Charlie Sheen : What's Behind Sheen's 'Vile' Attack On Denise Richards ?

Charlie Sheen unlashed a 'vile' attack  Monday on ex-wife Denise Richards , the mother of his two daughters and one of his last defenders , calling the actress  a "traitor and loser whore" and 'dog thief," on his uber-popular twitter feed . Now , source close to the former couple reveal what's really fueling Charlie's new found hatred for Denise .

Denise didn't steal the dogs , he gave them back to her ," a close friend of Charlie says , referring to the two pugs that no longer stay with the actor . "They were in horrendous shape . "he doesn't want the dogs , he wants to fight !"

True , just read what @CharlieSheen tweeted to 3 millon followers this morning ; "we must bombard with Warlock Napalm , that traitor and loser whore # DUH-neese POOR-ards , a vile kidnapper  and now a dog thief , hate."

A source says that the pugs were infact denise dogs , but after their divorce she let him keep them at his home so that when their daughters come to visit , "they would feel more at home." But then following his infamous hotel-trashing incident in NYC , he gave the dogs back to her .

The dogs were in terrible shape  . He could not look after himself  let along two dogs , "Charlie's friend says that giving back the dogs was a sort of  "thank you gift" for  denise steadfast support of him.

Sadly , one of the dogs died since leaving Sheen's "Sober Valley Lodge ."

During his epic run of interviews last month , Charlie called Denise "fabulous" and "smoking hot"  saying he loves her to death." But his mood changed wildly  after Denise rebuffed his request to allow their daughters , Sam and Lola , to be part of a 'Dateline' special.

"When his sons with Brooke [Muller]  were moved from his custody last month , he asked Denise to bring their daughters to tape interviews , and Denise said no," a source said . "Since that , things with Charlie have been  very, very ugly ."

"Once you offend him , he will go out of his way to destroy you ," the friend said .

And even with all this hatred  and negativity , a source close to both Charlie and Denise  stresses that the actress will continue  to be civil for the sake of their kids .

Denise doesn't agree with his lifestyle  but has always respectful because of their daughters ," says the friend . "She'll always be there for Charlie , but she can't put her kids through this .

Just a thought : Charlie has really lost it and gone off the deep end.... He really needs an 'EXORCIST.'  NUFF said .