Man Burns Ex-Girlfriend's Pet Dog Alive, Dumps Canine In A Field

In a horrific incident, a man in Utah stole his ex-girlfriend's dog and set it on fire in an act of revenge.

Trista Heywood had filed a complaint with the police after her 4-year-old Red Heeler named Dixie went missing from her home on Feb. 28, ABC4 reported.

The police said the canine was found on March 1 in a field next to a nearby highway with severe injuries. The dog was rushed to a local emergency veterinary hospital, where doctors said the animal had suffered second and third-degree burns.

The police then launched an investigation, and found Heywood's ex-boyfriend Michael Busico, 40, kidnapped the pet to get back at his former girlfriend.

“Through investigation, it was found that (Busico) was in a dispute with the mother of the victim over $1,200 dollars and a past relationship that had ended,” an affidavit stated, according to Deseret.

The arresting officer said in a report, “From my training and experience, I believe that Mr Busico was targeting the victim’s animal to directly intimidate and threaten her and his ex-girlfriend,” News reported.

On Monday, Heywood wrote on her Facebook page that despite the efforts, her dog has to be put down.

“This is a very hard thing for me to post and tell everyone but we are going to have to say our goodbyes to our sweet Dixie girl,” she reportedly wrote on Facebook. “The surgeries that she needs to her eyes, ears and abdomen are going to be very hard on her and she may not make it out of them.”

The tissue in Dixie’s eyes was so badly burnt she would have most likely lost her eyesight. She also did not have enough healthy skin to place a graft on her burnt belly, Heywood revealed.

“Our hearts are so broken and we have no words, this is news that we didn’t want to hear,” she said. “We are more blessed than ever with what everyone has done for her and for us."

Busico was taken into custody and was being held in Tooele County Jail on suspicion of torture of a companion animal, arson, theft and criminal trespass.