An 18-year-old California man was behind bars Friday on charges that he killed his family’s basset hound by dousing the dog with lighter fluid and setting the pet on fire.
Suspect Andrew Delgado was arrested Thursday in Camarillo Heights, a coastal city north of Los Angeles, and subsequently confessed to the disturbing crime, cops said.
“During his interview after the arrest, he admitted setting the dog on fire and also told us he was under the influence of drugs at the time,” Capt. Don Aguilar with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department told the Daily News.
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“We can’t confirm what kind of drugs he was on, but he did claim responsibility,” Capt. Aguilar said.
The dog was found clinging to life in a ravine near Delgado’s family home on Oct. 27, cops said.
Named Buddy, the severely burned pooch died a short time later.
“The inhumane act of it really hit home with a lot of people in the community,” Capt. Aguilar said. “There’s been an outpouring of concern with citizens very concerned about an arrest.”
Delgado was booked on arson and animal cruelty charges with bail set at $35,000.
He is due in court Tuesday.
In August, Delgado was found guilty of vandalism and also pleaded guilty to drug and theft offenses in three separate incidents, the Ventura County Star reported.
“We were devastated that it happened and that it was someone who was supposed to be caring for Buddy,” Melissa Ruthenbeck-Chiaramonte, president of the Basset Hound Rescue group that placed Buddy with Delgado’s family, told the newspaper.
