A Canine’s Intuition By no means Lies
Human beings have lengthy regarded to canine as companions, protectors, and household. There’s a purpose we name a canine man’s greatest buddy: they sense our moods, defend our kids, and provide unconditional love. And when a canine bristles at a stranger, we regularly take it as a telling signal of that individual’s true character.
In American tradition, the shortcoming to love canine—or worse, to hurt them—is not only uncommon; it’s unsettling. Compassion towards animals is a pure extension of our humanity. So when tales started to floor a couple of younger New Jersey man advertising himself as “Dogtor Doolittle,” yielding miracle leads to canine coaching, many canine homeowners had been desirous to consider. However behind the veneer of cute social media clips and boastful confidence, prosecutors have uncovered a darkish actuality of animal abuse, fraud, and exploitation.
The Man Behind the Persona
Austin Mendoza, 32, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, constructed his repute rapidly. Starting throughout The Pandemic, Mendoza branded himself as “Dogtor Doolittle,” knowledgeable canine coach able to curing even probably the most tough canine behaviors. His pitch was irresistible to determined pet mother and father fighting aggression, anxiousness, or burglary points.
On Instagram and TikTok, Mendoza’s feed was a carousel of canine obeying instructions, staged “before-and-after” transformations, and testimonials that appeared to show his strategies labored. His confidence—and generally conceitedness—satisfied shoppers he had authority.
His packages got here at a steep value: two – twelve week boarding packages priced between $2,500 and $10,000 per canine. For a lot of households, that was a small fortune, however one they had been keen to pay if it meant their beloved pet can be happier and higher behaved.
However prosecutors allege it was all a smokescreen. Mendoza had no certifications, no veterinary background, and no formal animal conduct coaching. As an alternative, investigators say, he fabricated diagnoses, used merciless coaching strategies, was aggressive with the animals and his staff, and housed animals in appalling situations.
The Arrest
In the summertime of 2025, after years of mounting complaints, federal authorities moved in. Following a multi-agency investigation, Mendoza was arrested, booked, and charged. He has since posted bail and is awaiting a courtroom date. As a result of his shoppers and alleged victims span a number of states, the case has been taken up on the federal stage.
Based on courtroom paperwork, Mendoza faces expenses together with:
- Animal Cruelty (18 U.S.C. § 48) – for the documented abuse of boarded canine.
- Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343) – for soliciting funds underneath false pretenses through digital communications.
- Conspiracy to Commit Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 371)
- Misleading Enterprise Practices underneath New Jersey legislation
- Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property (18 U.S.C. § 2314) – associated to alleged extortion of animals used as leverage in disputes.
Mendoza has pleaded not responsible. And, because the justice system reminds us, he stays harmless till confirmed responsible…
A Sample of Abuse
The allegations in opposition to “Dogtor Doolittle” are each surprising and constant. 5 people—former shoppers, an worker, and a townswoman —spoke to me, and all corroborated a sample of abuse and deception. Their names have been protected the place applicable.
The E-Collar: A Device of Torture
Central to Mendoza’s alleged practices was the obligatory use of digital collars—or “e-collars.” Marketed as superior coaching instruments, e-collars ship an electrical shock to a canine’s neck at various intensities. Mendoza required his shoppers to buy them, insisting they had been essential to his program.
However consultants dispute that declare. Analysis constantly reveals that e-collars provide no benefit over constructive reinforcement coaching. As an alternative, they danger burns, continual stress, fear-based behaviors, and, in some instances, aggression. Humane societies worldwide have referred to as for his or her ban.
“Austin advised me he was solely utilizing the bottom setting,” one consumer defined. “However after I acquired my Shih Tzu again, he had burnt fur round his neck. He wasn’t the identical canine anymore. He regarded and acted damaged. We later came upon our canine was caged with larger, extra aggressive canine, he was in all probability terrified. It got here as no shock later once we realized about Austin’s repute with aggressive canine. After all, he made no point out of this once we’d first consulted with him. He knew we had been determined and smelled our wallets. Our canine is so broken, that man had no thought what he was doing, he shouldn’t be allowed to be round animals.”
This testimony aligns with experiences from different homeowners whose canine returned with burns or open wounds brought on by the units.
Testimony: Neighborhood Nightmare
“I lived close to the diabolical doggy daycare for months,” the resident recalled. “I noticed all of it. Canines had been saved in cages, generally ten or extra at a time, out within the yard or within the basement. You can generally see the cages had been stacked when the home windows had been open, and the canine can be barking relentlessly. They’d sit for hours with no water, their very own waste piling up, I’ve timestamped photographs. He had chickens working round too, which isn’t even authorized right here. And people poor canine… I’ll always remember their cries.”
The lady supplied movies of roosters crowing at daybreak, images of canine pacing in cramped cages, and documentation of foul odors emanating from the property. For a residential zone like Perth Amboy, the spectacle was alarming; and a violation of zoning ordinances, which cap the variety of canine per residence.
Testimony: Virgil
One of many victims, referred to right here as Virgil, shared their story.
