Fylde family's dog dies following cruel arson attack on his kennel

Ten-year-old Patch has died after undergoing surgery to save his life after he suffered severe burns when his kennel was set on fire by an intruder at a home in Sowerby Road, Inskip on Sunday, September 13

Last week, we reported that a ten-year-old collie-cross was set on fire whilst sleeping in his kennel at a home in Sowerby Road on Sunday, September 13.

His owner Wendy Brindle learnt of the fire whilst at work and rushed frantically home to discover firefighters in her garden, damping down the charred ruins of her dog's kennel.

But her beloved Patch was nowhere to be seen. Frightened for his life, he had escaped when a brave neighbour ran to his rescue with a pair of oven gloves and swung open the gate to the burning kennel.

Patch suffered 40% burns after his kennel was set on fire and had to undergo multiple surgeries to save his life, including skin grafts and a blood transfusion

A terrified Patch fled the garden and ran away down a country lane into nearby fields, where he remained missing for two days.

A county-wide call went out on social media to help find Patch, with more than a dozen volunteers joining forces to search for him in the fields.

He was found 48 hours later, lying injured and afraid in a ditch next to a country lane in Inskip.

He was scooped up and rushed to Oakhill Vets in Goosnargh, but his injuries were so severe that he was transferred to a pet hospital in Manchester, where he underwent a number of surgeries to save his life.

Some of Patch's sores had festered and the skin tissue had become necrotic

More than £12,000 was raised online to help cover the cost of his treatment, which included blood transfusions and skin grafts.

Poor Patch had all of the skin on his stomach stripped in preparation for the grafts, and vets feared that he might also lose an eye which had been burned.

Though vets had been satisfied with his initial progress, they had warned Wendy that it remained 'touch and go' for him.

In the early hours of Tuesday (September 22), Patch developed breathing difficulties and went into cardiac arrest shortly afterwards.

Poor Patch died on Tuesday morning (September 22) after he developed breathing difficulties and went into cardiac arrest at a pet hospital in Manchester

Statement on behalf of Patch's devastated owners

A statement on behalf of the Brindle family said: "We would like to thank every single one of you, beyond words, on behalf of Patch and his family.

"Patch wanted to live, he fought hard. He needed help and everybody pulled together to give him the help that he needed.

"Patch would have been incredibly proud of the love and support he had been shown, in contrast to the heinous act which put him in the situation he found himself in.

"We are all incredibly proud of Patch and wish him eternal comfort and peace."

His death has left Wendy and her family devastated and desperate for answers as to why anybody would want to hurt him.

A joint police and fire service investigation has found that accelerant had been poured in a circle around his pen before it was set alight.

No possessions had been stolen from the home and the family believe the arson had been a targeted attack, with the intention of killing Patch to hurt Wendy and her family.

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What do the police say?

Lancashire Police say they are aware of Patch's death and an arson investigation is ongoing. The force said the case will also be referred to the RSPCA.

"We were called to an address on Sowerby Road at around 11.30pm on September 13 to reports of a suspicious fire," said a police spokesman.

"Officers attended and found the fire, which was started deliberately, was at the front of the property next to a dog pen.

"The dog was rescued from the pen and was taken to a vets to be treated for burns.

"The dog has since died from his injuries.

"The incident is being investigated as an arson and will be passed to the RSPCA in due course."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting log number 1694 of September 13.

Second incident being investigated

Just 24 hours after the devastating kennel fire, the family said they were again the target of a second suspected arson attempt on their home.

Wendy and her daughter were at home on Monday, September 14, when they say a bottle filled with petrol was thrown at their front door. The bottle smashed and failed to ignite, but the family were left fearing for their lives.

The family say they are anxiously waiting for an update from police, but no arrests have yet been made and Patch's killer remains on the loose.

You can read our original story and our interview with Wendy and her daughter here.