Brentwood, NY (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jul 12, 2007
County: Suffolk
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Case Images: 4 files available

Alleged: Derick O. Phanord

Upcoming Court Dates:
» Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007: case conference

Case Updates: 8 update(s) available

Case ID: 11769

Classification: Burning - Fire or Fireworks

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

View more cases in NY (US)

Abuse was retaliation against animal's bad behavior

A Long Island animal shelter is reaching out to the public for help after a dog was found bound to a tree and set on fire last week.

Veterinarians from the Save-A-Pet Animal Rescue center in Port Jefferson have been caring for "Maximus," a mixed breed who suffered severe burns after someone chained him to a tree, doused him with gasoline, and set him on fire in Brentwood. The badly burned animal was found by a resident and taken immediately to the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island for emergency care.

Maximus suffered second- and third-degree burns on more than 60 percent of his body and medical expenses have totaled more than $3,000 for his aid.

Veterinarian Dori Scofield, Director of Save-A-Pet, has been caring for Maximus and says his chances for survival are good, but she's asking for donations from the public in order to continue caring for the lovable pet, who's maintained high spirits despite his pain.

�We can�t allow such horrific crimes be committed against our companion animals. Although Maximus has made progress, he needs a great deal of treatment and has a long road of recovery ahead,� Scofield said.

Maximus was said to be "alert and friendly to everyone at the VMCLI, wagging his tail and licking the staff caring for him."

Once he fully recovers, Maximus will be up for adoption at the center. Neither his former owners or the perpetrators who left him to die have been found.

For more information about Maximus and how to contribute to his medical treatment, call (631) 473-6333 or visit

Case Updates

Court contact information for this case is as follows:

Suffolk County Courthouse
210 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone: 631-852-1462
Fax: 631-852-2306

Court Date: October 17, 2007 9:30 a.m.
Case # 02298-2007

Prosecutor:
The Honorable Jacob Kubetz
Suffolk County District Attorney
Criminal Court B
200 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone: 631-852-2500
Fax: 631-852-1484

Judge:
The Honorable C. Randall Hinrichs
210 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Phone: 631-852-2586
Fax: 631-852-1795

Source: Suffolk County Case # 02298-2007
Update posted on Oct 6, 2007 - 10:37PM

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A Brentwood man accused of dousing his pitbull with gasoline, then burning it alive will appear in court next on October 17 at 9:30 a.m. for a case conference.

Derick Phanord is charged with two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, as well as weapons possession and traffic charges.

According to reports, after Phanord lit the dog, named Spike, on fire, he "walked away while the dog was still burning."

Spike was found by a passerby several days later, still alive but covered with burns over 60 percent of his body. Despite extensive veterinary care, the dog died days later.

Source: Suffolk County Case # 02298-2007
Update posted on Oct 3, 2007 - 2:10PM

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A Brentwood man accused of dousing his pitbull with gasoline, then burning it alive was arraigned Tuesday on a grand jury indictment that included felony animal cruelty charges.

Derick Phanord, 22, pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, as well as weapons possession and traffic charges.

Suffolk County Court Judge C. Randall Hinrichs ordered him held on $100,000 cash bail or $200,000.

Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Michelle Auletta said after Phanord lit the dog, named Spike, on fire last month, he "walked away while the dog was still burning."

The dog was found by a passerby several days later, still alive but covered with burns on more than 60 percent of his body. His rescuers later re-named him Maximus.

The dog received veterinary care, but died days later.

Phanord's attorney said his client "lost his control" because he was angry that the "vicious pitbull" had earlier attacked his other dog, Red, and blinded him in one eye. He said he plans to explore a "temporary insanity" defense.

Phanord's mother, Roline, said her son was a "sweet boy" who has taken care of her as she has battled cancer. She said since the news of her son's arrest, she has been bombarded with hate mail and threatening phone calls at all hours.

Source: Newsday - Aug 7, 2007
Update posted on Aug 7, 2007 - 6:33PM

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Worldwide attention and a $20,000 reward from anonymous donors across the country led to the rescue of Red, the 6-month-old puppy whose owner, Derick Phanord, was arrested for dousing another of his dogs, pitbull Spike, with gasoline and then setting him on fire, SPCA officials said Thursday.

