A 36-year-old Navy veteran has been arrested in Oceanside in connection with the torture of two huskies and the death of a third dog taken later from the same home whose body has not been found.

David Herbert, 36, was taken into custody Wednesday morning at his home on Carino Way, Oceanside police said.

David Herbert (Oceanside Police Department)

He is accused in the torture of two huskies named Estrella and Cocayo who were brutally attacked inside their own home on the same street on April 28. Bussey said the gates of the two homes are next to each other.


One of the dogs had its eyes gouged out and the other was forced to drink a caustic liquid. The family, who also had the tires of a vehicle slashed, moved out right after the assault.

Two huskies attacked and tortured by an unknown assailant are seen in this photo with their owner. (Courtesy of Eddie Mendoza)

The dogs have since recovered.

A new family moved into the same house and on May 30 — just two days after they had moved in — they reported that both of their dogs were missing. One of the animals returned home but the other, a golden retriever mix named Lala, did not.


Lala was taken from her home and she has not seen since.

Police now say they believe Herbert took the dog from the family’s home and subjected her to a “violent assault which caused injury.”

Police spokesman Tom Bussey said evidence led investigators to believe the dog was killed. Bussey said Lala was the beloved pet of one of the family’s daughters.

“This girl is just devastated,” Bussey said.


The girl’s mother, Michelle Plaketta, said the 13-year-old cried through her middle-school promotion ceremony, which was in the days after Lala disappeared.

Plaketta said her family is hoping to learn where Lala is.

“One of the great things I pray for is to know where he took her,” Plaketta said, adding that she still holds out hope that Lala is still alive.

Plaketta and her family have since moved out of the home.


Investigators searched Herbert’s home in July and executed another warrant Wednesday. He was arrested without incident, officials said. Bussey said Herbert’s house was put up for sale Wednesday.

The warrant gave police permission to seize clothing and electronics and also to search the back yard with a cadaver dog.

Herbert was booked into jail on several charges including animal abuse, using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony, residential burglary, vandalism and petty theft. If convicted, he could spend 16 years in prison, police said.

Plaketta said she is relieved an arrest has been made.


“I wish he could be charged as if what he had done to those dogs was as if it had been a person,” she said.

Herbert served six years in the Navy and received an honorable discharge. Police have not disclosed a motive for the crimes.

Related:

Oceanside family’s two dogs tortured — one had its eye gouged out, both forced to drink poison


Dogs maimed and tortured in brutal attack back with their family

Reward doubled in attack of Oceanside huskies

Dog missing from Oceanside home where huskies were tortured


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UPDATES:

This story was updated at 7:30 p.m. with additional details. It was originally published at 2:10 p.m.