Probation for man who beat dog to death

A former Delran man was sentenced yesterday to two years of probation for chaining a put bull to a tree and beating it to death.

Charles J. Friel III, 21, of Phila-delphia pleaded guilty in July to a single count of animal cruelty.

Superior Court Judge James J. Morley also ordered Friel to reimburse Delran Police Department $1,287 for the cost of its investigation and to pay $1,000 to the Burlington County Animal Shelter.

Friel also must receive counseling, serve 100 hours of community service and attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Several animal-rights activists who attended the sentencing hearing said they thought the punishment was too lenient.

"It certainly wasn't strong enough or harsh enough to deter other potential animal abusers," said Caryl Mackin-Wagner of the LBM Animal Abuse Awareness Fund in Laurel Springs, Camden County. "Animals deserve the same respect other living creatures deserve, and we would like to make sure that we prevent this from continuing because it is rampant."

The partially decomposed body of the dog was discovered early Dec. 6 chained to a tree in a marshy area along Rancocas Creek near Sylvan Court in the Water's Edge development.

Police said X-rays taken at Mount Laurel Animal Hospital determined the animal had suffered skull and rib fractures from blunt-force trauma, indicating the dog had been beaten to death.

There were no identifying tags on the dog. It was described as a neutered, mixed-breed pit bull.

Police said Friel was identified as a suspect as a result of tips provided to investigators through the anonymous tip line operated by Delran Police Department.

Friel took possession of the dog after the owner could no longer keep him, prosecutors said.

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