Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Poisoning 9 Pet Dogs in Beijing

A 65-year-old man was sentenced to four years in prison on Thursday for intentionally poisoning 11 pet dogs, nine of which died, in a residential community in Beijing's Chaoyang District last year, the Red Star News reported today.

The Chaoyang District People's Court found Zhang guilty of "intentionally dispensing dangerous substances" after a trial that drew significant public attention as Beijing's first criminal prosecution for pet poisoning.

The incident occurred in September 2022, when 11 dogs in the same neighborhood fell ill after ingesting or being exposed to chicken necks laced with sodium fluoroacetate, a highly toxic chemical. Despite emergency treatment, nine of the pets died.

Sodium fluoroacetate is a highly toxic compound, primarily used as a rodenticide. It is extremely potent, fast-acting, and its production and use are strictly banned in China. Oral ingestion has a high mortality rate in humans, and pets can die merely from sniffing or licking the substance.

A breakthrough came half a month later when Zhang, a resident of the same community, was arrested. In January 2023, prosecutors formally charged him with intentionally dispensing dangerous substances. Concurrently, the 11 dog owners filed a separate civil lawsuit seeking compensation.

The case went to trial on October 26, 2023, but a verdict was not immediately issued.

During the proceedings, one of the dog owners, Li, learned that Zhang had confessed to placing the poisoned chicken necks in public areas but offered inconsistent and vague explanations for his motives. He stated he disliked dogs but denied responsibility for their deaths and rejected the victims' claims for compensation, according to the report.

Li described the profound loss of her 13-year-old dog, Papi, who died on September 14, 2022, after being exposed to the toxic bait. "He accompanied me through the most important decade of my life, from my 20s to my 30s. He was my family, my beloved, and an emotional pillar," she told reporters. She emphasized that companion animals are not mere property but hold deep emotional significance for their owners. Devastated, she resigned from her job to seek justice.

The court reconvened today for the first-instance judgment. Zhang was convicted and sentenced to four years' imprisonment. He appealed the verdict.