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Dog doused with gasoline, set on fire dies in Arizona

Posted at 3:07 PM, May 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-21 14:52:12-04

Tucson police arrested a woman last week, accused of intentionally setting a dog on fire.

According to the Tucson Police Department, the incident happened on May 7 around 12:49 p.m.

Tucson Fire Department was first on the scene after reports were made that flames were coming from the home. Crews were able to quickly contain the fire and keep it from spreading to the exterior. Tucson Fire says that one teenage resident suffered minor injuries and the family dog was transported to Valley Animal Hospital.

Officers arrived on scene and learned that one adult female resident, 39-year-old Dean Sherfield Finley, had intentionally set fire to the family dog and the home.

After an investigation, detectives learned Finley purchased two gallons of gasoline earlier that day and returned home. Tucson police says a family member noticed the dog was "wet" and as they went to pick it up, Finley lit the dog on fire and then lit a corner of the residence on fire.

Finley was arrested for arson of an occupied structure, criminal damage and animal cruelty.

The dog, whose name is Lovely, was transferred to the Pima Animal Care Center. Pima Animal Care Center reported May 20 that the dog had died after suffering cardiac arrest.