California Woman Who Set Sister's Dog On Fire Gets 7 Years In Prison

SACRAMENTO (CBS13/AP) — A Northern California woman who set her sister's dog on fire after the animals fought has been sentenced to seven years in prison, prosecutors said Friday.

Petra Gabriel pleaded guilty in April to multiple charges including felony animal cruelty, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office said in a statement.

Phoenix being treated at the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital burn center. (Credit: Teaching Everyone Animals Matter)

Gabriel was arrested in July 2020.

Investigators said Gabriel's dog got in a fight with her sister's dog, Doody. After the women managed to separate the animals, Gabriel sprayed Doody with a flammable substance and then burned the dog with a butane torch, prosecutors said.

The dog, which has since been renamed Phoenix, suffered burns on its face and body but survived. The animal remains in a specialized medical foster home, will require a lifetime of medications, and must wear a T-shirt at all times due to his extensive body burns, the DA's statement said.

Petra Gabriel shortly after her 2020 arrest. (credit: Sacramento County Sheriff's Office)

Gabriel has two prior convictions for using flammable substances, both in the course of a robbery and an assault, prosecutors said. She also had warrants out for her arrest on suspicion of DUI and possession of narcotics charges.

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)