Community | June 11, 2009 | 14 comments

$25,500 Reward For Info On Dog Set On Fire |

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julesrs007
BALTIMORE, Maryland (WUSA)--The reward fund for the dog set on fire, while bystanders did nothing, has jumped from $15,500 on Wednesday to $25,500 Monday, June 8th.

9NEWS Now first reported Wednesday, May 27 that the 1-year-old pit bull, nicknamed both Phoenix and Miss Mercy, was found in southern Baltimore by an alert police officer fully ablaze. Someone doused the dog in gasoline and then set her on fire. Bystanders witnessed the act, and it's reported some were even laughing as the dog burned.

"Her tongue, her eyes, her pads are scorched off, her vulva, unbelievable. We are speechless, and overwhelmed with emotion," said Dr. Marcella Bonner of Swan Animal Hospital.

After treating the dog in Baltimore, Dr. Bonner sent her to Main Line Animal Rescue in Chester Spring, Pennsylvania--a special care facility.

It was Baltimore Police officer, Syreet Teel, who came to Phoenix's rescue. She was patrolling Presbury Street when she saw the dog. Teel has a pet pit bull named Blu.

"We saw this dog in flames, [she] was screaming and rolling around fully in flames," said Teel. "It was sad because I'd never heard a dog make the sound, the scream [she] made. I've never heard it before and it was just cruel.

"[She] was fully in flames. There were people around, but nobody was doing anything. So, I got out of the car, took off my sweater, and started hitting [her] to put the fire out," said Officer Teel.

"We could smell it in the air," said Linda Mackey a witness.

Linda Mackey and Meredith Sickle were volunteering in the neighborhood when they noticed a horrifying ball of flames.

"We were so appalled anything like that could happen and there were actually people in the street standing and laughing like it was entertainment for them," said Sickle.

Bonner says she's handled several similar cases in the past.

Her pet "Apple" was also set on fire.

Bonner warns animal cruelty is widespread but it can be prevented.

"This is an epidemic, do something about it. There's power in numbers, power if we all ban together as a community to get this to stop," she said

-- Unfortunately, Phoenix/Miss Mercy had to be euthanized on Sunday, May 31 because her kidneys were shutting down.

BARCS (Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter) started a reward fund for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual (s) responsible for setting Phoenix/Miss Mercy on fire.
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14 comments // $25,500 Reward For Info On Dog Set On Fire |

  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  

    • How sick, that poor puppy. The pain she felt. How could people not help her? That's obnoxious.
      From the description/placement of her burns kidney failure was inevitable.
      I hope they find the culprit(s) and punish them appropriately.
      There are really cruel people that walk this earth, thank god they are not in the majority.

    • 2 years ago
  • hanna878
    • 0
      hanna878  

    • it breaks my heart and makes me sick. my dog, thor, a pitbull/basset hound, is my best friend, i treat him like a child. i couldn't imagine him suffering that fate.

      people commit violence against other people for whatever reasons they can find to justify: anger, retribution, whatever. but please tell me, what did that dog do to anyone?

      what scares me is that people thought this was funny...how sick are we as a society that this type of cruelty isn't uncommon. what's wrong with us!?

    • 2 years ago
  • Robroy1
    • 0
      Robroy1  

    • This is so sad, it is hard to believe that people are totally void of feelings, and conscience, to commit such a inhuman and cowardly act as to atack an animal whose only purpose is to serve his master and the people around him is unbeleivable. It reminds me of how ugly a human being can be inside even though they may seem friendly and civilized and enlightened. It reminds me how wromg I can be in my assesment of some people. This is the ugliest side of human stupidity.

    • 2 years ago
  • eden49
    • 0
      eden49  

    • To cause such pain to a defenceless animal is incomprehensible...Thanks Bren for including me...Eden...I will donate...

    • 2 years ago
  • Bren589
    • 0
      Bren589  
    • eden49:

      Your so very welcome Eden. everytime i read this I just want to cry. Its just so unbelievable how some people in this world think. Thank you for donating. Its much appreciated.. I also went and adopted a little dog after reading this the other day. Just so I know she will have a great home and never have to worry about being abused by anyone. and she is just the sweetest little pup.. Thanks to all who responded.,..

    • 2 years ago
  • jh64487
    • 0
      jh64487  

    • i'm against capital punishment..

      ...but personally i would execute whoever was responsible for this (if that were legal) if for no other reason than that this is an excellent sign of the person being a sociopath

    • 2 years ago
  • justinleehodges
    • 0
      justinleehodges  

    • hot dog.

      sorry. couldn't help it. i love animals..... so, when they catch the person that did it....they should cut their hair into a mullet and set it on fire while all the dogs at the local humane society all bark loudly at him and possibly pee on his head to put out the flames... if there are any dogs there that can pee on command with impeccable aim.

      i would personally like to kick them in the balls.

    • 2 years ago
  • Bren589
    • 0
      Bren589  

    • OMG People now days make me sick. how can someone just set by and let this happen. and what will make it even worse is the fact that someone knows who did this and will call and get the reward money . when someone should do the right thing and just tell who did it and then donate money to the shelter that took the dog in.. I know thats what I would do. Thanks for sharing this Julesrs.. I will help by sending a donation. hope everyone does ..

    • 2 years ago
  • reactionforce
    • 0
      reactionforce  

    • I'm not sure what sickens me more, that someone set the dog on fire, or that people found it entertaining. One is evidence of sick individuals (which is obvious). Does the other point to a larger societal, or cultural problem?

    • 2 years ago
  • pjacobs51
    • 0
      pjacobs51  

    • WTF has been going on lately, yesterday is was cat murderers in Florida, now this lighting a live animal on fire? There are some really F'd up humans out there.

    • 2 years ago
  • shroomfairy
  • julesrs007
  • julesrs007
  • julesrs007
    • 0
      julesrs007  
    • Image

    • "BARCS has collected $11,000 from individual donors. The Snyder Foundation for Animals has made a commitment of $1,000 towards the Reward. The Humane Society of the United States is offering an additional reward for $2,500, the MDSPCA pledged $5,000 and the Baltimore Humane Society pledged $5,000 leading to the arrest and conviction of the responsible individual(s).

      To contribute to the reward, you may either write a check to BARCS and write in the memo section "For Phoenix Reward," or you can visit the Franky Fund page on BARCS' website and pay through Pay Pal.
      http://www.baltimoreanimalshelter.org/donating/franky_fund.php

      Baltimore Animal Control will be posting updated flyers in the area where the incident occurred. This money will be rewarded to the person who comes forward with information about this case that leads to an arrest and conviction.

      * PLEASE NOTE: There is a section on Pay Pay where you can write your comments before submitting your donation and this is where you should type "Phoenix Reward" - in this special field.

      If no leads are found within 6 months, the money donated to BARCS by individuals will roll over to the BARCS Franky Fund to help other homeless injured animals.

      Anyone with information about this incident should contact the Baltimore City Police Department. Please call 410-396-2477 and ask for the Officer in charge of the investigation. For any questions, please email.

      BARCS, Inc.
      Attn: Phoenix Reward
      301 Stockholm Street
      Baltimore, MD 21230
      410-396-4695

    • 2 years ago
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