Posted by 
It’s truly heartbreaking how some people can be so cruel to animals. One such tragic story is that of Riona, a sweet dog who experienced unimaginable suffering when her owner set her on fire last year. But after a year of recovery, Riona is finally getting a fresh start in a new home.
The incident took place last June in Nutbush, Tennessee, where witnesses were horrified to see Riona, a pitbull mix, running down the street engulfed in flames. The smell of gasoline confirmed that this was no accident—someone had intentionally set her on fire.
Mallory Mclemore, a veterinarian from Bluff City Veterinary Specialists, told the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “The only thing you could smell was gas.” Ginger Natoli, the founder of Tails of Hope Dog Rescue, added in an interview with Newsweek, “She was burned and had diesel fuel all over her. Witnesses said she was set on fire. We even got footage from a neighbor’s ring camera showing her running while on fire.”
Despite the horrific ordeal, Riona survived, though she did lose an ear. Fortunately, doctors were able to save her left eye during the emergency treatment. Rescued by Tails of Hope Dog Rescue, Riona received the medical care she desperately needed at Bluff City Veterinary Specialists. Her recovery process included full-body wraps twice a day to protect her burned skin as it healed.
Riona’s story quickly went viral, thanks to a TikTok video that gained millions of views and touched the hearts of people worldwide. Her journey to recovery was long and painful, involving multiple skin grafts to treat the severe burns that covered much of her body. Despite everything she had been through, Riona remained resilient and positive, a fact that endeared her to everyone who heard her story.
“She’s just always wagging her tail,” Mclemore said. “That’s what makes it even worse, I guess. Not that it would ever be OK, but for her to be so sweet and for somebody to do something like this to her. She just loves everybody.”
Natoli echoed these sentiments, saying, “She’s actually kind of cute with one ear. It makes her personality even more endearing.”