In a groundbreaking legal ruling, a Beijing court has sentenced a 65-year-old man to four years imprisonment for dispersing lethal toxins in a residential community, resulting in the deaths of nine pet dogs. The Chaoyang District People’s Court delivered the verdict on Thursday against defendant Zhang, convicting him of employing hazardous substances in public spaces—marking the first criminal case of its kind in Beijing’s judicial history.
The tragic incident occurred in September 2022 when eleven dogs were poisoned within a Chaoyang district residential complex. Nine animals succumbed to sodium fluoroacetate, an extremely toxic compound commonly used in rodenticides that proves fatal through minimal contact or ingestion. Among the victims was a 13-year-old West Highland white terrier belonging to Li, who described the pet as her closest companion through her most formative adult years.
The case gained significant attention as Li resigned from her employment to pursue justice, eventually representing multiple pet owners during October 2023 court proceedings. While Zhang admitted to dispersing the poisonous substance, he provided ambiguous motivations for his actions, citing general antipathy toward dogs while disputing direct responsibility for the fatalities.
Legal experts highlight the case’s significance in establishing precedent for animal welfare litigation and defining legal boundaries regarding public endangerment through unauthorized use of toxic materials. The defendant has indicated intentions to appeal the verdict to a higher judicial authority.