Share:

Case Snapshot

Case ID: 17844

Classification: Burning - Fire or Fireworks, Beating

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

More cases in Jackson County, MO

More cases in MO

Login to Watch this Case

Images for this Case

all 2 media files »

For more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.

Dog set on fire
Kansas City, MO (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Apr 28, 2011
County: Jackson

Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 2 files available

Alleged: 14 year old juvenille

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A Kansas City woman was arrested after police say she failed to seek immediate medical help for a burned dog.

Maria Alarcon was charged with abuse or neglect of an animal because she failed to get care for the dog in a timely manner.

A neighbor said that he saw two teenagers running away from Alarcon's home on Thurdsay, and they also saw the dog on fire.

Alarcon took Phoenix to Halfway Home Pet Adoption in Kansas City on Friday.

Police said Alarcon told them that she found the dog after he was burned and she was just trying to get care for him. At first Alarcon claimed that she didn't own the dog, but later confessed that she did own it.

"I don't' have a job that's why I don't take my dog to the doctor," said Alarcon.

Alarcon believed the surgery would be free if she said Phoenix was a stray. She said Phoenix is like a family member to her.

Local animal rights groups can't believe a puppy could be burned like this.

"It's hard for me to to understand how something like this happens and what those animal that were abused or neglected could have possibly done to deserve or have something like this happen to them," said Love 4 Paws President Stephanie Henshaw.

Vets say 6-month-old Phoenix is in a lot of pain. He will need skin graphs and he could lose his ears. It's still unclear how or why Phoenix was set on fire. Phoenix sufferd third-degree burns on 40 percent of his body.

Alarcon posted a $500 bond last night. A fund has been setup for Phoenix.

Kansas City's Animal Control Division is investigating the incident, and anyone with information is urged to call (816) 513-1313.

To help out Phoenix, visit

Case Updates

References

• « MO State Animal Cruelty Map
  « More cases in Jackson County, MO

  Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.
  
  For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.