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GREENSBORO — Four youths were arrested Friday in the burning of a puppy earlier this month in what a police captain described as “pure teen meanness.”

Police believe the children poured ignitor fluid on cloth, attached it to the puppy, then lit it on fire.

Harvey Gales Jr., 17, of 7 Pear Tree Court, two 15 year olds and one 10 year old have been charged in the puppy burning. Phoenix is a four-month-old pit bull-Labrador mix found with severely burned on July 19.

Gales was charged with felony cruelty to animals, felony burning of personal property and felony conspiracy. He was booked into the Guilford County jail on a $25,000 bond.

The 15 year olds were charged and placed in the Regional Juvenile Detention Center. The 10 year old was charged and released to the custody of a parent.

One 15 year old and the 10 year old are from Greensboro. At least one is related to Giles, Rogers said.

The second 15 year old is from Hamlet in Richmond County. Police are not releasing the names of the juveniles.

“I think this was pure teen meanness,” said Capt. Janice Rogers.

“It’s a heinous crime against a defenseless animal for grins and giggles.”

She said detectives believe that on July 13 or 14, the children were walking by the home and spotted the dog tied in the back yard.

“The juveniles in passing by saw the dog and took the opportunity to do what they did to it,” Rogers said.

“We believe they, in some fashion, poured some ignitor fluid on some cloth or other item, attached it to the dog and then lit it on fire.”

Police got involved on July 19, when they were called to Happy Trails Veterinary Clinic on Battleground Avenue.

A couple brought the dog to the clinic with severe burns on 40 to 50 percent of his body, mostly on the back half.

Phoenix, as he was later named, remains in critical but stable condition at the Guilford County Animal Shelter.

The couple originally told police they found Phoenix at the intersection of Summit and Bessemer avenues.

Rogers said detectives realized after interviews that was not the case. They tracked the dog to 1205 Maury Lane and through tips to Crime Stoppers were led to the youths.

The home belongs to Juan Gonzalez, who has been out of town since before Phoenix was burned.

His wife, Olga Gonzalez, and children live at the home. She said the couple who found the dog — family members from out of town — spotted the dog’s injuries and took him to the vet.

Olga Gonzalez said Friday she believed — at the advice of a neighbor — the dog had been in a fight with other dogs or suffered insect bites.

She said the couple told police they found the dog somewhere else to protect her family from becoming involved in a police investigation.

Rogers said it doesn’t appear the youths burned the dog in a grudge against the family, nor was it done as a copycat crime to the Susie case, another puppy found burned in Greensboro last August.

“They were passing through, saw the opportunity, took the opportunity and committed this crime,” Rogers said.

“They have even made comments to us that ‘this was just a dog.’”

The Gonzalez family said the dog’s name real name is “Venom.”

“We are relieved. (The police) were blaming my son and I’m glad now they won’t blame my family,” Olga Gonzalez said in Spanish through an interpreter.

“It’s inhumane to walk by and hurt a puppy who wasn’t doing anything.”

Olga Gonzalez said she feels sympathy for the 10 year old, who she believes was following the lead of the older children. She said she wants “justice served” in the cases involving the other youths.

“These people have no heart,” she said.

A woman who identified herself as Gales’ mother, but would not give her name, had no comment at the family’s home Friday.

She would only say: “My children have been embarrassed enough.”

None of the youths will be subject to Susie’s Law, which was signed into law earlier this month by Gov. Bev Perdue at the backing of local residents.

The law increased the penalties for animal cruelty to ensure convicted offenders serve some jail time.

The new law goes into effect on Dec. 1 and cannot be applied retroactively.

Gales has no prior adult criminal record, which means he likely will be subject to probation if convicted.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com