Man sentenced to 4 years in landmark dog poisoning case

A man surnamed Zhang, who poisoned public areas in a residential community, resulting in the death of nine dogs, was sentenced to four years in prison by a Beijing court on Thursday.

The Chaoyang District People's Court convicted him of using hazardous substances and announced the sentence, though he said he would appeal to a higher court.

This was the first pet-related criminal case in Beijing, Chinese media reported.

In September 2022, 11 dogs were poisoned in a residential community in Chaoyang, with nine succumbing to the toxic substance. One of the victims was a 13-year-old West Highland white terrier owned by a woman surnamed Li. Following the tragic incident, Li was devastated and even resigned from her job to seek justice for her beloved dog, according to Red Star News, a news outlet based in Sichuan province.

The substance used was sodium fluoroacetate, an extremely toxic compound and a primary ingredient in rodenticides. It is known for its high toxicity and rapid effects. Ingesting even a small amount can be fatal to both humans and pets, resulting in death from merely sniffing or licking it.

Li told the news outlet that from her twenties to thirties, the dog accompanied her through the most important years of her life. "It was my closest and dearest companion, a pillar of emotional support," she said.

On Sept 16, 2022, the district's police began investigating the case and named Zhang, 65, as the suspect and he was charged with the crime of using hazardous substances.

In October 2023, the case went to trial, and Li appeared in court representing the other dog owners.

During the trial, Zhang admitted to poisoning the dogs but vaguely explained his reasons for doing so, stating a dislike for dogs while denying responsibility for the deaths.