The owner of the two dogs set on fire by Vikram Chatwal is outraged that the playboy hotelier got a slap on the wrist for the disturbing crime.
“It’s absolutely disgusting and outrageous that somebody can attack two animals and a woman innocently walking on the streets of New York and not get a significant judgment against him,” said Sean Kelly, a Manhattan gallery owner, the day after Chatwal took a no-jail plea deal.
“I’m absolutely appalled,” Kelly said. “This has to do with the fact he’s rich.”
Dream Hotels founder Chatwal was raving about fleas and allegedly yelled, “The dogs must die,” before attempting to set ablaze the Jack Russell terriers with an aerosol can and lighter in Soho in October.
The pooches, 7-year-old siblings Molly and Finnegan, were with Kelly’s dog walker at the time.
Kelly said his pups haven’t recovered from the attack.
“My dogs have been deeply traumatized,” he said. “The damage he’s caused is exponential.”
Thankfully, the pooches have an order of protection against Chatwal.