CORONA DEL MAR : Dog Owner Shaken, Baffled by Poisoning

When Terry Staycer sat down to read the newspaper one afternoon last week at his home, his dog Niki jumped around, happy to see him. But without warning, the 1-year-old female golden retriever went into violent convulsions and fell to the floor.

Shortly after Staycer rushed the dog to the operating table at a local animal hospital, it died. The veterinarian pulled several bits from the dog’s mouth that may be a strychnine-based poison commonly used to kill rodents.

“The dog had gone into a complete seizure and was completely rigid,” said Randall Aten, the veterinarian at the Corona del Mar Animal Hospital who treated the 60-pound Niki. “It seems to me to be a clear-cut case of malicious poisoning.”

A baffled Staycer found the same type of poison mixed with meat thrown on his patio, where his dog used to romp while no one was home.

“I just don’t know why this happened. (The culprit) left no note or anything,” Staycer, 33, said. “I don’t know if they hate my dog or hate my wife or hate people who drive Altimas.”

Newport Beach Police Department animal control officers are investigating the death. According to the state penal code, a cruelty to animals charge could be prosecuted as a felony, said Newport Beach Police Sgt. Andy Gonis.

Gonis said that the police take about two similar reports a year, but not all of them are found to be intentional killings.

Staycer has offered $100 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. To that end, he has delivered flyers to everybody in his neighborhood in a search for clues. But to be on the safe side, Staycer and his wife, Elena, say they will move out of their neighborhood.

“It is very, very sad,” Staycer said. “It was a terrible Thanksgiving.”

Terry Staycer gave the dog to his wife as a Christmas present last year and Niki was treated as a part of the family.

After a couple days without Niki, the Staycers got a new golden retriever puppy. They named it Niki.