A heartless California man was hit with felony charges Wednesday for allegedly setting his own dog on fire in a Los Angeles park.
Brandon Smith, 24, was hit with animal cruelty charges after police said he was caught on surveillance video walking into the park on Aug. 22 and leaving without the pooch, KNBC-TV reported Wednesday.
The 7-year-old Corgi mix, named Hennesy, was found tied to a pole and badly burned — and died days later.
“I’ve never witnessed something that horrific,” Carrie-Lynn Neales, of the animal rescue group A Purposeful Rescue, told the outlet.
“On Thursday I went to see her at our vet, and that’s when I saw the extent of the trauma and the abuse,” Neales said. “It’s something I’ll never unsee and it was pretty horrific.”
Smith was arraigned Wednesday on one count each of cruelty to an animal and arson, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said in a press release.
Gascon said Smith allegedly used lighter fluid do set Hennesy on fire.
“One of the most important responsibilities of my office is to protect the most vulnerable,” he said in a statement. “That includes our pets.”
Smith’s ex-girlfriend, Serena Prentice, told KNBC that she has a restraining order against him and said he has a history of mental illness and violence, the station said.
“The only thing I can think of is just disgust, honestly,” she said.