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Bobo the Yorkshire terrier burned by his owner, dies
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 08:34 a.m., October 23, 2008
Updated 09:16 a.m., October 23, 2008
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Preston Gannaway / The Rocky

At Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, Beth Heaton, right, and Jackie Connors monitor Bobo, a Yorkshire terrier, who suffered second- and third-degree burns on Sunday. Bobo's owner was booked into jail on suspicion of arson and animal cruelty.
More Local NewsThe Crevasse Day 4: Escape Husband turns up with gun, wine in hand Girl dies after being hit by car More stories » Sadly, the Yorkshire terrier clinging to life after his owner purposely burned him, died early this morning.

The shock of the burns apparently did damage to his kidneys, pancreas and other internal organs, veterinarian Elisa Mazzaferro said this morning.

"He suffered cardio-pulmonary arrest. He didn't suffer, he was comfortable."

Bobo suffered burns over his legs and other parts of his body after his owner allegedly hog-tied him and set him on fire over a stove on Sunday.

Relatives of Tanya M. Martin, 38, of Lakewood, say she suffers from mental illness. She has been charged with cruelty to animals and fourth-degree arson.

As recently as Wednesday, the Bobo hotline was sounding optimistic: "Bobo was resting comfortably today, greeting us and interacting with his surroundings," said the message. The message said veterinarians were hopeful that a special skin treatment could hasten Bobo's recovery and return him to normal.

On Wednesday, Mazzaferro brought Bobo into a hpyerbaric chamber in Lakewood donated by animal-lover Dr. Alex Thermos.

"It was very peaceful in there," Mazzaferro said. "We took a nap together."

But afterward, when they did surgery to remove some of Bobo's dead tissue, "it showed that some of the organs were failing," she said.

"The burns we could see were only the tip of the iceberg," Mazzaferro said. The failed organs were "the internal consequences from the external burns."

Mazzaferro noted that Bobo was given generous does of pain medicine. Up to the end, "he was alert and responsible and very comfortable. He wasn't suffering."

Coloradans, stirred by the story of the burned dog, had donated more than $23,000 as of Wednesday afternoon for Bobo's care, said Ben Drotar, director of marketing for Table Mountain Animal Center. The average donation was $53.

"We'll more than likely be well over what was required for Bobo's care," Drotar said. The remainder will go into the Westy Fund, a pot of money to help abused animals. "The response was tremendous."

The Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, where Mazzaferro is director of emergency services, provided Bobo's treatment.

The Table Mountain Animal Center organized the fund-raising campaign and oversees the Westy Fund.

"It's very sad," Mazzaferro said. "It's not a good day over here."