Andrew Delgado, of Camarillo, was booked Thursday into Ventura County jail on suspicion of felony animal cruelty and arson, officials said Friday.
The incident occurred about 3:20 a.m. Oct. 27 in a ravine near the 1000 block of Mesa Drive, in the Camarillo Heights area. Authorities said someone poured lighter fluid on Buddy, a 3-year-old basset hound, then set the dog on fire.
A neighbor saw the fire and called the fire department. The dog suffered severe burns when found by emergency personnel and later died.
Arson investigators from the Ventura County Fire Department and Sheriff's Office collected evidence. Delgado was a suspect early in the investigation, and evidence and subsequent interviews led authorities to determine he was responsible, officials said.
He was arrested Thursday at home, said Sgt. Eric Buschow, a sheriff's spokesman. While he didn't give a motive, Delgado admitted to being under the influence of drugs at the time, Buschow said.
"This was really something that upset people in the community, and rightfully so," Buschow said. "I can't imagine what would cause someone to do this sort of thing to an innocent creature. There is no justification for it, bottom line."
Delgado's bail was set at $35,000, but he was ineligible to post bail until he appears in court Tuesday, records show.
Delgado in August was found guilty of vandalism and pleaded guilty to being under the influence of a controlled substance and receiving stolen property in three different incidents, court records show.
The Delgado family could not be reached for comment Friday.
"We are sad it occurred, and we are trying to get past it right now," James Delgado, the suspect's father and dog's owner, said last week.
Melissa Ruthenbeck-Chiaramonte, president of Basset Hound Rescue of Southern California, said her group was relieved that authorities made an arrest. She has said Buddy was adopted from her organization and that adopting families undergo an extensive screening process to ensure the dogs are going to safe, loving homes.
"We were devastated that it happened ..." Ruthenbeck-Chiaramonte said.
The organization had been raising reward money to encourage witnesses to come forward. It raised $19,500 from donors around the world, Ruthenbeck-Chiaramonte said.
"I think people donated because they understood that someone who would commit this kind of crime is not fit to be running around," she said.
Authorities said the arrest did not stem from a tip. Ruthenbeck-Chiaramonte said donors were made aware that in such cases, the money instead would be used to care for abused basset hounds. One person donated $10,000 only for an arrest, so it will be returned, she said.
Jolene Hoffman, shelter director for the Ventura County Humane Society in Ojai, said she was glad an arrest was made.
"What a blessing that (a suspect) is finally incarcerated — for all of us, for all of our animals," she said.
Donna Gillesby, interim director of Ventura County Animal Services, agreed.
"I can't fathom how anyone can be so cruel to an animal," she said.
The family has two other basset hounds, and their future was unclear. The Humane Society and Animal Services both said the other was responsible for determining whether it is safe for the dogs to continue living there.
(vcstar.com - Nov 9, 2012)
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