It\u2019s truly unbelievable how cr’uel some people can be to dogs. A sweet pup named Riona suffered as much as anybody after being br.utally set on fi:re by her owner last year.\n

But almost exactly a year after that horrific incident, Riona is finally going to her new home.\n

Last June, residents in Nutbush, Tennessee witnessed a sh:0cking site as Riona, a pitbull mix, ran down the street engulfed in flames. The smell of gas made it clear that she had been intentionally set on fi:re.\n

\u201cAll you could smell was gas,\u201d Mallory Mclemore of Bluff City Veterinary Specialists told Memphis Commercial Appeal.\n

\u201cShe was bu:rnt and cover”ed in diesel fu:el\u2026 It confirmed she was set on f!re via witness statements,\u201d Ginger Natoli, founder of the Tails of Hope Dog Rescue, told Newsweek. \u201cWe have obtained ring cam footage from a neighbor that also shows her running in a ball of flames.\u201d\n

Riona\u2019s ear was bu:rnt off, but thankfully her left eye was saved after emergency medical response. She was taken in by Tails of Hope Dog Rescue, and received medical treatments at Bluff City Veterinary Specialists. She was given twice daily full body wraps to protect her skin.\n

A TikTok video of Riona\u2019s story went viral with millions of views, garnering sympathy for Riona around the world.\n

Riona began a long road to recovery, receiving a series of skin grafts to treat the fourth degree all over her body. While she was traumatized by the ordeal, Riona was also said to be in good spirits throughout her recovery.\n

\u201cShe\u2019s just always wa:gging her tail,\u201d Mclemore said. \u201cThat\u2019s what makes it even worse, I guess. Not that it would ever be OK, but just being so sweet and for somebody to do something like this to her. She just loves everybody.\u201d\n

\u201cShe\u2019s actually kind of cute with one ear,\u201d Natoli told the Commercial Appeal. \u201cIt makes her personality cute.\u201d\n

Tails of Hope continued to share updates of Riona\u2019s recovery, and supporters sent in donations and gifts for the dog.\n

THIS right here was worth all the months of medical, healing and thanks to Mallory’s hard work and dedication, Riona’s perfect recovery!\n

Months of 24 hour care, numerous bandage changes multiple times a day, lots of pain medication and antibiotics, surgeries to close up whatever wounds could be closed, skin expanders placed under her skin to help harvest new skin for skin grafts, and people from all over the world watching and following her story: a story of survival and hence earning her the name: Warrior Princess!
\nRiona loves humans despite what a” human” did to her.
\nTHIS is why we didn’t listen to those that said ” euthanize her”..because she deserved a chance.\n

$\"\"$ \n

Meanwhile, 43-year-old Quishon Brown was ar:rested for allegedly setting Riona on fi:re. Police charged him with misdemeanor assault and two felonies, aggravated cruelty to animals and setting fi:re to personal property. The case is currently awaiting trial.\n

According to a Facebook post, Riona\u2019s story also helped a new animal cruelty bill pass in Tennessee.\n

Months passed, and slowly but surely Riona\u2019s condition improved. And recently, almost exactly a year after this, there has been an inspiring update to Riona\u2019s story: she\u2019s finally going to her new home!\n

Tails of Hope wrote that they would be embarking on an ten-hour road trip to bring Riona to her new forever home.\n

$\"\"$ \n

\u201cOur goal was to get her a forever home, and that\u2019s exactly what we found,\u201d Natoli told the Commercial Appeal. \u201cRiona has other dogs to play with, she has children to play with, she\u2019s got a big yard to play in, she\u2019s got a family that has experience in the medical field and an understanding of what her injuries were.\u201d\n

\u201cRiona\u2019s story is not coming to an end, in fact it is really just beginning,\u201d the rescue wrote on Facebook. \u201cWe have all been a part of this miracle, our \u2018warrior\u2019 girl.\u201d\n

$\"\"$ \n

In a reminder of how the work of animal rescues is never done, Tails of Hope said that right after Riona left for her new home, they took in another rescue dog who had been a burn victim. \u201cThere is always another in need,\u201d they wrote. Now we get to be part of yet another story.\u201d\n

What a horrible thing for this poor sweet dog to go through, but we\u2019re so happy that a year later Riona is off to her new home!\n

Please share this inspiring update! \u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udc3e\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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