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| Prosecutor(s): | Scott Storey | | Judge(s): | Tamara Russell |
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Case #14742 Rating: 2.0 out of 5
Dog hog-tied, set on fire
Lakewood, CO (US)Incident Date: Sunday, Oct 19, 2008
County: Jefferson
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 3 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Tanya Marie Martin
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
A Yorkshire terrier is recovering from second- and third-degree burns to more than half of its body after a woman allegedly hogtied the dog and set it on top of a burning phone book Sunday.
Tanya Martin, 38, was arrested without incident and booked into the Jefferson County jail on suspicion of fourth-degree arson and cruelty to animals, both felonies.
"We do not know what motivated her to commit this horrific crime," said Sheridan Foster, a Lakewood police spokeswoman.
Martin's uncle, Leo Cordova, said his niece suffers from mental illness. "She loved that animal," he said. "That's her buddy. That's the love of her life."
The terrier, named Bobo, was tied with speaker wire and placed on a telephone book that was set ablaze on top of a kitchen stove at the Alpine Mountain Vista Apartments in the 400 block of South Wright Street, Foster said.
A neighbor heard the dog yelping about 9 a.m. and called 911. Police rushed to the apartment complex and stopped the fire from spreading, Foster said.
Bobo, who is about 6 years old and weighs 10 to 12 pounds, is expected to survive but faces a long recovery, said Elisa Mazzaferro, director of emergency services at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital.
The dog was burned from the neck down, primarily on his underside and all four of his feet. The skin on his chin and his tongue also were severely burned.
Mazzaferro said she has seen at least four other animal-burn cases during her time at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital.
Three of those cases were malicious, including one involving a cat named Westy, who was set on fire and thrown from a moving car in Westminster. That case led to a new law that stiffens the penalties for animal cruelty, she said.
Mazzaferro said West Metro Fire Rescue called the animal hospital to say it was bringing a dog that had been "maliciously and purposely lit on fire by its owner."
Before Bobo was transported, paramedics resuscitated him, she said. "He was almost unconscious and barely breathing."
When Bobo arrived at the animal hospital, he was "very critical" and in a "tremendous amount of pain," Mazzaferro said.
By 11 a.m., Bobo was in an incubator and being given supplemental oxygen. He is at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning because of the burns, Mazzaferro said.
He was wrapped in bandages to keep the ointment on and to keep the bedding in the incubator from adhering to his skin. Bobo also has an intravenous catheter in his neck to receive pain control medication, antibiotics and supplemental fluids.
Mazzaferro asked that the public "say prayers" for Bobo and donate to an animal care society in his name.
"We're going to do our best to make sure that Bobo stays alive," she said. "He's in good hands now."
Case UpdatesThe Lakewood woman accused of burning her dog on a stove last October causing injuries that eventually killed it was sentenced to 45 days in jail and 10 years of probation.
Tanya Marie Martin, 38, was in court Friday for her sentencing. Martin pled guilty on April 22 to aggravated animal cruelty, a class six felony.
Martin had previously entered a plea of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity in this case. Doctors at the Colorado Mental Health Institute found that she was insane at the time she set the fire. Martin withdrew the plea on April 22 and pled guilty to the class six felony.
Terms and conditions of her probation include that she cannot be a caregiver to an animal and that she not use drugs or alcohol. The medication prescribed for her mental illness will also be monitored.
"This is a tragic criminal act that has its roots in mental illness," said District Attorney Scott Storey, "Martin has a history of mental illness dating back to her teens. She had no prior criminal history, but her failure to take her medication as prescribed had disastrous consequences in this case. We take cruelty against animals seriously and a felony conviction was appropriate considering the circumstances." | Source: KDVR - June 5, 2009
Update posted on Jun 6, 2009 - 11:58PM |
A 6-year-old Yorkshire terrier who was placed the phone book on a burning stove has died from burns.
The terrier suffered burns to 50 percent of its body and was being cared for at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Lakewood. A hospital spokeswoman said Bobo died from his burns overnight.
"The complications of being burned were too much for his organs," said Dr. Elisa Mazzafero, with Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital.
Police said neighbors smelled smoke and heard yelping Sunday morning and called 911.
When police arrived, they found Bobo laying on its back on top of the burning telephone book, its legs tied down with speaker wire, said Lakewood police spokeswoman Sheridan Foster.
Officers arrested Tanya Martin, 38, on charges of fourth-degree arson and cruelty to animals, Foster said. She is being held in the Jefferson County Jail on $10,000 bond.
Her uncle, Leo Cordova, said Martin suffers from mental illness.
She is due in court at 10 a.m. Thursday. | Source: The Denver Channel - Oct 23, 2008
Update posted on Oct 23, 2008 - 10:28AM |
More than 250 donations totaling more than $10,000 have been made in less than 24 hours to help pay for the care of Bobo, the Yorkshire terrier allegedly burned by his owner in Lakewood.
"Online donations started really flooding in late Monday," Ben Drotar, director of development for the Table Mountain Animal Center, said this morning.
"They range from $10 to $1,000," Drotar said. Later this morning, he'll have a definite idea of how much has been donated so far.
Tanya M. Martin, 38, is being held in the Jefferson County jail for investigation of cruelty to animals and fourth-degree arson.
Lakewood police say that after a neighbor made a call about smoke, they discovered that Bobo had been hog-tied over the flames of a stove.
Relatives say Martin suffers from mental illness.
Drotar said Bobo's medical bills and care may come to as much as $15,000 - "worst case scenario."
If the donations exceed the cost of care, they will go into the Westy Fund for abused animals. That fund was established after Westy, a cat, was burned, thrown out a car window and left for dead in 2001.
She was treated at the Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, as was Bobo.
Some animal lovers worry that Bobo is being kept alive despite being in a lot of pain.
Drotar said that despite burns over his legs, Bobo is hanging in there pretty well.
"There's good reason to continue to provide care.
"Burns are very painful, but a big part of his treatment is pain management," he said. "He is being heavily sedated as they take care of his skin. The first 72 hours are going to be the most telling."
Doctors give Bobo about a 50/50 chance.
"At any time the doctors don't think (the treatment regimen) is in Bobo's best interest ... we'll make whatever decision is in the animal's best interest."
Donations can be made to "Bobo's Care" at Table Mountain Animal Center Foundation, P.O. Box 270587, Louisville, CO, 80027. For more information go to www.tablemountainanimals.org and find "Help Bobo the Burned Dog." | Source: Rocky Mountain News - Oct 21, 2008
Update posted on Oct 21, 2008 - 5:09PM |
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