What is wrong with people. 3 years isnt long enough for animal crimes. I am praying for this pups recovery.

thsi makes me sick to my stomach that a person could be so cruel to a animal that was not able to defend herself this person should get the same treatment as ther dog watch them burn and feel every ounce of pain she went through i am thankful for the lady officer that was brave to step in a do the right thing and i cant imagen just standing don nothing at all its common sense to jump in and do the right thing and im sure among the people that were watchn was the $%*&%# that did it or knew who did thats ok cuz it will come back on them god will take care of them and 3yrs in jail is nothing i would love to take this dog and heal her and give her nothing but the love she would deserve she is a champ to hang in there a true angel as r the ones that r helpn her

I couldn't agree more. 3 years is not even remotely comparable to the amount of horrific pain that dog has gone and will go through in it's recovery. It is my opinion that in cases like this, a judge should be given the authority to impose a lengthy sentence and make the person volunteer at a burn victim ward as a condition of their parole/release.

Thank you for the update on the poor dog that was doused by fire this morning. This story has really fired me up. I hope The Sun continues to follow the police and push/persuade them to find this piece of crap garbage that burned this poor animal. I am praying that it will survive. If this person is caught can I be the first to strike the match and do the same thing to them? That's the punishment I think they should get - skip the courts and send him/or her right into the flames!

My apologies for the rant but this story just breaks my heart.

I agree. 3 years is definitely not long enough. Animals deserve more respect and protection than that. A very painful story!

I can't express my rage at crimes like this. No creature deserves to be tortured in such a way, and I can't conceive of three years in prison as a fitting sentence if the perpetrator(s) are even caught. My beloved pitbull Lucy is a rescue, and was abused by having her ears crudely cropped (probably with kitchen shears), but this cruelty is mind-blowing. Officer Teel is to be commended for her quick and compassionate action, and I hope those bystanders who did nothing consider why they did not act. My heart goes out to Phoenix and those who are working so hard to save her. I am willing to help in any way, and will make a donation to the Franky Fund.

This crime is absolutely dispicable. I am a firm believer in an eye-for-an-eye...the person (s) that did this to this innocent animal should be doused in gasoline and also made to burn!!!!

What kind of sick and demented individual could do something so horrible???

AND, HOW COULD THE BYSTANDERS JUST STARE AND NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP THE ANIMAL????

What has this world come, too??? How could they just watch as that poor dog burned almost to death, in pain so awful, the police offer said that she'd never heard such an excrutiating sound of pain come from an animal before.

I am appalled, something needs to be done about this!! How could all those people just stand there and then not tell the police who did it...when they WATCHED the person(s) do it???

The police offer should be given a medal and honored throughout the city...because no one else was going to step in and save that dogs life.

I am not a supporter of violence but I think in certain cases that Draconian law should be inflicted on the perpetrator(s) who did this to this defenseless dog. I can not fathom a mind so depraved to do what was done to this animal. It is absolutely heartbreaking and yet this dog had the spunk to wag her tail after what she'd been through. I can only hope the person(s) responsible will be made to pay and the sentence should be harsh to set an example for the rest of those so inclined to cruelty.

As the owner of 2 pit bulls, I am particularly sickened by the acts of the dispicable, horrific actions of whoever set this dog on fire... What else are they capable of? That's why it's so important the police find out who it was. The bystanders are accessories in my opinion. Finally, I am surprised I am not the only one who is defending a pit bull.

Donated! Stories like this make me crazy mad. Violence towards animals needs to be taken seriously, I believe it demonstrates that the perpetrator has serious, serious issues and is a threat to society at large. What else is this evil person (or persons) capable of?

This is so sad. Please continue to provide updates on this issue - abuse of pets in Baltimore and the Franky Fund that helps them.

I pray that the dog makes it through this. There is no fair penalty for this act. Please make an example of the person or people who did this and do not let them get away with it. They need to be prosecuted for torture and attempted murder. They should never see the light of day again. If they could do this to an innocent animal they can and will do it to a human. Compassion and common sense can not be taught. This persons illness is beyond help and they are a danger to society. All serial killers start with animals and progress.

I just want to hug her and let her know that not all people are bad.

I hope whoever did this suffers and rots in hell. Three years? How about thirty. Animal cruelty needs much stiffer penalties so the monsters don't get out and do more harm.

The thought that people would just stand around and laugh while this dog burned alive utterly fills me with rage. I'm sure there were those in the crowd who either partook or knew who committed this heinous act. I'm not religious whatsoever, but after I hear a story like this, I do believe there is true evil in the world. I hope someday, in some way, these individuals pay a hundred fold--I hope they burn. It's impossible to imagine the unbelievable pain this dog is going through at this very moment. One way or another, I hope she'll be free of her suffering.

