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Basset Hound Rescue Group Determined To Find Person Who Set Fire To Dog

CAMARILLO (CBSLA.com) — The Basset Hound Rescue of Southern California (BHRSC) will hand out fliers Sunday in Camarillo  in an effort to find the person who set a 3-year-old dog on fire.

Buddy, who was set on fire with lighter fluid, died after succumbing to his wounds, according to officials.

Ventura County Sheriff's said the dog was found on Saturday morning in a ravine engulfed in flames.

More than $10,000 is being offered to find the suspect. BHRSC said the money is coming from a variety of sources, including $4,500 came from donations, $1,000 from their organization, $1,000 from Crime Stoppers, $2,500 from In Defense of Animals and $1,000 from SoCal Pet Adoptions.

Whittier-based BHRSC says volunteers will gather at 1 p.m. Sunday to hand out the fliers on the corner of East Loop Dr. and Amber Drive in Camarillo.

BHRSC President Melissa Ruthenbeck-Chiaramonte expressed her outrage over the dog's murder. "This is more horrifying than anything that has ever happened to BHRSC. I cannot put into words my grief, disbelief and disgust at this tragedy. I am outraged that anyone would treat any animal this way," she E-mailed volunteers.

She said the organization doesn't have funds to offer a reward but felt in this crime "an urgent need to find and press charges against the individual responsible for this horrific action."

The group took Buddy's murder particularly hard when they discovered he had been adopted out by them n August 2011.

In 2011, the group found forever homes for 128 dogs, including Buddy. Since their inception in 1998, the group says they have placed over 1,000 hounds.

For more information about BHRSC, click here.

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