“After I picked my canine up, he wasn’t the identical. He had misplaced a lot weight—my vet mentioned he was malnourished and severely dehydrated. His anxiousness was worse than ever. The vet was so involved she truly referred to as animal management.”
The medical data corroborated Virgil’s claims, noting weight reduction, dehydration, and heightened anxiousness following the boarding interval.
Testimony: Shih Tzu Proprietor, NJ
“He put the e-collar on my boyfriend on the lowest setting simply to indicate us it wasn’t dangerous. He truly centered his whole pitch on my boyfriend, he was very dismissive of me for your entire time my canine was in his care, it was a little bit misogynistic. However when our canine got here again, he had burns on his neck. He was dehydrated, depressing. Austin had lied to us. That collar was set method increased. Our canine was traumatized by this collar, he’s fully totally different now from the canine we relinquished to Austin.”
Testimony: Joe S., Shih Tzu Proprietor, NY
One other proprietor, additionally of a small breed, described much more ugly accidents.
“I dropped my Shih Tzu off at what I assumed was a secure spa in Outdated Bridge. Austin had partnered with them, or so he claimed. Every week later, I used to be advised to select my canine up in Newark. He gave me some excuse about flooding. After I took my canine to the vet, they discovered a gap in his neck underneath his fur from the e-collar. Austin even deleted my Google overview after I posted it.”
This consumer supplied screenshots of deleted evaluations and social media movies exhibiting Mendoza transporting a number of canine in a U-Haul truck after a falling-out with the Outdated Bridge facility.
Testimony: The Former Worker
Maybe probably the most damning testimony got here from a former worker who labored underneath Mendoza for a number of months.
“Austin ran his enterprise like a circus, he had the entire Tiger King advanced. He cycled via staff as a result of no person lasted lengthy. He preyed on weak individuals who beloved canine however didn’t know any higher. I spoke up after I noticed him hurting the animals. He didn’t care. He advised us to give attention to the cash. It jogged my memory of Tiger King—chaotic, exploitative, and merciless.”
This worker’s account highlights the poisonous office atmosphere and systemic exploitation, extending past shoppers to workers.
The Quick Cat Incident
Mendoza’s downfall accelerated in Might 2025 on the Quick Cat occasion in Freehold, New Jersey, sanctioned by the American Kennel Membership. There, he allegedly entered an aggressive canine underneath false pretenses. Throughout the competitors, the canine attacked a choose. Witnesses say Mendoza not solely defended the canine’s actions but additionally grew to become combative when requested to go away.
He was subsequently banned from future AKC occasions. Later that evening, he took to social media, ranting that the canine was justified in attacking the choose.
Fraudulent Picture
Mendoza’s on-line repute administration was as aggressive as his coaching strategies. Critiques reveal a suspicious sample: destructive posts disappeared, whereas constructive ones surged in clusters, suggesting he bought pretend testimonials.
Nationwide organizations, veterinarians, {and professional} trainers have since distanced themselves. A number of confirmed they’d both been straight harmed by Mendoza’s practices or had heard of him via the canine coaching grapevine.
Extortion Allegations
Maybe probably the most chilling allegation includes Mendoza’s ex-girlfriend, a vice principal in Edison, NJ. When their relationship ended, witnesses declare Mendoza retaliated by holding her canine hostage, and demanding $20,000 for its return. Ring doorbell footage captured elements of the viscous confrontation.
The Greater Image: Belief Betrayed
For a lot of pet homeowners, their canine are household. Entrusting them to knowledgeable requires monumental religion. The allegations in opposition to Mendoza strike at that bond. Households who scraped collectively 1000’s now really feel duped. Extra importantly, their canine—harmless, trusting creatures—could carry lifelong scars.
Animal welfare advocates argue the case underscores a necessity for stricter regulation within the pet providers trade. In contrast to human healthcare, anybody can name themselves a “coach,” no matter background or experience.
What Comes Subsequent
As Mendoza awaits trial, the neighborhood watches carefully. If convicted, he might face years in federal jail, restitution to victims, and a lifetime ban from animal possession or associated companies.
For now, his social media pages stay principally silent, his once-boastful posts overshadowed by a rising tide of concern. Based on sources, he’s paused his dog-boarding operation, however remains to be promoting coaching programs.
Conclusion: Selecting Compassion
The story of “Dogtor Doolittle” is greater than a cautionary story about one man. It’s a reminder that compassion, transparency, and science—not worry and coercion—should information how we deal with animals. Canines are usually not machines to be shocked into obedience; they’re sentient beings who belief us with their lives.
Austin Mendoza could declare innocence till his day in courtroom, however for the households who say their canine got here again damaged, the worker who tried to talk up, and the girl who nonetheless remembers the canine’ cries, the harm has already been carried out.
Hyperlinks:
https://www.apps.akc.org/apps/fastcat_ranking/index.cfm
https://www.fb.com/teams/FASTCATinNEasternUSA/posts/1402332314112340
https://www.instagram.com/dogtor__doolittle
