BEMIDJI, Minn. — The Humane Society of the United States is offering a $5,000 reward to find out who is responsible for the burning of a puppy dubbed “Phoenix” last week in northern Minnesota.
On Feb. 20, a Redby man, Clayton Van Wert, was throwing out trash at the local transfer station there at about 8:30 p.m. when he discovered the 5-month old Siberian husky mix on fire in one of the industrial dumpsters. Van Wert, who said the dog couldn’t have gotten into the trash bin by itself, pulled the puppy out and called authorities. The dog first was taken to Red Lake Rosie’s Rescue on the border with the Red Lake Indian Reservation, where they gave him the name Phoenix.
The dog then was transported to Act V Rescue and Rehabilitation in Bloomington, where it is undergoing treatment for severe burns. Phoenix suffered burns to about 90 percent of his body; the dog was also severely malnourished. He weighed only 19 pounds, or about half of what he should weigh at 5 months, when he arrived in Bloomington.
The Red Lake Police Department is investigating the incident. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Capt. Dana Lyons Jr. or Chief Conservation Officer Pat Graves at 218-679-3313, according to a news release from the Humane Society of the United States. The reward is “up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved” in the burning of Phoenix.
“Treating an innocent dog in such a cruel manner is disturbing and unacceptable,” Christine Coughlin, state director for the Humane Society of the United States, said in the release. “We’re so grateful to everyone working to give Phoenix a new start and are hopeful this reward will bring forward anyone with information about this terrible crime.”
Phoenix underwent surgery to treat his burned skin Wednesday at an Eden Prairie facility, where he remains in the intensive care unit, Dr. Vicki Schulz, a veterinarian with Act V who is treating Phoenix, said Friday. She expects to pick up Phoenix on Saturday.
Phoenix will require several more surgeries. Changing his bandages daily requires sedation, Schulz said. Still, Phoenix is in good spirits for the most part; he’s gained several pounds since arriving in Bloomington, she said.
Phoenix’s story has received national and even international coverage — the Guardian newspaper in London ran a story about the dog on its website. Schulz said she’s received donations as well as inquiries from all over the United States from people wanting to adopt Phoenix when he recovers.
“He has had a lot of PR and a lot of really nice people are saying nice things about him,” Schulz said. “I think people are shocked by it; they can’t believe this stuff happens.”
Generally, Schulz said, Act V places its animals within the Twin Cities or Rochester areas because they want to be able to follow up with the animals and their new owners.
