Andrea Rosebrock 
It is with great sadness in my heart that I have to pass along the news that Maximus, the poor dog that some sick and twisted individual chained to a tree and set on fire, died today as a result of his massive injuries!
Maximus, the pit bull mix who was tied to tree and seriously burned in Brentwood last week died from his injuries today, despite intensive efforts to save his life.
“He was a good dog up until the very end…giving licks and kisses,” said Dr. Reed Zaroff of the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island, where Maximus was treated for second- and third-degree burns.
“He was an extremely determined and strong dog but unfortunately that was not enough for him,” Zaroff said.
A Brentwood resident found the 2-year-old, approximately 55-lb male on a right-of-way near Sycamore and Apple Streets on Thursday, said Chief of Department Roy Gross of the SPCA. The dog had been tethered to the tree and doused with gasoline before be was burned, officials said.
Maximus underwent three surgeries since his discovery to remove damaged tissue, Zaroff said. He had also been given blood transfusions, pain medications, and antibiotics to treat infections.
Although Maximus responded well, Zaroff said, blood clots formed which deprived Maximus of his blood supply. Maximus died early this morning after suffering several heart attacks brought on by organ failure, Zaroff said.
The award for information leading to the conviction of the person or people who killed Maximus was increased from $1,000 to $5,000 today, according to Roy Gross of the Suffolk Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Suffolk County SPCA at 631-382-SPCA. (Newsday)
Now it’s up to us to speak for him and to do what we can to bring the depraved person who tortured this poor dog to justice. Please get the word out!! Someone saw something! Someone knows something!!
I cannot even begin to describe how i feel. I would have taken this poor dog in. I searched the web for 3 days trying to find where he was. I am sickened to think someone is capable of such a horrible crime. I feel because he was a pitbull mix, they did not cover this story. I had a pitbull for 17 years. The dog never barked or bit anyone. RIP poor soul!
This story is just so heartbreaking on many levels. I will never understand how anyone can get their thrills off doing something like this to a poor innocent animal! This is, I think, the third ‘dog burning’ story in the past couple of months and it is just so appalling!
Pit bull breed dogs have gotten such a horrible rep lately because of irresponsible breeders and owners and it’s just sad. I have quite a few friends who have pitties and they are just the sweetest dogs and they have to deal with such prejudice. In the media, far too often, it seems all they want are the ‘vicious’ pit bull stories.
I am so angry over this. The penalty for cruelty to animals should be much stiffer. If anyone out there knows any way that volunteers can speed this investigation along please let me know. The person that did this is a coward and a low-life that deserves nothing but to suffer in hell!
I have sent a donation to VMCLI to help towards Maximus’s medical expenses and also a donation to Suffolk Co. SPCA to contribute to the reward money. I can’t stop thinking about Maximus. His suffering at the hands of a such a depraved individual is beyond my ability to comprehend. It’s hard to live in a world that has these kind of people in it. I hope they get this guy and all the people involved in these inhuman dog fighting rings. May you rest in peace Maximus, I’ll never forget how much you suffered, I’m heartbroken and sickened.
hey i am so so sad over this.
max i am praying for you up in heaven and i hope that whoever did this to you and gets the same punishment that he did to you he gets the smae because no dog desurves this in anyway possible. and if people do do this that the will get the same punishment!!!!!!!!
dam to hell whoever did this!!!!
I am so sick over this and very upset!!!!!! I pray that the person or people that did this are caught and punished to the fullest!!!!! No poor animal should be treated this way!!!!!!!!! RIP Maximus!!!!!!!
I am a business owner in NJ. I am deeply disturbed over this story. The punishment should fit the crime. I will be sure to donate my own funds to animal rescue in my area. If the athorities do not follow up on this, it can cause someone like myself to stop working hard for society. It really makes me want to pack up and retrete.
R.I.P. Maximus, you sweet angel. I am horrified that someone has done this to you. I am so sorry they hurt you. We will do everything possible to find the people responsible and bring them to justice. Sadley nothing can bring you back. I pray that as you walk along heavens rainbrow bridge you have a full heart knowing that people here really DO care about YOU.
I’m sorry you suffered so. May you spend an eternity playing in heaven, have lots of toys and other doggies to play with. God will forever watch over and protect you. You’ll never be forgotten Maximus.
Rest in Peace you sweet angel.
We can all make a difference to prevent this from happening to other animals. Just be aware during your daily errons. Please keep an eye out for this type of activity and also neglect and repot it immediately.
They found the bastard who did this to Maximus,,I say tie him to a tree set him on fire and let him sit there a few days….Please also suppport the vet who tried to help save that poor little soul..even a few dollars. Bless them for all they did to help. We Definately need stronger penalities need to be in place for people who do this…To me they are sub human barbarians….they need to suffer the way they made the animals suffer, God bless you in heaven Maximus..go see my Annie and Shadow for a run around heavens doggie park with the angels.
So happy they got the coward who killed Maximus. The problem is the penalty isn’t harsh enough and once he’s out who’s gonna watch him ? What gets me is, It’s been proven over and over that people that are cruel to animals almost always end up as murderers. So they should make the sentence harsher.
BY THE WAY ANIMAL LOVERS OUT THERE !!!! THE ASPCA OF SUFFOLK LONG ISLAND IS LOOKING FOR A HOME FOR THE OTHER PITBULL THIS MURDERER OWNED I THINK THEY SAID HER NAME IS RED. SHE LOOKS YOUNG AND SWEET. I WOULD TAKE HER IN A MINUTE BUT I HAVE JACK RUSSELLS { WHO ARE TROUBLE MAKERS TO BEGIN WITH} AND I HAVE CATS. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL TAKE HER AND SHOW HER WHAT IT”S LIKE TO BE LOVED.
[...] tree and set on fire. All the efforts couldn’t save this poor sweet dog from his fate and he succumbed to death just days after the cruel assault. And of course we also remember Derick Phanord, the heartless [...]
i cant beleive the nerve of some people.it is bad that the pitbulls get the reputation that they have.then when someone sets one on fire it is “cool” it is one less pitbull that i have to worry about.well i was around a house full of pits for 6 1/2 years. they are some of the most loving dogs out there if they are raised correctely.they are clownish and love to kiss and lay with the person they r closest to ty for listening to my thoughts robin
why would some on do someting
well i hope the puishment fitts the crime this time