DALE CITY, Va. (AP) — A Virginia man who apparently tried to dispose of his dead dog’s body by burning it wound up setting his house on fire.

Firefighters were called to the Dale City home of Charles Harris earlier this week. Prince William fire and rescue Battalion Chief Joe Robertson says Harris allegedly tried to dispose of the body of his 11-year-old Rottweiler by putting wood near the dog’s body and using gasoline to intensify the fire, which spread to the house. Harris was charged with illegal outside burning.

Harris tells the News & Messenger that he called several animal shelters to ask for help disposing of the dog’s body but was told the dog had to be brought to them. He said the dog was too big for him to lift.

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