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City man faces multiple charges in puppy burning

A Northeast Philadelphia man has been held for trial on charges of animal cruelty, arson, and child endangerment in connection with the burning of a pitbull-mix puppy Jan. 28. John William Fleet 3d, 33, appeared for a preliminary hearing before Municipal Judge Ricardo C. Jackson yesterday. He remained in custody in lieu of $200,000 bail.

A Northeast Philadelphia man has been held for trial on charges of animal cruelty, arson, and child endangerment in connection with the burning of a pitbull-mix puppy Jan. 28. John William Fleet 3d, 33, appeared for a preliminary hearing before Municipal Judge Ricardo C. Jackson yesterday. He remained in custody in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Fleet told police that the 5-month-old dog had been burned accidentally, but his children, ages 6 and 8, later told a school counselor that their father had become enraged when the dog nipped at them. The children said Fleet had made them hold the dog while he set it on fire. - Joseph A. Slobodzian and Kathleen Brady Shea