STRATFORD (AP) — A Stratford man was arrested after police say he set his puppy on fire at a Stratford park and it died.

Twenty-one-year-old Donovan Brooks of Bridgeport is charged with cruelty to animals, reckless burning and other crimes. He posted $1,000 bail and is to be arraigned in Bridgeport Superior Court on Dec. 17.

Police say firefighters found Brooks standing over the puppy's charred body when they were called to a fire at Clover Field on Saturday. Authorities say Brooks' three other dogs were chained to poles.

Authorities say Brooks acknowledged setting the dog on fire, but he told investigators that it had died earlier and he didn't know what else to do with the body.

There is no phone listing for Brooks and it's not clear if he has an attorney.