Humane Society Searches Home In Dog Poisonings Investigation

Search Warrant For Mobile Home Served In El Rey Trailer Plaza

Posted: 04/25/2011
Last Updated: 761 days ago

San Diego Humane Society investigators served a search warrant Monday as part of an on-going probe into the poisoning deaths of 10 dogs at the El Rey Trailer Plaza in Lincoln Park.

Neighbors told 10News the woman living in the mobile home investigated on Monday was the same woman seen in surveillance video captured by cameras last week.

That video is now considered evidence for the Humane Society but neighbors who watched the video say it showed the woman taking a neighbor's dog into her backyard just minutes before it died.

So far, at least 10 dogs and one cat have been poisoned, and Sean Dudley, who leads the mobile home park's Neighborhood Watch, told 10News more victims are starting to come forward.

"We found out that there are people who are now coming out that are telling us that their dogs have died in the last year … a number of them, at least five," said Dudley.

Those cases have now been turned over to the Humane Society, which will not comment on its on-going investigation.

One of the tips received by investigators, provided by area children, involves an older woman who was seen walking through the complex Saturday, April 16, wearing yellow gloves and seemingly feeding dogs something from a cup she was carrying.

"We've been praying to God for whoever is doing this to be caught," said Maria Velazquez, who lives in the mobile home park with her six kids.

Velazquez said her cat was poisoned last week and its body was found with signs of swelling. The Humane Society has since taken it in for evidence.

Velazquez said she fears whoever is poisoning the animals may begin to target children.

"They're kids, they're innocent, also like dogs and cats. If somebody comes and gives them something, anything to eat they'll probably take it and they'll end up like our cat or the dogs that were poisoned," said Velazquez.

Neighbors say the woman living in the home investigated has a dog of her own. Investigators took the dog into custody while searching the woman's home.

10News reporter Ariana Duarte knocked on the woman's door, but she refused to comment.

No arrests have been made in the case.

A contribution from an anonymous donor Friday more than doubled an existing four-figure reward fund for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the fatal poisonings, officials said. The total amount being offered for tips in the case is now $5,000, the San Diego Humane Society said Friday.

Anyone with information about the case was asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or submit a Web tip at sdcrimestoppers.com. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Copyright Do you have more information about this story? Click here to contact usCopyright 2011 by 10News.com. City News Service contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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