SENATOBIA, Miss. (AP) – A child has confessed to intentionally setting a dog on fire in north Mississippi, but authorities said the suspect can’t be charged.
Buddy was found last week in Tate County with severe burns to his face and an extension cord wrapped around his neck. The Tate County Sheriff’s Office said it had a confession in the case Wednesday from a child, but because state law prevents children younger than 12 from being criminally charged, the case will go no further, WMC-TV reported.
“We are just as frustrated as anyone that more cannot be done through the justice system regarding the juvenile in this case,” Sheriff Brad Lance wrote Thursday in a Facebook post. “Our investigators worked hard on this case and they also are frustrated. We didn’t write the laws of our state.”
Buddy, a Labrador retriever mix, is currently receiving care at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
“We are keeping him comfortable, changing his bandages and managing any problems as they arrive,” said Dr. Elizabeth Swanson, an associate professor and veterinary surgeon. “Burns can take several days to fully manifest, so we are still assessing the full extent of damage.”