"Without these tips, this guy would still be walking free," said Suffolk SPCA Chief Roy Gross. "It's one of the most severe cases I've seen in 23 years."

On Tuesday, officers seized Red who was locked in an unventilated shed behind Phanord's home.

Phanord allegedly starved Red, who is recovering under a veterinarian's care at the Animal Medical Hospital of Centereach. She is still incredibly weak and on Thursday could barely stand on her wobbly legs.

An infected tear in her eyelid, which Phanord said she received when Spike attacked her head, is healing.

Phonard chained his dog Spike to a tree, dousing him with bleach and gasoline and then setting him on fire by flicking a lit cigarette into the puddle, according to police and according to a confession to authorities Phonard wrote. Spike, who was later renamed Maximus by the vet caring for him, lay suffering in the woods for up to two days before he was discovered on July 12 by a 9-year-old boy, Gross said. Despite several surgeries, Spike died July 17.

Phanord, who was placed under arrest Monday, is facing additional charges for animal negligence on top of a felony charge for aggravated animal abuse, Gross said.

SPCA officials call Red "a sweetheart" and have put her up for adoption.

Those interested in adopting Red should contact the Suffolk SPCA at 631-382-SPCA.

Source: NY Newsday - July 26, 2007
Update posted on Jul 26, 2007 - 5:33PM

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A suburban county plans to devote more police attention to animal cruelty cases after a man was charged with tying his dog to a tree and setting the animal on fire.

Suffolk County's move marks a departure from the approach to such cases in many areas, where they are handled mostly by peace officers working for animal control agencies, said Dale Bartlett, deputy manager of animal cruelty issues for the Washington-based Humane Society of the United States.

A detective in each Suffolk County police precinct will be assigned to work with Suffolk Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals peace officers, County Executive Steve Levy said Tuesday. The peace officers can conduct investigations, execute search warrants and issue summonses to make arrests, but they can't execute arrest warrants or perform certain other law enforcement tasks, said Roy Gross, chief of the Suffolk SPCA.

The police detectives will add the animal cruelty cases to their regular responsibilities, Police Commissioner Richard Dormer said. Plans also call for establishing a permanent reward fund for information on animal neglect.

"From my perspective, it's not enough just to have punishment in this case," Levy said.

Derick Phanord, 22, of Brentwood was being held on $50,000 bail early Wednesday. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday to aggravated animal cruelty and criminal possession of a weapon � a bludgeon, according to police.

The dog, a pit bull, died last week after three surgeries. Authorities said he smelled of gasoline when he was found, severely injured, on July 12.

Police said Phanord told them the dog had been aggressive toward his family and another dog.

"I do know he has a strong family," said Phanord's attorney, Paul Barahal. "Obviously, they are very concerned about him."

Source: Foxnews - July 26, 2007
Update posted on Jul 27, 2007 - 5:01AM

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A Long Island man who allegedly confessed to setting his pit bull on fire pleaded not guilty to aggravated animal cruelty on July 24.

Suffolk County police say Derick Phanord confessed to chaining his pit bull, who he called Spike, to a tree, dousing him with gasoline and setting him on fire after he attacked a puppy in Phanord's home.

The Suffolk County SPCA took in the pit bull and named him Maximus after finding him tied to the tree the night of July 12. Sixty percent of his body was covered in second-and third-degree burns and he had sustained wounds in his mouth, which resulted in the loss of his canine and incisor teeth. Less than a week later, Maximus died from his injuries.

Following his arrest Monday night, Phanord was arraigned Tuesday in First District Court in Central Islip on one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty for the dog's death, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. He is also charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of a weapon and driving without a license.

While Phanord awaited arraignment Tuesday, the Suffolk County SPCA removed the younger puppy from his home.

According to court records, Phanord has previous convictions for harassment and marijuana possession.

A judge ordered Phanord held on $50,000 bond. His next court appearance is Friday, July 27.

Source: Court TV News - July 25, 2007
Update posted on Jul 26, 2007 - 3:02PM

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A Brentwood man confessed to soaking his pit bull with gasoline and setting the dog on fire, and said he did so because it was too aggressive toward his family, Suffolk County officials said at a Tuesday news conference.

The dog, named Maximus by the emergency veterinarians who tried to save it, was found tied to a tree burned over 60 percent of its body.

