Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog set on fire

Dog set on fire
Valdosta, GA (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Aug 10, 2005
County: Lowndes
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» 14 year old boy
» 14 year old boy

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

Case ID: 5316

Classification: Burning - Fire or Fireworks

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

View more cases in GA (US)

Investigators think a small, bulldog-mix puppy was set on fire by four juveniles. A Valdosta Police Officer saw the dog engulfed in flames while patrolling and put the fire out with an extinguisher.

Police have four juvenile suspects and say they could all be prosecuted. "This is certainly a crime that bothers us, a helpless little animal and we have every intention of charging this juvenile with cruelty to animals," said Capt. Brian Childress.

No one has claimed the puppy, now named Monty. He is recovering at the Lowndes County animal shelter.

The Valdosta Police Department has charged two 14-year-old boys with aggravated cruelty toward animals. A 15-year-old involved in the incident has been charged with obstruction of an officer.

Case Updates

The Valdosta Fire Department recently adopted Monty, a local canine that was a victim of animal cruelty when he was set on fire last August. The department will use Monty in fire safety education demonstrations, and his story of survival will be shared with other burn victims at burn camps.

Monty first received attention in August 2005 when three teenagers poured gas on him and set him on fire. Patrol Officer Steven Weisbrod was on patrol in the neighborhood when he observed the small dog on fire and saw the juveniles running from the scene. Weisbrod responded to the aid of the dog, extinguished the fire and detained the juveniles. As a result, Monty recovered from his injuries and the juveniles were charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. Monty has been recovering at the Lowndes County Animal Shelter for almost seven months.

Citizens have offered their services to assist in Monty�s care. Dr. Amanda Perry on North Valdosta Road has agreed to treat Monty one year free of charge. Also, Farmers Supply on Patterson Street is providing his food for the year and Kathy Randolph Abbott from Wachter Engel K-9 Academy will be teaching Sgt. Leslie Brogdon of the Valdosta Fire Department to train Monty to stop, drop and roll and to crawl low under smoke.

�Monty is a special needs dog because his burns will never allow his hair to grow back,� said Brogdon. �There is a big risk of sunburn, so I make sure to keep him inside or keep sunscreen on him. I�m considering having a shelter built for him so he could be in the shade and enjoy the outdoors at the same time.�

Source: Valdosta Daily Times - March 23, 2006
Update posted on Apr 11, 2006 - 1:38AM

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Monty will stay at the animal shelter for about two more months, then he'll be up for adoption. Workers here say they won't have a problem finding him a safe and loving home. "We get calls almost every day about people wanting to adopt him," said Bill.

And although he'll always carry scars from this tragedy, they hope his wounds will teach others an important lesson. "I would love to see him go to a home where he can be used for pet therapy, maybe with burn victims, or he could go into schools and teach children about compassion," said Michelle.

Compassion those three juveniles failed to show this defenseless puppy. Now they're facing charges of animal cruelty, and obstruction of an officer.

Source: WALB - Aug 26, 2005
Update posted on Aug 29, 2005 - 4:22PM

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Police are likely to charge the four teenage males with animal cruelty for setting a small dog on fire. Valdosta Police spokesman Capt. Brian Childress told The Valdosta Daily Times that charges would be filed after police examined fingerprints found on a bottle of lighter fluid in the yard.

"If we can prove it, we're charging someone on this," Childress said.

Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution - Aug 12, 2005
Update posted on Aug 13, 2005 - 1:45PM

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References

	WALB - Aug 12, 2005
	WSBTV - Aug 25, 2005

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Dog set on fireValdosta, GA (US)

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Dog set on fire
Valdosta, GA (US)