Atlanta man burns puppy in oven

ATLANTA, May 26 (UPI) -- An Atlanta man faces a felony animal cruelty charge for allegedly seriously burning a puppy in a hot oven as an act of revenge against another man.

Gary Moore Jr., 24, of Cobb County, Ga., allegedly put Melody, a 20-month-old pit bull mix, into an oven as the result of a domestic dispute, Atlanta's WSB-TV reported Thursday.

The station said Melody suffered serious injuries to her paws and tail, and she was bandaged from nose to tail at Cobb Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Marietta with burns all over her body.

Melody, who whines and whimpers constantly from the pain, is getting a constant drip of antibiotics and painkillers, the station said.

"She's been treated very aggressively," said Dr. Susan Engeran.

An unnamed person, having failed to convince Moore to have Melody treated, brought the puppy to the clinic four days after the incident, the TV station said.

"She was very lethargic and dehydrated," said Engeran, adding the puppy is expected to live.

The clinic said it will choose a special foster home that can cope with the puppy's medical needs.

Jail records indicate Moore was being held at the Cobb County jail.