It’s truly incredible how cruel some people can be to dogs. A sweet pup named Riona suffered just like anyone else last year after she was brutally set on fire by her owner.
But almost exactly one year after that horrific incident, Riona is finally going to her new home.
In June 2022, residents in Nutbush, Tennessee witnessed a shocking scene as Riona, a pitbull mix, engulfed in flames ran down the street. The smell made it clear that she had been intentionally set on fire.
Intentionally set on fire
“The only thing you could smell was diesel fuel,” Mallory Mclemore of Bluff City Veterinary Specialists told Memphis Commercial Appeal.
“She was burned and covered in diesel… It’s confirmed that she was set on fire through witness statements,” Ginger Natoli, founder of Tails of Hope Dog Rescue, told Newsweek. “We have surveillance footage from a neighbor showing her engulfed in flames running around.”
Riona’s ear was burned off, but fortunately her left eye was saved after emergency medical care. She was taken in by Tails of Hope Dog Rescue and received medical treatments at Bluff City Veterinary Specialists. She received a full-body wrap twice a day to protect her skin.
A TikTok video of Riona’s story went viral with millions of views, garnering sympathy for Riona worldwide.
A long recovery for wagging Riona
Riona began a long road to recovery, undergoing a series of skin grafts to treat the fourth-degree burns all over her body. Despite being traumatized by the ordeal, Riona reportedly remained cheerful during her recovery.
“She always wags her tail,” Mclemore said. “That makes it even worse, I think. Not that it would ever be okay, but she’s just so sweet and then someone does that to her. She just loves everyone.”
“She’s actually kind of cute with one ear,” Natoli told the Commercial Appeal. “It makes her personality cute.”
Tails of Hope continued to share updates on Riona’s recovery, and supporters sent donations and gifts for the dog.
The perpetrator was arrested
Meanwhile, the 43-year-old Quishon Brown was arrested for allegedly setting Riona on fire. Police charged him with abuse and two felonies, aggravated cruelty to animals and arson of personal property. The case is currently awaiting trial.
According to a Facebook post, Riona’s story also helped pass a new bill on animal abuse in Tennessee.
Months passed and slowly but surely, Riona’s condition improved. And recently, almost exactly one year after being set on fire, there has been an inspiring update to Riona’s story: she is finally going to her new home!
A new home for Riona
Tails of Hope wrote that they would embark on a ten-hour car ride to bring Riona to her new home.
“Our goal was to give her a forever home, and that’s exactly what we found,” Natoli told the Commercial Appeal. “Riona has other dogs to play with, she has children to play with, she has a big backyard to play in, she has a family experienced in medical care who understand what her injuries were.”
“Riona’s story is not ending, in fact, it’s just beginning,” the rescue organization wrote on Facebook. “We have all been part of this miracle, our warrior girl.”
The work of animal rescuers is never done, Tails of Hope agreed. Just as Riona headed to her new home, they took in another dog who had suffered burns. “There’s always another in need,” they wrote. “Now we get to be part of another story.”
What a terrible experience for this poor, sweet dog, but we are so glad Riona is now, one year later, going to her new home!
Share this inspiring update! ❤️?
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