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The stray, 4-month-old puppy found burned Sunday morning is recovering from third-degree burns, but he’s doing fine.

“He’s happy and wants to be out with everyone, but he’s also having some pain,” said Marsha Williams, executive director of the Guilford Country Animal Shelter.

The pit bull-Labrador mix, named Phoenix by the veterinarians at Happy Tails Veterinary Emergency Clinic, underwent hydrotherapy treatment Monday morning to wash away the dead skin on his body and keep his wounds clean. The cause of his burns remains undetermined, and it’s still unclear whether Phoenix will need skin-graft surgery, Williams said.

“It’s somebody’s dog because he had a collar and a leash,” Williams said, describing the puppy’s physical appearance. “Somebody abused him and set him on fire.”

With a couple of families willing to adopt Phoenix, he still won’t be going to a permanent home any time soon. For the next three or four months, he must have regular check ups. The famous Susie had daily checkups while she recovered from her burns, but Phoenix’s injuries are more severe. He may need to see a veterinarian two, possibly three times a day for a few months.

“We need to make sure he’s completely healed,” Williams said. “And we’re definitely going to need to have a foster family for him.”

Phoenix will also need special care once he’s adopted, and given this puppy’s history with abuse, his new home will be carefully chosen.

Williams said anyone with information about the puppy should call police, Guilford County Animal Control or the shelter.

Article from Monday's News & Record by Jamie Kennedy Jones:

GREENSBORO — A stray 4-month-old puppy is struggling to survive after being found early Sunday morning with severe burns over much of his body.

Now the people caring for him are hoping he’ll pull through — just as the well-known dog Susie did last summer after being set afire and abandoned.

A couple found the pit bull-Labrador mix about 2 a.m. Sunday near the intersection of Summit and East Bessemer avenues and brought him to Happy Tails Veterinary Emergency Clinic.

Severe burns, on the back half of his body, cover between 40 and 50 percent of his skin, said veterinarian Kelley Gebhardt.

His whiskers were singed, perhaps from wheeling around when he was on fire. The burns probably happened between a few days and a week ago.

The puppy appears to be “a fighter,” Gebhardt said, and she’s hopeful he’ll survive.

“He’s wagging his tail and eating his food and is just as sweet as can be,” she said.

However, although the infection is mild, there is a risk it could become life threatening because he’s lost his body’s natural barrier against infection.

The puppy may need surgeries to remove dead skin, as well as skin grafts.

“I think he’s got a long road ahead of him and his biggest obstacle is going to be fighting the infection,” Gebhardt said.

The puppy was wearing a collar and appeared to have chewed through the attached leash. He had no tags or microchip.

Guilford County Animal Control is leading an animal cruelty investigation.

Happy Tails paid for the puppy’s first two nights of care. The Guilford County Animal Shelter planned to take in the pup today to continue treatment, said shelter director Marsha Williams.

Thanks to the outpouring of support for Susie over the past year, the puppy’s medical expenses will be covered by donations made to “Susie’s Miracle Fund,” Williams said.

In August, a passer-by found Susie near death in Greenfield Park. The pit-bull mix had been severely beaten and burned. The case fueled a successful effort to pass “Susie’s Law” in the legislature. The law increased the penalties for animal abuse.

Williams got the call about the burned puppy on Sunday morning and that afternoon attended a previously scheduled fundraiser for Susie’s Miracle Fund at Anton’s Restaurant.

The news about the puppy had spread through Susie’s Facebook page and word of mouth by the time of the event.

“I think it added a lot more compassion,” to the fundraiser, Williams said. “I think it just put a reality in the fact this is not the end of it ... how important this law is and that this is still happening.”

Williams said anyone with information about the puppy should call the police, Guilford County Animal Control or the shelter.

“We’d like to make sure whoever did this will never do this again,” she said.

Contact Jamie Kennedy Jones at 373-7088 or jamie.kennedy@news-record.com