This is typical inner city baltimore at it's finest. Some lowlife sets a defenseless animal ablaze and all of the local toughguy, gangsta scum stands around laughing.If the person who did this just happens to read this, you cowardly piece of worthless crap, you are a real man setting a dog on fire, your very, very lucky I didn't see you do it, or you would be in the same condition this animal is in right now you lowlife scum.

I am the owner of an adopted pitbull. These animals are the most loving, intelligent, loyal pets someone could have. To you self proclaimed toughguy gangstas, you are less than men. don't think for a minute we don't know what's going on. We are not as stupid as you. Either this dog did not have a fighting future, lost a fight, can't be used as bait, or someone lost money betting on her. Either way, this must stop. To the people who just stood around watching, you are as cruel, inhumane and heartless a coward as the creep who set this poor animal ablaze. All of you should be arrested as acessories to the fact.just the fact that there are so called humans walking this planet who would do this or watch and laugh is a scarey thought. This is what society has come to. What a shame.If there ever is a breakdown in society, these are the people who will be roaming the streets. Lock and load!

Can you imagine what someone who would do this to a dog is coukd do to a fellow human being?

I've been angry about this every since I heard about it. This incident along with all of the other senseless crime speaks volumes about the pockets in this city where many don't care about their fellow man or animal in this case.

These people have become so numb to violence that they would probably stand around laughing if it were a human being laying in the middle of the street burning to death. The person(s) that committed this awful crime against this poor defenseless animal are probably the same that go around shooting each other.

Thank God for the police officer, animal rescue and vets that came to this dog's rescue.

Buster-----I agree with you 100%. This is TYPICAL INNER CITY at its finest. It irks the living he*l out of me to know that someone could deliberatly do this to a poor, defenseless animal. I hope this person/persons are caught because you know if they go to jail they will fully pay the price for what they did by other inmates.
I would love nothing more than to douse them in gasoline and set them on fire.
I would not even spit on them to make the fire go out.
BRAVO to the police officer who saved this poor dog.
I truly hope this girl has a full recovery and is adopted into a loving home where she can get all the love and attention that was so brutally ripped from her. We just adopted a dog and the thought of this makes me want to go home and squeeze him and love him!
I am donating to the reward and Franky Fund.

This story has me very disturbed! I cannot believe someone or some people could be so incredibly cruel. I too feel the only fair justice is for those or the person responsible for this act to experience the same torture this precious little lady has gone through. It is not fair that they only have three years of their life interruped when this pool little one is going to suffer the rest of her life. I pray God will take away her pain and thank Him for the brave young officer that was willing to risk herself being burnt to save this dog!
She should receive a reward!!!
I wish that people could contribute directly to this reward fund so that we could drive the reward up high enough that perhaps one of the jerks that stood and watched and laughed would sell out the person that did this.
Do these jerks really think they are cool or that what they did is so big? NO!
They are cowards and have to pick on a defenseless animal.
Chances are the dog perhaps did loose the owner a bet or a fight.
Well, good! I hope the person lost tons of money! The poor dog probably wagged her tail at the vets office because she is intelligent enough to know she is now free of the hell she was living in!
I pray she has a full recovery and is adoped by a loving family and that she will live a very long and happy life.
Please keep us updated on her condition!

This is so horrific and I am so thankful to the officer, the staff at the vet hospital, at BARCS, and for the Sun for covering the sad story. The people who did this and who watched should be shot and set on fire. They deserve to be punished.

We need to keep this in the news so that people will not think it is ok, we need to raise money for BARCS and the fund, and we all need to send a letter to the Police Commissioner to recognize the officer. She was wonderful.

These awful people can't get away with this and we all need to work to find out who did this.

Lots of well wishes for Phoenix and let's all help.

i feel like the city government or schools need to create an education program aimed at young people to talk about animals and animal cruelty. when people are this disconnected from animals and harm them they show serious mental illness. the city should be very concerned for the safety of their citizens if there are people running around doing awful things like this. i am so glad the brave police officer saved this poor dog. i hope she receives an award.

Hi all, I am a senior veterinary nurse at Metropolitan Veterinary Associates where Phoenix is being treated. She has been my patient for the last 2 days and I just wanted everyone to know that we are not out of the woods, but she is a strong little girl.
I have put my heart, soul and care into her and I wanted all to know that no matter what the outcome is, she will have known love and caring.
Thank you all for your support and keep her in your thoughts.
I promise to do my best for her. The doctors that are treating her are amazing and she is getting the upmost care and support.

