South Los Angeles Man Charged With Setting Family Dog On Fire

Los Angeles CA

08 September, 2021

8:52 PM

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LOS ANGELES —A South Los Angeles man with an alleged recent history of violence against animals, was charged Wednesday with setting his family's dog on fire. The dog, a 7-year-old Welsh corgi mix named Hennessy, was severely burned and died of its injuries a few days after the incident, according to ABC7.com. Brandon Jerold Smith, 24, faces one felony count each of cruelty to an animal and arson of property of another, for the incident that took place on Aug. 22, according the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. NBC Los Angeles.com reported the incident took place near 88th Street and San Pedro Street in South Los Angeles and that Smith was arrested on Sept. 4. According to ABC7.com, surveillance video shows a man, believed to be Smith, walking the dog down the sidewalk on the night of Aug. 22. The man disappears into a park, and moments later there appears to be an eruption of flames. Then, the man re-appears without the dog. NBC Los Angeles.com reported that Smith tied the dog's leash to a fence, before setting the dog on fire, and the DA's office alleges Smith used lighter fluid as a "deadly and dangerous weapon." Badly burned, the dog was brought to local animal-rescue group, A Purposeful Rescue, before being taken to an animal hospital. But it later died from its injuries, ABC7.com reported. "She was burnt all over her body," Hillary Rose, founder of the A Purposeful Rescue, told ABC7.com about the dog. "There was swelling all over her body, from her paws, to her ears, her neck, her stomach. Her whole back had welts." Carrie-Lynn Neales, from A Purposeful Rescue, also saw the dog and said "it's something I'll never unsee - and it was pretty horrific," according to NBC Los Angeles. Serena Prentice, who is Smith's ex-girlfriend, said she was horrified by the act, and told ABC7.com that she had feared for the dog's safety due to Smith's recent behavior. "In August, I noticed (Smith) was setting things on fire. He would post it on Instagram live of him setting birds on fire," Prentice said. Prentice said Smith was a drug user and suffered from mental illness. L.A. DA George Gascón announced the charges on Wednesday. "One of the most important responsibilities of my office is to protect the most vulnerable. That includes pets," Gascón said. According to authorities, the case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, Southeast Division.