Justice For Denali: Owner Faces Additional Animal Cruelty Charge

LUTZ, FL -- A Lutz woman accused of burning down her home remains behind bars at the Land O' Lakes Detention Center after prosecutors added a charge of felony animal cruelty for reportedly locking two of her dogs in a room inside the house at 23547 Turtle Lakes Road in Lutz. before setting it on fire.

Brandi Corrigan, 40, has asked the judge to reduce her $50,300 bond following her Aug. 25 arrest for felony arson and possession of methamphetamines, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Now, with the additional animal cruelty charge and the revocation of a $5,000 bond for an earlier arrest for aggravated assault, her bond totals $60,300.

Her bond reduction request is scheduled to be heard Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. at the Robert D. Sumner Judicial Center in Pasco County.

Sean Corrigan, who will not be able to return home from Iraq until January, has asked his parents to speak on his behalf and ask the judge to deny her request for a bond reduction.

The addition of the felony animal cruelty charge came at the request of the Suncoast Animal League in Palm Harbor, the nonprofit organization that has been caring for one of the couple's dogs seven dogs.

The American Staffordshire terrier named Denali received third-degree burns. Veterinarian Dr. Sylvia Lee, who has been caring for the dog at BluePearl Veterinary Partners at 3000 Busch Lake Blvd. in Tampa, believes Denali was doused with a flammable liquid before she was locked in a room in the burning house.

The dog came to her with burns on her head and torso including deep wounds covering 35 percent of her back that required surgery.

"Dogs who are burned in fires tend to have burns on their feet, legs and bellies, not on their backs," said Lee.

Another dog, Esco, was also locked in the room with Denali. While Esco received serious burns, they weren't as critical as those that Denali suffered.

Corrigan's estranged husband, Sean, a private security contractor who's been working in Iraq for the past four years, believes Brandi Corrigan's actions were prompted by his announcement that he was divorcing her after learning she'd been having an affair.

He said they'd had a heated argument on the phone that morning when his estranged wife called him from a hotel room where she's spent the night with her lover. He said she sounded irrational and Corrigan suspected she'd been taking methamphetamines.

"I think what motivated her was that she was high on meth and knew I was going to divorce her because of her cheating," he said. "She started to yell and cuss at me so I hung up."

After hanging up, Corrigan said he called his parents and asked them to go by his house and pick up the two older dogs, which require more care. He was worried that his estranged wife would neglect them. He said it never occurred to him that she would harm the dogs that he believed she genuinely cared about.

He suspects Denali received the brunt of her wrath because she was his favorite dog. The remaining three dogs were in the fenced back yard when the fire was set.

"I am devastated," he said. "I had no clue. I never thought anything like this would happen. I never expected her to hurt the dogs."

He said he is glad that his estranged wife is facing additional charges for animal cruelty.

"It kills me that Brandi did this," he said. "It kills me seeing my animals like this."

Lee said Denali was in excruciating pain when she was brought to BluePearl and she had her doubts that the dog would survive. But Denali proved her wrong, demonstrating a strong will to live. She is slowly recovering after receiving advanced medical care 24 hours a day in BluePearl's intensive care unit. Although still in pain that's being managed by medication, Denali is now able to walk a bit and eat on her own.

"She’s been a fighter from the beginning," said Lee. "She has been having good days and bad days but I feel she is moving in the right direction. She has been in a lot of pain, but I’ll still get tail wag out of her.”

Lee said she is heartened by the number of people who have rallied to help the dog, sending donations from around the country to offset the expensive medical care Denali needs.

“Knowing that she has such a fan club is inspiring,” said Dr. Lee.

“There’s a whole bunch of good people out there that can make things better,” said Rick Chaboudy of the Suncoast Animal League. “Like Dr. Lee said, it’s like a marathon run through the mountains – all the ups and downs and turns.”

Sean Corrigan reports that the other six dogs are in good hands.

Esco, the other dog burned in the fire, has been taken in by a veterinary technician who works at the office of Corrigan's regular vet. Like Denali, his burns are slowly healing.

A friend of the vet technician has taken in Esco's twin brother, Capone.

Two more of Sean Corrigan's friends are caring for Bella the German shepherd and Buddy the beagle. And Corrigan's parents continue to care for Bullitt and Mustang.

The Suncoast Animal League is continuing to accept donations for Denali's medical expenses. The community can help by clicking the "Donation" button at the top of the Facebook page.

Related stories:
Husband Speaks Out On Lutz Woman Who Set Fire To Home And Dogs

There's New Hope For Dog Set On Fire By Owner

Fate Of Dog Burned When Owner Set Fire To House Uncertain

Lutz Woman Charged With Setting Fire To Home With 8 Dogs Inside

Images via Suncoast Animal League

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