Two dogs were deliberately set on fire in
New Jersey last week — horrifying animal rescuers who believe a
blowtorch was used to viciously burn the animals.
The dogs — a 3-month-old
pit bull named Tyler and a second, unidentified pooch — were burned "a week ago" in
Paterson, a city roughly 22 miles northwest of
New York City, according to the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge.
"A witness saw Tyler and another dog lit on fire, we suspect with a blowtorch," the group
wrote on Facebook Monday. "The Good Samaritan who found Tyler attempted to treat his wounds for a week, but he was in pain and deteriorated, so he was brought to Oradell Animal Hospital last night."
Rescuers said it's unclear what happened to the other dog who was also burned, but said they are working with authorities to investigate. The organization wrote: "This occurred in a dangerous area known for drugs and dogfighting, an area that we have rescued other dogfighting victims from."
Tyler was described as a "sweet and loving" puppy with "incredibly graphic and severe wounds all over his tiny body." Initially, rescuers believed the dog was burned some time ago, considering the skin near the burn was necrotic. Veterinarians had to cut away the dead skin to treat Tyler's burn wounds.
There is new skin growth in some areas, but in other areas doctors expect skin to die and the wounds to get worse before they get better, necessitating an extended hospitalization and treatment," rescuers wrote online. He's currently on fluids "to support his tiny body," and despite his wounds, Tyler "remains trusting towards his rescuers."
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