Baltimore – Eleven of twelve jurors wanted to convict Travers and Tremayne Johnson for the cruelty inflicted on Phoenix, the Pitbull who was was doused in gasoline and set on fire in 2009.  The twelfth juror held out on reasonable doubt.  Therefore, a mistrial was declared.  Unless the State’s Attorney decides to retry the case, there will be no justice for Phoenix.  Polite requests for a retrial can be made here:

Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City
208 Mitchell Courthouse
110 North Calvert Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
410-396-4001

Thanks to Jeanne and Clarice for sending in the mistrial news.

Warning – Graphic photo at first and third links

It’s Easter Sunday – Do you know whose pet your kids are torturing?

BARCS Program Manager Debra Rahl says Christie [a one-year old pit bull mix] was tied to a pole Easter Sunday morning in the 3700 block of Greenspring Avenue near Martin Luther King Elementary School.  She says some children, believed to be as young as 12 years old, were throwing rocks and bricks at her.

I’m pretty sure MLK would be groaning in his grave to know what’s going on near the school named for him.  And as we know, there is a positive correlation between violence against animals and violence against people:

Rahl says a good samaritan who tried to intervene also was threatened and he says the children started throwing rocks at him.

Attention Baltimore parents:

Anyone with information is asked to call 410-396-4698.

The National Canine Research Council offers an excellent comment on the case:

No one keeps track, nor is there any way to know, how many dogs suffer at the hands of man and DO NOT bite.

Unless there is a way to keep track or acknowledge the thousands or tens of thousands of dogs that suffer abuse and still do not bite humans, “dog bite statistics” are useless in evaluating the behavior or “dangerousness” of dogs.

Frankly, I’m more concerned about the “dangerousness” of Baltimore’s kids than any dogs there.  It was less than a year ago that 17 year old twin brothers in Baltimore poured gasoline on a Pitbull, set her on fire in the street and watched with a crowd of onlookers as she screamed.  They face trial in June.

But will there be justice for Phoenix? Two teens charged:

Two juveniles have been arrested in the burning of a pit bull, a case that sparked a furor over animal cruelty and a reward that topped $24,000.
A press conference is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at police headquarters to discuss the case.

I hope authorities take this crime seriously and recognize that next time, the target might not be a dog but a kid or some other easily victimized member of our society. I’ll update this post if additional details are made available.

Update: News conference has been postponed.

From Unleashed:

The fund continues to grow for information leading to the arrest in the case of Phoenix, the young pit bull set on fire in Baltimore last week.

Just today the number has climbed from $3,000 to $6,000 to $8,500 — it stands this moment at $15,500.

Here’s where the money has come from:

BARCS: $7,000 (donations from individuals)

Animal Control: $1,000 (from one private organization)

Humane Society of the United States: $2,500

Baltimore Humane Society: $5,000

$15,500 reward for stepping up and telling the truth. Whatever has been preventing people with information from coming forward, hopefully the almighty dollar will inspire them to do the right thing now.

Elsewhere in the Baltimore Sun, the hero cop who saved Phoenix from burning to death in the street is interviewed.

The investigation continues.

Added, 6-4-09: Reward now at $23,500.

Phoenix had to be euthanized today due to her injuries from being set on fire:

Julie Hirsch, a nurse, told Unleashed that Phoenix was going into kidney failure. Her face and rear quarters, where most of the burns were, had swelled considerably and she wasn’t recognizable.

A few hours ago, nurses brought the one-year-old dog outside to be put down. They wanted her to be outside, not in a cage.

Thank goodness for the kindness she was shown at the end of her tragic life. More from Unleashed:

She touched the hearts of everyone that came in contact with her and anyone who heard her story. We can only hope now that someone will come forward so that there can be a conviction on this case.

BARCS has a reward set up called the “Phoenix Reward” where we are collecting money for anyone who can identify the young men responsible for this cruel act of violence. The reward at this time is at $3,000 and most likely will increase over the next few days.

To contribute to the reward fund, visit BARCS and specify your donation is for “Phoenix Reward Fund”. If the reward money goes unclaimed after 6 months, it will be turned over to the Franky Fund which was used to pay for Phoenix’s treatment and will help other homeless pets in need of care in future.

With fume of sweet woods, to the skies,
Pure as a Saint’s adoring sighs,
Warm as a prayer in Paradise,
Her life-breath rose in sacrifice!

– excerpt from “The Phoenix” by George Darley