Charges Upgraded for Man who Allegedly Poured Boiling Water on Dog for Peeing on Floor

Chicago - Charges have been upgraded against a college athlete accused of throwing a pot of boiling water on his dog in a fit of anger after the Mountain Cur mix urinated on the floor.

Kyle Voissem, 20, a criminal justice major at the University of Illinois at Chicago, was originally charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty for the Oct. 18 incident.

But due to the severity of the burns, charges have been upgraded to a felony, Asst. Cook County State’s Atty. Lorraine Scaduto said Friday.

Scaduto didn’t provide further explanation as to why the charges were bumped up more than a month after Voissem’s arrest in December.

Voissem, of the 1700 block of South Desplaines Street, was boiling water to make macaroni and cheese for dinner when he saw the dog urinate on the floor, Scaduto said.

Angry over the mess, Voissem allegedly poured the scalding water all over Byron’s head and torso.

The dog, who suffered second- and third-degree burns, was turned over by Voissem to the Anti-Cruelty Society, which provided veterinary care and successfully adopted the dog to a new home.

Voissem was ordered held on $100,000 bond. Originally from Wisconsin, he is going to UIC on a scholarship for gymnastics, his attorney William Fahey said.

Anti-Cruelty Society president and veterinarian Dr. Robyn Barbiers said last month the dog was a 47-pound, 1 1/2-year-old Mountain Cur mix named Byron — “basically a mutt.”

The incident occurred in early October but the dog was not treated until Oct. 28, she said. It was adopted out on Oct. 30, she said. Byron remains in the area, but she would not specify where.

“He was a great dog,” Barbiers said. “When I met him he was just the happiest and friendliest dog. It is great when we can find a great home for a dog like that.”