~ Dog Doused With Gas, Burned & Left To Die ,Former Owners Or Perpetrators Still Not Found. A man has been charged with cruelty after his dog was tied to a tree and set on fire. ~
The dog, a pit bull called Maximus by his rescuers, died last week after three surgeries. Authorities said he smelled of gasoline when he was found, severely injured, on July 12.
"He was a good dog up until the very end ... giving licks and kisses," Reed Zaroff, one of the Long Island veterinarians who tried to save him, told Newsday.
Derick Phanord, 22, of Brentwood, was arrested Monday night on a charge of aggravated animal cruelty, Suffolk County police said. Phanord also was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon for possessing a bludgeon, police said.
He was awaiting arraignment on Tuesday at First District Court in Central Islip. Donations are still being collected to defray the costs of Maximus' treatment.
~ Maximus suffered second- and third-degree burns on more than 60 percent of his body.~
