Dallas boy, 11, sentenced for beating neighbor's dog to death

FORT WORTH, Texas -- An 11-year-old who pleaded guilty to beating his neighbor's dog to death was sentenced to 18 months of probation, CBS DFW reported Monday.

In May, investigators told the station the boy chased the Cavalier mix, Cookie, out of the pet's backyard in Fort Worth with a stick -- eventually cornering him on a porch and killing him. The boy reportedly entered a guilty plea last month.

Following the guilty plea, the judge then ordered a series of evaluations, including psychological and behavioral ones. Witnesses addressed their findings, and recommended that the boy receive significant counseling to ensure that he remains at low risk to commit a similar crime, according to CBS DFW.

The court-appointed psychologist reportedly attributed the act at least in part to "anger, resentment, and envy" over issues at school and among his siblings.

The prosecutor, stressing the aggressive nature of the act, asked the court to set a sentence to ensure the boy would receive the necessary treatment and monitoring -- for the best interest in the community, according to the station.

In addition to the probation, the boy's sentence includes both individual and family therapy, 30-hours of community service and no unsupervised access to animals.

Due to the seriousness and uniqueness of the crime -- as well as the need for the boy to understand the consequences of his actions -- the judge said his ruling was designed to prove "to us all you will never again engage in violence," according to CBS DFW.

He then urged the boy to prove to the community he was worthy of trust.