A brave dog named Riona went through something very sad, but her story has a happy ending. Last June, in a place called Nutbush, Tennessee, people saw Riona, a pitbull mix, running down the street with fire on her body. Someone had poured gasoline on her and set her on fire, which was a very mean thing to do. The smell of gas was strong, and a neighbor’s camera even caught Riona running while covered in flames.
Riona got hurt badly. One of her ears was gone, and she had burns all over her body. But kind people stepped in to help. Neighbors put out the fire, and Riona was taken to a place called Memphis Animal Services. Then, a group called Tails of Hope Dog Rescue took care of her. They brought her to Bluff City Veterinary Specialists, where doctors worked hard to make her better. They wrapped her body in special bandages twice a day to keep her skin safe and help it heal.
Even though Riona was in pain, she stayed sweet and loving. “She’s always wagging her tail,” said Mallory Mclemore, one of the people helping her. “She loves everyone, even after what happened.” Another helper, Ginger Natoli, who started Tails of Hope, said, “Riona looks cute with one ear. It makes her special.”
Riona needed many surgeries to fix her burns, but she kept getting stronger. People all over the world heard about her because Tails of Hope shared her story on a TikTok page called Justice4Riona. Millions watched her videos and sent love, gifts, and support to help her get better.
The best news came almost a year later, in June 2023. Riona was ready to go to a new home with a loving family. Ginger told a newspaper, “We wanted to find her a perfect home, and we did. Riona has other dogs to play with, kids to love, and a big yard to run in. Her new family knows how to care for her.” Tails of Hope drove ten hours to take Riona to her new family, where she’ll be happy and safe forever.
Riona’s story shows how strong and kind dogs can be, even after something terrible happens. It also shows how people can work together to help animals in need. Her new beginning is something to celebrate!
