A $10,000 reward is now being offered to anyone with information on the person(s) who poured gasoline on a dog in Phoenix, Arizona, and set him on fire.
Initially, the reward money stood at $5,000 before the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) — an animal rights organization — announced an additional $5,000. This hefty reward, they hope, will help in apprehending the unidentified assailant who burned the 16-year-old Pit Bull and Mastiff Mix named Duke alive.
PETA steps in to raise reward to $10k for info on dog set on fire
According to Arizona’s Family news outlet, the heinous attack happened in the morning hours of Mar. 5. The senior pup was asleep on his mattress in the yard when an unknown person poured gasoline on him before setting him on fire.
Unfortunately, Duke sustained drastic burns that covered about 70% of his body, as per AZCentral. Due to the severity of his injuries, the poor dog had to be euthanized.
Duke’s owners — 24-year-old Roscoe Gillum, a United States Navy Service member, and his mother, 49-year-old Stella McPhee — are still trying to come to terms with the horrifying attack. They hope that the law will finally catch the perpetrator.
“Somebody tortured him,” McPhee said. “He was just trying to live out his last days.” Continuing, McPhee added, “Hopefully we’ll get to the bottom of it and Duke will get his justice because he darn sure deserves it.”
Following the brutal attack, Duke’s owners, neighbors, and Silent Witness — a non-profit that assists in the apprehension of wanted suspects — together raised a total of $5,000 as a reward for information that will lead to the arrest of Duke’s attacker. PETA’s contributions brought the figure to $10,000.
Shockingly, Duke’s owners said they’ve had a fire-related attack at their residence before. As of now, it’s unclear whether the person responsible for the first attack is the same individual who set the dog on fire. The heartbroken owners now plan on installing a new security system and robust fencing system.
