Milwaukee man accused of stabbing dog to death, throwing remains into woods

MILWAUKEE -- A 38-year-old man is accused of stabbing a dog to death and then throwing its body into the woods near S. 10th and W. Cleveland Avenue in Milwaukee.

Zachary Senner

The incident occurred Sunday, December 27th.

According to a criminal complaint, 38-year-old Zachary Senner of Milwaukee, stated to police that his brother and his brother's wife told him to get rid of their dog 'Brandy,' a tan cocker spaniel.

Senner told police he tried to find the dog a new home but was unsuccessful. He also told police he tried leaving the dog at a location away from his brother's residence located on S. 10th Street, but the dog was able to find its way back home.

According to the complaint, while at his brother's residence, Senner told police he was able to work up the courage to get rid of the dog "in the way that he thought was best."

Authorities say Senner took the dog outside of the home through the back door. While just outside the residence, Senner pinned the dog down and cut the dog's neck with a butcher knife -- hoping it would kill her.

In the criminal complaint, Senner told police he believed the dog was dead so he carried it to the dead end of 10th Street and threw Brandy into a wooded area.

After Senner returned to his brother's residence, Brandy again returned -- bleeding from her injuries.

According to the criminal complaint, Senner's brother stated to him, "I thought you got rid of it." Senner, his brother and brother's wife, then waited for a while inside the home, hoping that Brandy would bleed out and die.

Brandy, however, did not die.

In the complaint, Senner told police he once again started stabbing the dog repeatedly in her chest and stomach area. He continued stabbing the dog until she stopped breathing.

According to the criminal complaint, Senner then placed Brandy in a garbage bag and threw her body in the same wooded area at the dead end on 10th Street.

38-year-old Zachary Senner faces one felony count of the mistreatment of animals with the use of a dangerous weapon.