I have no evidence but I believe that the poisoner is an old, uneducated farmer who got annoyed by dogs running over his crops. Poisoning is the traditional New Territories method of keeping the dog population under control and, as a farmer, he already has herbicides in his shed. It is very easy for him (and/or his friends) to soak pieces of meat in paraquat and drop them by the side of the road when no one is looking.
It will be impossible to prove that this man did it and I can understand the reluctance of the police to side with incomers (Chinese and Western) against indigenous sentiment.
About 7 years ago, after a spate of poisoning, a village meeting was held. Local people said they did not like poisoning dogs but they didn't know what else to do. We explained that there was a better way and we promised to desex the dogs and cats and educate people to make sure their dogs didn't cause annoyance. The poisoning stopped (except in Pak Kok). Everyone who has lived here for some years will agree that the situation with dogs and cats has vastly improved. There are no longer unowned dogs wandering around. Unfortunately there are still owned dogs who are allowed to run where they please and defaecate where they please. These dogs have caused a continuing annoyance and have sparked the anger of this man and the horrible deaths of many innocent dogs.
Of course I do not condone this man's psychopathic behaviour but we live in a world where every community has its share of people incapable of empathy with the suffering of others and the police can not always protect us from them.
I welcome the police initiative to hold a meeting and I hope they will make clear that poisoning is criminal and unacceptable. But we dog owners have to redouble our efforts to make sure our dogs do not cause a nuisance.
I also support the banning of Paraquat and much greater control over farmers' chemicals.

Another feedback from a Dr, after Dr Hans' and Dr John's comments above. I've asked Dr Mike Hilditch from the Wanchai Animal Clinic, an ex-Lammaite, for a writeup of his recent experiences trying to save poisoned Lamma dogs:

"Over the past week I have treated two dogs at my clinic suffering from the symptoms of Paraquat poisoning. I have been asked to write a few notes on my experience:

Two dogs from Lamma Island were presented at the Wanchai Animal Clinic on the 28th and 30th of September. They appeared to be suffering from severe gastroenteritis. They had been vomiting, anorexic and were about 10% dehydrated. A routine blood analysis indicated that they were in early kidney failure and moderate shock due to the fluid loss. Both dogs responded well to fluid and electrolyte therapy and appeared reasonably bright for the duration of the treatment. Only one dog had a little diarrhoea on one day and there was no more vomiting after the initial treatments. Both dogs remained off their food for the duration.

On the last day their breathing became more labored and at no time did we observe any coughing or notice any fluid accumulation in the lungs. Both dogs died overnight and appeared fairly bright the day before, the owners taking them for a walk in the local park. I have conducted a post mortem on both dogs and it tentatively appears that they have died from lung failure. The lungs, liver and kidneys had severe damage. I have taken tissue samples that have been sent overseas for histo-pathological examination. The Hong Kong police have collected tissue samples and will also conduct tests. It is likely, given the symptoms and from my observations at the post mortem, that these dogs died from Paraquat toxicity.

Paraquat is a widely available commercial non-selective herbicide that is commonly used in the farming industry. It is frequently purchased under the trade name ‘Gramoxone’, to be diluted and sprayed on weeds before planting. It is very quickly absorbed by the plant and has no residual effect. The diluted form that is sprayed is also unlikely to be toxic. Severe toxicity only happens when the concentrated form is swallowed.

The ingested poison will initially cause severe irritation to the throat, oesophagus and stomach which accounts for the vomiting. The absorbed poison will then cause kidney and heart damage. With a high dose the animal will die within a day or two from kidney or heart failure. Dogs that survive the first few days will die from deteriorating lung function. The two dogs we treated survived five and seven days respectively and both displayed exactly the same symptoms. There is no antidote for this poison.
My heartfelt sympathies go out to the owners and friends of the dogs involved."

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

An update about Alba the Filmmaker's 2nd dog.

"Sad news, Ginger has reached her final hours. She will be put to sleep this morning at the vet's clinic."

She's changed the dedication in her "Lamma My Island" film, almost an idyllic & very positive "dogumentary" featuring many Lamma dogs and their owners. It will be shown at the Marbella, Spain, and Lucerne, Switzerland, film festivals later this month:

"The director dedicates this film to the memory of two of its stars, her dogs Guapa and Ginger who were tragically killed, along with many other pets, by a mysterious poisoner in September 2011, soon after the film's completion.
Maybe Lamma isn't such an ideal paradise after all."

One more case:

Widely popular GoGo passed away last night in the clinic, most likely from the same poison....

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

Poster just received from the Lamma Police.
Pretty early, but if you can make the 6:40pm ferry from Central, you'll be OK.
Tough questions are expected to be directed at the experts in attendance, especially SPCA, AFCD and the "Fight Crime Committee".

