SPCA says Centereach man charged with fatally beating puppy
Edward Semke, 50, is led out the Sixth Precinct in Selden for his arraignment in Central Islip Criminal Court. Semke allegedly beat his 7-month-old bloodhound puppy to death. (Aug. 10, 2010) Credit: James Carbone
A Centereach man faces a felony aggravated animal cruelty charge for allegedly beating his bloodhound puppy to death, the Suffolk County SPCA said Tuesday.
Edward Semke, 50, of 26 N. Washington Ave., was arrested 7 p.m. Monday at his home by the nonprofit's detectives after he told them he beat the dog, a 7-month-old bloodhound, "after it ran out of the back gate of the property," the SPCA said in a release.
Roy Gross, chief of the Suffolk County SPCA, said the investigation started Friday and that Semke allowed investigators to dig up the dog's body on Saturday. It was then taken to a local veterinarian for a necropsy.
The examination revealed that a broken neck caused the dog to suffocate, the SPCA release said.
"This was a horrible way for the bloodhound puppy to die," Gross said.
Semke is being held at the Suffolk County Police's Sixth Precinct in Selden. Arraignment information was not immediately available.
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