Disturbing backyard find sent a dog owner rushing to the vet — months after a rude neighbor’s barking complaint letter

She installed backyard cameras to protect her family and dog and sent warning letters to neighbors.

PUBLISHED 6 HOURS AGO

(L) A dog getting treatment at vet. (R) A person writing a letter. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Manu Vega, (R) Jacques Julien)

What was once a quiet backyard turned into a scene of fear for a San Diego dog owner after a shocking discovery. Months after receiving an anonymous complaint about her dog’s barking, a hidden danger appeared close to home. On Friday, December 12, 2025, a routine moment became an emergency that sent the family rushing to the vet and searching for answers. The incident highlighted how neighbor disputes can cross a dangerous line, leaving Sabrina Bazzo, the pet parent, shaken by how easily harm could come to someone she loves.

Veterinary surgeons operating on a dog at a clinic (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | andresr) — Veterinary surgeons operating on a dog at a clinic (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | andresr)

As reported by Fox 5 News on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Bazzo returned home and let her two-year-old Golden Retriever, Bruno, into the backyard of her Sorrento Valley home. She noticed him chewing on something unusual and went outside to investigate. Bazzo then found two bundles of meat tied with string, containing blue rat poison and metal hooks. “Our safe haven is really our backyard, and Bruno loves his backyard,” she told the outlet. She rushed Bruno to the vet, who induced vomiting just in time. Bruno expelled the poison and hooks before they reached his intestines. Bazzo described the shock of realizing someone nearby could do such a thing. “This is normally a very quiet neighborhood, and to know that that kind of evil just exists right around you is creepy,” she expressed. The dog’s life was saved, but the fear of who could have done this continues to weigh heavily. "To know we have a neighbor that can throw dangerous things in the backyard," is something that has left her feeling uneasy.

Woman reading letter with unexpected news. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Fizkes)

The terrifying discovery reminded Bazzo of a letter she received in September, presumably from a neighbor, complaining about Bruno’s constant barking all night. The letter, typed in red, read, “Shut your dog up.” Bazzo insisted the claims were false, noting, “He sleeps in the bedroom with me; he even has a bark collar that just buzzes.” The letter was addressed to Bazzo and her late husband, who had passed away from brain cancer months before the note arrived. “Bruno’s just really been a source of support and comfort for our entire family during a really difficult time for us, and so now to have this happen… it just adds more strain and stress,” she said. The betrayal felt personal and frightening, especially in a neighborhood that had always seemed safe.

Curious Brown Dog Sniffing Ground Outdoors. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Meaw Zara)

Bazzo has since taken steps to protect her dog and family, including installing cameras in the backyard and sending letters to neighbors to warn them. The San Diego Police Department and the Humane Society are investigating the poisoning. Jace Huggins, Chief of Humane Law Enforcement, emphasized, “There are so many other options that people can take versus taking their frustration out on an animal that is voiceless, to me it’s no different than a child, these animals have very little ways to protect themselves.” Huggins also reminded residents to report concerns, adding, “Whether it be about barking, people not picking up after them… please call us, we answer our phones 24/7.” Harming a pet is widely recognized as a serious offense, potentially carrying legal consequences.