Dogs poisoned, one dies

"I went out to the backyard and found Manny just lying there," Badillo said yesterday.

Badillo called 911 and was referred to Animal Control. He picked up his two dogs, each about 70 pounds, loaded them in his car and drove to Emergency Veterinary Services in San Mateo. Manny was dead on arrival and Brutus, a pit bull mix, had his stomach pumped.

"The vets said it was strychnine by the green pellets that were found in Brutus' stomach," Badillo said.

While Badillo was with his dogs at the vet, Millbrae police came to his Almenar Street home and took two bags filled with dog food from the back yard as evidence. Badillo's wife, Paige Benjamin, said she has no idea who would do such a thing.

"There is one neighbor who yells out sometimes to shut the dogs up, but about every home in the area has dogs," Benjamin said. "Maybe we were targeted because we had two."

Dog poisonings are very rare. It has been a couple of years since a poisoning by a dog was reported, said Scott Delucchi, spokesman for Peninsula Humane Society.

The dog food bags were taken by the Millbrae Police Department as evidence and have been forwarded to the county crime lab for investigation.

"It would be hard to prove who did this without fingerprints on the bags," Millbrae police spokeswoman Christine Co said yesterday.

If found, the suspect in the case faces felony animal cruelty charges, Co said.

Millbrae police Detective Daniel Hampton is handling the case, but won't actively canvas the neighborhood for leads until Thursday. That has Badillo and Benjamin a little upset.

"I understand police are busy, but I think it's an important issue," Badillo said. "Whoever did this could do it again. That person needs to be found so help can be sought. It's a sick person whoever did this."

After checking out the back yard in the sunlight Sunday morning Badillo and Benjamin found more rat poison. The two live around the corner from Taylor Middle School.

The couple entertain children at the home frequently, nieces and nephews, and are afraid more poison might be found.

"Who's next? Will they target children?" Badillo said. "I'm weary of my neighbors now. I don't want to be fearful in my own neighborhood."