We have a 6 year old Pit Bull named Louis Vuitton. Louis was chained, beaten with a stick, then a shovel, doused with charcoal starter and lit on fire. He could not escape from the fire underneath him and he suffered full-thickness burns over 60% of his body. He was rescued by Humane Officers and delivered to the arms of the angels at Golden Animal Clinic here in Montgomery, Alabama.
Because of the wonderful care, and particularly the love shown him by their staff, Louis survived and is now a precious member of our family.
That happened on September 7, 2007 and his healing was documented in wonderful videos made by the vet. There are four on You Tube; search for "Meet Louis Vuitton".

All that being said, Phoenix is a very lucky little girl to be rescued and taken out of the obvious hell she had lived in. We pray that she will make a full recovery as Louis did and that she will also help draw attention to the fact that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated. Please know that Phoenix is in our thoughts and prayers daily and we hope to see updates of her healing. We love you little girl!

Also note, that the heathen that did this to Louis Vuitton received 9-1/2 years in prison.
The longest animal cruelty sentence ever handed down in Alabama.
Thank God our maximum sentence is 10 years - not 3 years! These people cannot be rehabilitated and will continue to inflict pain on innocent animals and humans!!

I hope the Media will start to think twice about all their so called 'pit bull' attack stories.
They can rightly accept some (if not a lot) of the "credit" for the horrific abuse directed at these dogs.

Why should people care about these "monsters","beasts","demon" dogs"?

Why?
Because they`re dogs and they all deserve to be treated humanely and to be in good homes.

Lay off these dogs Media.
Report ALL serious dog bites by ALL types/Breeds* or report NONE.
Stop with the sensationalized,hysterical,hatred-inducing headlines.

Dog Bites and the Media
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/dog-bites-and-the-media/

This is absolutely horrific!!! Someone out there that is so demented to do this to an innocent animal. And this ***hole only gets 3 years in jail and thats IF he gets caught. So sad, I am praying for this pup! We need stricter laws here in Maryland !!!

What a heartless non human,WE WILL GET YOU WHO EVER YOU ARE,and you will pay.Our thoughts and prayers are with you Phoenx,now named Miss Mercey.We love you very much.

out of the ashes the phoenix rises, remade whole, beautiful again...

that was my mantra for many years.

this phoenix will rise again too.

I believe it.

and to the garbage POS who did this...

you best be praying I never run across your sorry a**

what will happen will make the tower of london tortures look like ******* sesame street!

OMG I can NOT believe someone is that sick and disturbed to do this to a poor helpless animal. This person needs much more then 3 years imprisonment!!! It completely disgusts me when people just let their animals out to roam the streets b/c they can no longer care for them, let alone something as significant and disturbed as this! What is wrong with people! Poor Phoenix, she is in my prayers for a full recovery and finding a loving home. People have the wrong image of pitbulls, they are very lovable breeds if you treat them right!!! Good luck Phoenix!

I am horrified, and heartbroken over this. Owning 2 pitbulls myself, I fully understand why this breed was once the "All-American" breed--long before the flood of negative media attention (they are very strong dogs--and they ARE animals--but that's another story). For those familiar with them, they are the most loyal, silly, sweet, compassionate dogs--and anyone who owns one isn't surpirsed that Pheonix is still wagging her tail and bidding for affection. They are resiliant, and just happy to be loved.

It sounds like a hate-crime to me, and I cannot fathom how anyone could stand by and watch this happen. It's sick, and there's more to this story--no doubt. This is a reflection of that community.

Phoenix, in honor of you I saved a dog. I was horrified to read your story and wondered why people had seen you around the neighborhood but nobody helped till it was too late. Three weeks ago, a juvenile pit bull just like you wandered into my yard. I caught him and tried to find the owner (no luck). Even though we have twin toddlers and two other dogs, we made room for him in our home to keep him safe because of what happened to you. Today, he was adopted by a wonderful couple and is going to live a wonderful life--a life that you also deserved. Today is for you and all of the other dogs who never had a chance. I am always going to do what I can to help dogs like you. Innocent in this cruel world.

This has happened many times, in areas like detroit, baltimore and florida. It makes me sick to contemplate what suffering is inflicted on innocent animals...and I cannot speak what I feel would be justified to those that did this. There must be a way that we can organize some awareness and education in these areas about animal abuse...somewhere there has to be an answer. Reading these types of stories makes me sad to be alive.