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Get Justice for Puppy Intentionally Set on Fire in Crate

Get Justice for Puppy Intentionally Set on Fire in Crate

Victory! This alert made a difference for animals! Learn more.

A 3-month-old puppy in Columbus, Ohio is lucky to be alive after her supposed guardian put her in a crate and set it on fire in a public park. Her abuser has been caught and charged, and now we're calling for the maximum penalties for his callous act of cruelty.

On October 11, Columbus firefighters responded to Walnut Hill Park and found a small area of melted plastic burning under a tree. While they were putting the fire out, they saw a small puppy running in the area, noticed she had plastic melted on her back, and realized she had been inside the crate.

The puppy was taken to Diley Hill Animal Emergency Center, where she was treated for her burn injuries. She was named Korra, after “The Legend of Korra,” for her fortitude, and adopted by a staff member.

The Columbus Division of Fire, meanwhile, put out a call to the public for information to help identify the person responsible for this heartbreaking act of cruelty, and the community delivered.

Within 24-hours, investigators were able to identify Ra'shae Syrtaj Jermaine Johnson, who was charged with arson, open burning and cruelty to an animal companion, which is a fifth-degree felony in the state.

“Tragically this man went to a park to intentionally set a crate on fire that had a 17-week-old puppy locked inside of the crate, to kill the puppy,” said Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien, who has resolved to prosecute this case to the fullest.

Victory! This alert made a difference for animals! Learn more.

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