A 51-year-old B.C. man has been charged with attempted murder after his elderly mother was doused with gasoline and set on fire.

Parker Matthias was taken into custody at the home in Clearwater where his 79-year-old mother was attacked and suffered second and third-degree burns on Friday.

The woman, Kathleen Jennings, is being treated in the burn unit of Vancouver General Hospital, where she's listed in critical condition with burns to her upper body.

The woman's small dog was set on fire during the attack and had to be put down.

Matthias is also charged with animal cruelty.

Police say it was Matthias who called an ambulance after the attack.