Selden Man Beats Dog In Front Of His Children: Police

SELDEN, NY — A Selden man was arrested after Suffolk police said he beat his puppy in front of his children on Tuesday.

Suffolk police on Thursday received a complaint of possible animal cruelty, where a puppy was brought to an animal hospital with severe injuries, police said. Daniel Keelan, 35, brought Coco, his 4-month-old chocolate Labrador, to the hospital on Wednesday, police said. Keelan told the staff Coco was hit by a vehicle, police said. The hospital staff determined Coco's injuries were not consistent with being struck by a vehicle and called law enforcement, police said.

Officers found Keelan threw Coco against a wall, and punched and kicked the dog in front of his two children at his Cedar Street home at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said. Coco suffered a fracture to his distal femur, a fracture to his mid-shaft tibia, and multiple broken ribs, police said. The femur and tibia injuries required emergency surgery, requiring placing pins and a metal plate to repair, police said.

Officers searched Keelan's home and found a 4-month-old silver Labrador Retriever named Lucky, police said. Keelan was arrested at 5:30 p.m. Friday, police said.

Lucky was brought to a local animal hospital to be examined. Coco is staying at the veterinary hospital recovering. Lucky will be brought to the Brookhaven Animal Shelter when released from the veterinary hospital.

Keelan was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He was held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Saturday.