Tuesday, a vet had to amputate the one-year-old male Chihuahua's ears since the burns were so severe.
Police were called by the 12-year-old boy's sister last month after she saw her brother burn the dog using cologne and a lighter.
When officers arrived, they arrested the boy for extreme animal cruelty. Police also found seven people living in squalor at the home. The Children Youth and Families Department was called and removed three kids from the home, including a baby.
The 12-year-old is scheduled to be in court Monday to face extreme animal cruelty charges.
The dog will continue to recover at the vet's office until a judge decides what to do with it.
"We're going to be very generous with our pain control because it's very painful to have your ears removed, the cartilage, but I suspect he'll have a full recovery," explained Dr. Leandro Gutierrez, of Casa Querencia Animal Health Center.
If a judge decides the dog will not go back to it's owner, Gutierrez said the abused Chihuahua will be adoptable. "We work with him every day while he's healing here in the clinic to make sure that he gets handled, and kind of gets over the trauma of the abuse so that he's more socialized and easier to adopt," said Gutierrez.
Right now the city is footing the nearly $1,000 vet bill. Gutierrez said if anyone wants to help the Chihuahua they're calling "Paws," they can call the clinic at (575) 625-9772 and donate.
(KRQE - Oct 2, 2012)
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