Derick Phanord, 22, of 156 Cocoanut St. in Brentwood, was arrested at 11:30 p.m. Monday after the Suffolk police got a tip that he was the dog's killer, police Commissioner Richard Dormer said.

"You wonder what kind of depravity is within one's mind," county Executive Steve Levy said.

When he heard of the dog's agonizing death last week, Levy said, "It actually turned my stomach."

The department put out an alert for Phanord's vehicle and a gang unit officer spotted him, Dormer said.

Phanord was arrested for driving with a suspended license and when detectives interviewed him he admitted first pouring chlorine bleach on the dog, then taking it to woods 1 1/2 miles from his Brentwood house where he poured gasoline on it from a red plastic container and set it on fire, the police said.

There the dog remained, tied to a tree, possibly for two days of suffering before he was found, said Chief Roy Gross of the Suffolk Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, who also spoke at Levy's news conference in Hauppauge. Levy said he will revamp the way the county police monitor animal abuse.

One detective in each precincts will develop a part-time specialty in investigating animal cruelty, Levy said.

Also, Levy plans to lobby the state Legislature for an amendment to Buster's Law, which now provides a maximum penalty of two years in prison for aggravated cruelty to animals. Levy wants to increase potential penalty to a five-year maximum prison term.

Levy also wants to establish a permanent reward fund aimed at encouraging confidential animal cruelty tips to the Crime Stoppers hotline. And he wants detective squads to work more closely with the SPCA.

Dormer said media coverage of the pit bull's death generated numerous tips that led the police to target Phanord. Once in custody Phanord confirmed that he was the owner of the pit bull, and said he had gotten the dog as a gift two months ago, Dormer said. He justified his actions by saying the dog it acted aggressively toward his family and a younger dog he owned, Dormer said.

County officials on Tuesday had on display the red plastic gasoline container that Phanord allegedly brought with him when he immolated the dog.

Phanord was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at First District Court in Central Islip after spending the night in the Third Precinct lockup. He is also charged with criminal possession of a weapon, a bludgeon -- a billy club -- found when his car was stopped.

The dog, named Maximus by emergency veterinarians, was found July 12 with second- and third-degree burns over 60 percent of his body.

The Suffolk Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals last week said a reward had increased to $20,000 for information leading to whoever killed Maximus.

The dog smelled of gasoline when found with severe burns on the face and ears, wounds to its upper palate and teeth loss, the SPCA said.

Maximus died last Tuesday despite undergoing three surgeries and other veterinary care.

The 2-year-old, approximately 55-pound male dog was discovered on a right-of-way near Sycamore and Apple streets. Gross said that the SPCA got an overwhelming response of calls from people who were "disgusted" that a human would treat an animal this way. The dog was in good condition and was well fed before it was set afire, Gross said.

The dog was good-natured to the end, said Reed Zaroff of the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island, one of the veterinarians who tried to save him. "He was a good dog up until the very end ... giving licks and kisses."

Source: NY Newsday - July 24, 2007
Update posted on Jul 24, 2007 - 3:30PM

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The Suffolk County SPCA is offering a $1,000.00 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for tying a dog to a tree in Brentwood, NY, and setting fire to it.

The dog, a male pit bull, was found on Thursday July 12th with second and third degree burns over 60% of his body; severe third degree burns of his face and ears; degloving wounds of his upper palate including the loss of canine and incisor teeth. The dog also had puncture wounds of his neck and emergency veterinarians treating him detected an odor of gasoline on his hair.

Emergency Veterinarians have named the dog "Maximus," according to Chief Roy Gross of the Suffolk County SPCA. "Even after what he's been through, Maximus still tries to wag his tail when he sees people enter his isolation area," said Chief Gross. Maximus hasn't lost his bond with humans. Emergency care personnel said that Maximus is trying to eat on his own and wants to play with other dogs when he sees them.

SPCA Veterinarian Dr. Charles Greco said that Maximus' condition is guarded and that emergency care personnel have done an excellent job stabilizing him, considering his condition and severe burns.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Suffolk County SPCA at 631-382-SPCA. All calls will be kept confidential.

Source: Suffolk SPCA Press Release - July 16, 2007
Update posted on Jul 17, 2007 - 11:31AM

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Dog chained to tree, set on fireBrentwood, NY (US)

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Dog chained to tree, set on fire
Brentwood, NY (US)