By the evening of October 30, Dilo the cat had passed the critical stage and was being treated at a veterinary clinic.
Earlier, around 10:18 PM on October 27, a man poured kerosene on a backpack containing a cat and set it on fire on Nguyen Phuc Lai Street, Dong Da District (Hanoi). After committing the act, the perpetrator quickly got on his vehicle and fled the scene.
The incident came to light after a video, extracted from a resident’s security camera, was provided to the Hanoi Pet Rescue Station.
The cat, trapped inside the burning backpack, managed to struggle free from the flames and ran into a nearby house with its door open.
The homeowner, noticing the strange cat covered in burns, quickly helped extinguish the fire, wiped off some of the oil from its body, tried to calm it down, and called the rescue station.
According to the resident, flames were still burning when he arrived at the scene. Neighbors joined together to help put out the fire.
The Hanoi Pet Rescue Station, which took over the case, reported that the cat’s long fur was scorched and soaked in oil. Veterinarians had to completely shave its coat. The most severe burns were on both ears and all four paws.
Dilo is now under close medical observation at a veterinary clinic.
“This is a straight-eared breed. After the fire, both of Dilo’s ears became swollen and filled with pus, causing them to droop. He also keeps shifting positions constantly because of the pain in his paw pads, where the skin was completely stripped,” a rescue center representative shared with Zing News.
In addition to the physical injuries, Dilo also suffered psychological trauma. Veterinarians have been feeding him porridge and administering IV fluids daily to support his recovery.
Following the incident, the cat’s owner reached out to the rescue center, asking to take Dilo back. According to the girl, Dilo was a shared pet between her and her boyfriend. Due to a conflict in their relationship, her boyfriend had committed the horrific act of setting the cat on fire.
However, the rescue center has declined her request in order to ensure Dilo’s safety and avoid further complications.
Zing attempted to contact the boyfriend but received no response.
The rescue team stated that if Dilo’s health continues to improve, they will seek a new, loving home for him.
At the same time, they warned of a fraudulent social media account exploiting the incident for personal gain.
A woman posted about the case with a personal bank account, asking for donations under the guise of helping Dilo. The Hanoi Pet Rescue Station has confirmed that they have no connection to this individual.