Riona was cruelly set on fire — after a year of recovery, she’s finally going to her new home

It’s heartbreaking how some people can show such cruelty to animals. Last year, a sweet dog named Riona endured unimaginable suffering when her owner intentionally set her on fire. Now, a year later, Riona is finally finding peace as she heads to her forever home.

In June, the residents of Nutbush, Tennessee, witnessed a horrific scene: Riona, a pitbull mix, running down the street engulfed in flames. The overwhelming smell of gasoline in the air made it tragically clear that this was no accident—she had been intentionally set on fire.

“All you could smell was gas,” Mallory Mclemore from Bluff City Veterinary Specialists said in an interview with Memphis Commercial Appeal.

“She was burnt and covered in diesel fuel… It was clear she had been set on fire, as confirmed by witness statements,” added Ginger Natoli, founder of Tails of Hope Dog Rescue, during a conversation with Newsweek. Natoli also revealed that neighbors had captured the horrifying moment on a ring camera, showing Riona running down the street engulfed in flames.

Despite her injuries, including the loss of an ear, immediate medical care saved her left eye. Riona was taken in by Tails of Hope Dog Rescue, where she began her long road to recovery. Bluff City Veterinary Specialists provided extensive care, which included applying full-body wraps twice a day to protect her healing skin.

Now, after enduring so much pain and showing incredible resilience, Riona is moving forward with a new family who will give her the love and care she deserves.

Related Posts

Tessa in a white sundress holds Liam's hand at an airport while her shocked fiancé Jared stands with his ex Miranda near the security line.

My Fiancé Planned a Secret Trip With His Ex—So I Met Him at the Airport

Days before our wedding, I learned Jared’s quiet bachelor getaway was really a “closure vacation” with his ex. I arranged a trip of my own, but the airport confrontation changed far more than our travel plans.

Bride Rebecca stares in disbelief as Father Michael stops her chapel wedding and points toward her brother Tony and Aunt Molly seated together in the third pew.

The Priest Wouldn’t Begin Until My Brother and Aunt Left

My wedding guests were seated and Mark was waiting at the altar when Father Michael stopped everything and pointed toward my brother Tony and Aunt Molly.

Adult teacher Laura Walsh stands alone in her classroom holding a plain white envelope, visibly shaken as school mail rests on the desk beside her.

The Letter in My School Mailbox

Teacher Laura Walsh found an envelope claiming her husband had been seeing a student’s mother. The letter demanded $5,000 for silence—but paying only drew Laura closer to a betrayal she never imagined.

Sixty-year-old factory worker Arnold carries a small locked mini refrigerator and lunchbox to his car after losing the job he held for 35 years.

After 35 Years, I Was Fired Over a Locked Lunch Fridge

At 60, Arnold Mercer lost the only job he had ever known after protecting lunches prepared by his ailing wife. What his daughters uncovered showed that the little refrigerator was never the real problem.

Grace in a green anniversary dress discovers Eric’s mother and adult relatives waiting at a crowded restaurant table while Eric stands beside her looking guilty.

Our Anniversary Table Was Full—But Not With People I Invited

Grace asked Eric for one private anniversary dinner. When his entire family greeted her at the restaurant, she realized the celebration was hiding a deeper problem in their marriage.

A stunned adult woman sits at a kitchen table looking at a laptop with a travel reservation while her husband stands out of focus in the background.

The $8,000 Accident That Never Happened

Mike said an accident could cost him his job, so I surrendered part of my inheritance. Then a Miami reservation exposed the debt he had invented—and the neighbor involved in his plan.