Beagle at center of custody battle is reunited with owner

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- A pet beagle that was at the center of a violent custody battle among three homeless people is reunited with his owner.

Authorities say 52-year-old Robert Phillips retrieved Freddy the beagle from the St. Charles animal shelter last week.

Animal Control officer Teresa Gilley said animal control waived all vaccination and impounding fees and that the pair left the shelter together happily.

Police had been searching for Phillips since his release from an area hospital for injuries from a fight with a homeless couple that tried to take Freddy the night of Oct. 25th.

Police later seized Freddy from the couple.