Fundraiser for Smyrna Dog Burned by Owner

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Photo Credit: Cobb Emergency Veterinary Clinic/GoFundMe

A dog who suffered significant injuries when her former owner set her Smyrna doghouse on fire last week is getting a new leash on life due to an outpouring of support she’s received from the community.

Royalti, a one-year-old pit bull, is recovering from burns she received when Calib Lanier started the fire on May 12. Cobb police saved the dog and rushed her to the Cobb Emergency Veterinary Clinic, 11 Alive News reports. Royalti may need anywhere between four to six weeks to recover from the burns which cover 60 percent of her body. Fortunately for her, she has been adopted by Dr. Regan Burford, one of the veterinarians caring for her.

11 Alive News reports that the clinic has set up a GoFundMe account to help defray some of the medical expenses Royalti may incur during her recovery. The one-day-old fundraiser has already collected $2,802 of the $5,000 goal established at the outset, the GoFundMe page shows.

“We’ve come a long way in only 24hrs and Dr. Burford is amazed by the outpouring of support,” a post on the GoFundMe page reads. “Royal is getting a continuous IV pain management tonight after a rougher than usual day. She’s a fighter as we all already know, so hopefully she’ll be more comfortable in the coming days.”

As for Royalti’s former owner, Calib Lanier has been arrested and charged with arson and cruelty to animals. The GoFundMe page claims that Lanier intentionally locked Royalti inside her doghouse and set it on fire, though no other police or news reports have reported the circumstances of the fire.