“Dogtor Doolittle” Indicted: The Rise and Fall of Austin Mendoza’s Canine Coaching Scheme

A Canine’s Intuition By no means Lies

Human beings have lengthy seemed to canine as companions, protectors, and household. There’s a purpose we name a canine man’s finest buddy: they sense our moods, defend our kids, and provide unconditional love. And when a canine bristles at a stranger, we frequently take it as a telling signal of that particular person’s true character.

In American tradition, the lack to love canine—or worse, to hurt them—isn’t just 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 and marketing himself as “Dogtor Doolittle,” yielding miracle ends in canine coaching, many canine homeowners had been wanting 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 popularity shortly. Starting throughout The Pandemic, Mendoza branded himself as “Dogtor Doolittle,” an expert canine coach able to curing even probably the most troublesome canine behaviors. His pitch was irresistible to determined pet mother and father scuffling with 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 vanity—satisfied purchasers he had authority.

His applications 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 could 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 workers, and housed animals in appalling circumstances.

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 court docket date. As a result of his purchasers and alleged victims span a number of states, the case has been taken up on the federal stage.

Based on court docket paperwork, Mendoza faces fees 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 beneath false pretenses through digital communications.
• Conspiracy to Commit Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 371)
• Misleading Enterprise Practices beneath New Jersey regulation
• 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 towards “Dogtor Doolittle” are each stunning and constant. 5 people—former purchasers, 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 Software of Torture

Central to Mendoza’s alleged practices was the necessary 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 purchasers to buy them, insisting they had been essential to his program.

However specialists dispute that declare. Analysis persistently exhibits that e-collars provide no benefit over optimistic reinforcement coaching. As an alternative, they danger burns, power stress, fear-based behaviors, and, in some circumstances, aggression. Humane societies worldwide have referred to as for his or her ban.

“Austin instructed 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 seemed 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 discovered about Austin’s popularity with aggressive canine. In fact, 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 stories from different homeowners whose canine returned with burns or open wounds brought on by the gadgets.

Testimony: Neighborhood Nightmare

“I lived close to the diabolical doggy daycare for months,” the resident recalled. “I noticed all of it. Canine had been saved in cages, generally ten or extra at a time, out within the yard or within the basement. You possibly can generally see the cages had been stacked when the home windows had been open, and the canine could be barking relentlessly. They’d sit for hours with no water, their very own waste piling up, I’ve timestamped photographs. He had chickens operating 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.

“Once I picked my canine up, he wasn’t the identical. He had misplaced a lot weight—my vet stated he was malnourished and severely dehydrated. His anxiousness was worse than ever. The vet was so involved she really 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 really 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 just a little 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 approach larger. 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 grotesque 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. Per week later, I used to be instructed to select my canine up in Newark. He gave me some excuse about flooding. Once I took my canine to the vet, they discovered a gap in his neck beneath his fur from the e-collar. Austin even deleted my Google evaluation after I posted it.”

This consumer supplied screenshots of deleted opinions and social media movies displaying 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 beneath Mendoza for a number of months.

“Austin ran his enterprise like a circus, he had the entire Tiger King complicated. He cycled by means of workers as a result of no person lasted lengthy. He preyed on susceptible individuals who liked canine however didn’t know any higher. I spoke up after I noticed him hurting the animals. He didn’t care. He instructed 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 surroundings and systemic exploitation, extending past purchasers to workers.

The Quick Cat Incident

Mendoza’s downfall accelerated in Could 2025 on the Quick Cat occasion in Freehold, New Jersey, sanctioned by the American Kennel Membership. There, he allegedly entered an aggressive canine beneath false pretenses. Throughout the competitors, the canine attacked a decide. Witnesses say Mendoza not solely defended the canine’s actions but in addition turned combative when requested to depart.

He was subsequently banned from future AKC occasions. Later that night time, he took to social media, ranting that the canine was justified in attacking the decide.

Fraudulent Picture

Mendoza’s on-line popularity administration was as aggressive as his coaching strategies. Evaluations reveal a suspicious sample: adverse posts disappeared, whereas optimistic 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 instantly harmed by Mendoza’s practices or had heard of him by means of 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 Larger Image: Belief Betrayed

For a lot of pet homeowners, their canine are household. Entrusting them to an expert requires huge religion. The allegations towards 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 companies trade. Not like human healthcare, anybody can name themselves a “coach,” no matter background or experience.

What Comes Subsequent

As Mendoza awaits trial, the group watches intently. If convicted, he may 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 largely silent, his once-boastful posts overshadowed by a rising tide of shock. Based on sources, he’s paused his dog-boarding operation, however continues 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. Canine 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 court docket, 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 finished.

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