A woman who drowned a 10-week-old puppy found submerged and
in a weighted cage in a West Milford pond two years ago has pleaded guilty to
animal cruelty.
Tonya Fea entered the plea Thursday. Passaic County prosecutors
will recommend the 49-year-old Jefferson Township woman get a six-month county
jail term and five years’ probation when she’s sentenced Oct. 5.
She also
will be barred from owning dogs.
Fea admitted submerging the female golden
retriever puppy in April 2019 at Greenwood Pond in West Milford.
Authorities have said Fea initially claimed the
puppy was dead before she submerged it, but eventually admitted it died due to
her actions.
AP wire services helped contribute to
this report.