Pet of the Month
Pet of the Month
By The Pet Gazette Staff
Jun 14, 2008, 23:39

Courtesy of Los Angeles County Animal Care & Control – Lancaster shelter

LANCASTER, Calif. (May 5) – A stray, 6-mos-old, pit bull was deliberately set on fire Monday night. Anne Brooks and her stepson heard the dog yelping and ran outside. Brooks ripped off her shirt using it to put out the flames, which engulfed most of the dog’s body.

The dog, nicknamed “Abigail,” was taken to L.A. Animal Care & Control Lancaster shelter, and then to a local veterinary hospital for emergency care.

Rande Levine, founder of Karma Rescue, heard the news and called Tuesday morning. The vet bill was $1,500 and rising, with the possibility of euthanasia on the horizon. “I was like, ‘Oh, no way can a dog be lit on fire and then die,’” said Levine, “So that’s kind of what motivated us to say, ‘We’ll take her, we’ll foster her, we’ll pay the bills.’”

Abigail has third degree burns over 40% of her body, with gaping wounds where large amounts of dead skin has been cut away. The pictures are so graphic they aren’t publishable.

“She’s so sweet,” said Levine. “She just started eating on her own, but she’s still not going to the bathroom on her own because she can’t stand. And she’s just such an amazing dog.”

Round the clock medical care is costing $1,000/day and will total around $40,000. Karma Rescue needs your help. Please visit www.karmarescue.org or mail a check to: Karma Rescue, 1158 26^th Street, Suite 155 PMB, Santa Monica, CA 90403.

L.A. County supervisors approved a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator(s). Please call the sheriff’s Lancaster station at (661) 948-8466 with information.