Los Angeles Man Kills Dog By Setting It On Fire; Charged With Animal Cruelty

A California man has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty for killing his family dog by setting it on fire.

Surveillance footage obtained from a home in South Los Angeles showed a man disappear into a park with a dog on a leash on Aug. 22. After few minutes, flames erupted and the man walked out of the park without the pet.

The man, identified as 24-year-old Brandon Jerold Smith, was later arrested and charged with one felony count each of cruelty to animals and arson of property of another. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Animal rescuers tried to save Hennesy, the 7-year-old corgi mix dog Smith had set ablaze. Unfortunately, the canine, whom rescuers later renamed Eponine, succumbed to r injuries several days after the incident.

"I've never witnessed something that horrific," Carrie-Lynn Neales of A Purposeful Rescue, a nonprofit committed to saving dogs from high-kill shelters in the Los Angeles area, told KNBC. "On Thursday I went to see her at our vet and that's when I saw the extent of the trauma and the abuse... It's something I'll never unsee — and it was pretty horrific."

According to Serena Prentice, Smith's ex-girlfriend with whom he has a child, the 24-year-old man has mental issues. She further noted that he uses drugs and has a history of violence. Serena also has a restraining order against Smith.

"Before this even took place, he was threatening me," Serena told the outlet. "I was calling the police station several times."

Serena, who has videos of their son playing with the dog, said Smith had livestreamed himself on Instagram while setting birds on fire in August.

"That's an individual who I do not want walking around," she said as per KABC. "Someone who will do that to an animal will do that to a person."

Hillary Rosen, who also works with A Purposeful Rescue, said the canine had burns all over her body.

"There was swelling all over her body, from her paws, to her ears, her neck, her stomach, her whole back had welts," Rosen explained.

Meanwhile, Serena's sister, Stephanie Prentice, was heartbroken after the incident.

"You sit here and take this dog for a walk, and she thinking she’s enjoying a nice walk to the park and you tie her up, and you get her on fire," she told KNBC. "It's unbelievable to watch. It's heartbreaking."