On July 13, Marion police officers arrived at a home in the 700 block of West 3rd Street. There, they met with Brian Cooper, who allegedly had a disturbance with his son, 18-year-old Brennen Cooper.
Officers reported smelling a wafting aroma of burnt hair upon arrival.
Reportedly, the son doused Bud, the family canine, with gas and set him ablaze while the animal was chained on the porch. The father said his son was frustrated that the dog was not potty-trained.
Brennan confirmed same with investigators.
Brian's girlfriend's daughters saw the chained dog on fire, helped put out the flames, and called a 911 operator.
The suspect in the burning of the dog says he must have misunderstood his father. He claims his dad expressed anger after seeing that the dog "messed" all over the home, and he and his siblings were not responsible. The younger Cooper claims his father said he hopes the dog runs away or gets run over.
"That’s when I went outside and did it. I’ve been really torn apart with, did I do the right thing?"
The father countered and said he considers the dogs members of the family, and he would "never tell his children" to go chain up a dog on the porch and burn it alive.
The elder Cooper said his son has a troubled past and recently came to live with him and his girlfriend weeks ago. He is pleading for some form of help, possibly psychological intervention, for setting the dog on fire.
"My concern was that if they let him go that he’d be mad enough to come back and possibly burn the house down with us in it. … I think he needs some attention. I think he needs to be looked at by some doctors because I love him, he’s my son,” Cooper said."
The son was arrested and charged with animal cruelty. He was booked into the Grant County Jail and held with bail at $1,000.
Meanwhile, Bud is recovering from first and second-degree burns to his stomach and legs. Through it all, he remains a loving -- and forgiving -- dog.
(Star Pulse - July 21, 2015)
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