Oceanside police are investigating the “heartbreaking” abuse of a family’s two dogs, apparently by someone who has been tormenting the family for months.

According to family friend Eddie Mendoza, the two huskies named Estrella and Cocayo have been fed marijuana, doused with acid and most recently, one of them had its eye gouged out in a series of incidents that have been going on since December.

“It’s like something out of a horror story,” said Mendoza of Encinitas who started a GoFundMe page for the victims.

The latest attack, in which one of the animals was also forced to drink acid or some other type of poisonous liquid, happened Friday while the family was away for a short time.


The crowd-source funding page includes a gruesome photo of one of the dogs with blood dripping from its face. Mendoza said whoever attacked the canine ripped its eye from the socket.

He said there was blood all over the apartment and also claw marks on the floor where it appeared the dogs, who were attacked inside the home, were trying to get away.

“It was just like a massacre,” Mendoza said.

Oceanside police Lt. Val Saadat said the department is gathering all the information and putting a timeline of the crimes together.


“It’s heartbreaking that someone could be so cruel,” said Saadat who has seen the photos of the dog’s injuries.

She said the family has been “absolutely traumatized.”

Mendoza said that the attacker has also slashed the unnamed family’s car tires.

“We have an idea of who it is,” Mendoza said.


The animals are under veterinary care at the Humane Society and are expected to survive. The dog with the injured eye has had surgery, while the other still cannot eat and is being fed intravenously, Mendoza said.

The family moved out of their home on Carino Way the very same day as the last attack, Mendoza said.

Saadat said there have been no eyewitnesses to the abuse but that they have received several calls about a possible suspect. It appears that prior residents of that same home have had problems as well, Saadat said.

Mendoza said a lawyer who had lived in the same condo had his tires slashed and a woman once found someone digging in her backyard.


The Oceanside Police Department has set up a tip line at (760) 435-4730 for anyone with information.

There is also a $5,000 reward being offered by San Diego Animal Advocates for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

“It’s just like having the neighbor from hell,” Mendoza said. “It’s your worst nightmare.”


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