Animal advocates in Los Angeles are raising alarms over a troubling rise in cases of dogs being abused, neglected, and even set on fire at homeless encampments. A recent incident on Florence Avenue in South L.A. involved a one-year-old Shepherd mix named Luke, who was intentionally set on fire. Sandra Viveros from Compton Paw Patrol, a nonprofit dog rescue group, said, “It was done by the homeless people at the encampment.” Luke managed to escape and sought help from nearby homes before a good Samaritan took him to the hospital.
Luke suffered third- and fourth-degree burns and smoke inhalation, as reported by MyTwinTiers.com. He remains in intensive care but is expected to recover. Victoriah Parker, cofounder of Starts with One Today, noted a sharp increase in reports of animal abuse, with dogs found in deplorable conditions. “A homeless encampment is not a place for dogs,” Parker emphasized.
Despite the severity of Luke’s injuries, his caretakers are optimistic about his recovery. “He’ll be able to live a very happy life,” Viveros said. Luke will stay in recovery for about six more weeks before being eligible for adoption…