It’s truly heartbreaking how cruel some people can be to animals. A sweet dog named Riona endured unimaginable suffering when her owner brutally set her on fire last year.
Almost exactly a year after that horrific event, Riona is finally heading to her new forever home.
In June, residents of Nutbush, Tennessee were horrified to witness Riona, a pitbull mix, running down the street engulfed in flames. The overwhelming smell of gasoline made it clear that she had been intentionally set on fire.
“All you could smell was gas,” said Mallory Mclemore of Bluff City Veterinary Specialists in an interview with Memphis Commercial Appeal.
“She was burnt and covered in diesel fuel… It was clear she had been set on fire, as confirmed by witness statements,” said Ginger Natoli, founder of Tails of Hope Dog Rescue, in a conversation with Newsweek. “We also obtained ring camera footage from a neighbor showing her running in a ball of flames.”
Although Riona’s ear was burned off, her left eye was fortunately saved after immediate medical treatment. She was taken in by Tails of Hope Dog Rescue and received extensive care at Bluff City Veterinary Specialists, including full-body wraps twice a day to protect her skin during her recovery.