_________________
Click here for Lamma-zine stories and recent Lamma Spotlights of the Week:
Photo, Video, Person, Wildlife, Bird, Artwork.

It's good the authorities seem to be making an effort, I just hope they get the message across to the likely suspects (I imagine John is correct). Given how lethal paraquat is, the best way of preventing this happening again is to stop the poisoner/s from doing it again. Always walking dogs on a lead is reasonable in the village centre but isn't practical all the time on the rural paths. Even on a lead, a dog can easily swallow a piece of poisoned bait before you can react.

Totally agree with John that dogs shouldn't be allowed to wander freely without their owners, and there are a few owners guilty of this. All of this is no consolation to the poor owners who have lost their pets. I wonder if the poisoner has any idea how much misery he/she has caused?

_________________
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

Heard the dog who recently died was walked on leash and didn't eat anything -- but she died the same.

She was walked on the path from Yung Shue Long Village to the fire station.

AVOID THAT AREA if you can.

Is that the way behind Mr Kabab's by the Beer Garden to the Cemetary? Why doesn't this "farmer", just put up a FENCE? Infact buy the fence from "Rich Million" and put up some metal posts, and take those gaudy things from my garden, so I can continue to do my work so I can get this program done, and give the Philopenos a nice beauty to party? Just string some patio lanterns, lol.

We, dog lover have to understand, our dog is not a pets, is our best companion,
don't just point your finger to the dog killer , never let the dog walk and wondering on the street by themselves, they just like kids in our homes, you don't let your Kids out by themselves and eat garbage on street and go to toilet everywhere don't you !!!!

Anything happen to the dogs outside of your house and out of your sight, is your responsibility ! we have to remember not all persons like dogs.........

Are there a number of farmers in that area? The farmer that I chat with everyday seems a very nice tolerant fellow, always has animals comfortably roaming amongst his veggies (cats mostly) always has a smile and a wave for people passing. I would hate for him to be thought of as a pet killer and ostracized if there are other old, uneducated farmers in that area. However if it is him, as old as he may be, he needs to be educated and dealt with by the law!

SO CREZY!!!
IS IT A FARMER?
OR JUST ANOTHER STEP IN LAMMAS CREZY TRANSFORMATION?

Cheap rents gone (CHECK)
stray dogs gone (CHECK)
local bars going going gone ( )
Luxury apartments (CHECK)
waterfront re-development (CHECK)

I wouldnt be surprised if these are all related with 1 group of ppl

_________________
Sabe 1

I am needing a map area, fire station, nursery school etc etc, so i can pin point all the locations that the killer has left poison for our dogs. Many thanks for your help.

http://hk.centamap.com/

Zoom to the area you want and screenprint, paste into whatever graphic application you use.

As the person who did this for me doesn't know Chinese, it had to be kinda symbolic rather than explanatory...

If anyone's up for some reading before the meeting tomorrow,

http://www.evb.ch/cm_data/EvB_Paraquat_E.pdf

Hi, I'm Gary again.

Since I put up the posters for the meeting about a week ago, I've been receiving some emails with support, inquiries, and concerns..

It seems like more than a few people are concerned that the meeting might turn out as 'go against local' type of racism.

I need you all to know if you plan to come to the meeting that I will try my best to keep it most sensible/productive/peaceful so we could all reach something positive and feasible at the same time to solve this problem but I will never be able to do it without all the attendees being on the same page. It's a meeting. Of course there will be different views, opinions and suggestions. I am expecting that but I'd like to emphasize that we should never have this turn out as a racism chaos.

Please, come to the meeting only if you are ready to sit down and have a civilized discussion instead of getting angry or upset. I do have all those feelings come and go and I know a lot of people who are feeling the same but I also strongly believe that we will all have to put those emotions aside during the meeting and put our heads together for some real good resoultions.

Hope it makes sense to you all.

I can't make either meeting unfortunately.

Two Qs though. Have there been any new poisonings? And does anyone have a reliable figure for the number of dogs (and cats) killed or seriously debilitated by the poison? I have heard 18, 20 and 22.

A map of where the poisonings happened would be very useful if someone has sufficient knowledge of where they took place. If not, perhaps is something that will emerge from the meeting.

_________________
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

I agree with Mark Anthony, from reading the thread it looks like 7 dogs died from the poisoner but like him I have heard 16 one day - the next day 20 and then 22 ( even 100 over the last 20 years) .

While i think even one or two dogs being killed in such a way is one or two too many - it would be a good idea to get some proper numbers in order to not appear to be inflating figures which would lose the campaign credibility if it came to light that it was actually 7 dogs not 22 or some other figure.

Fingers crossed no other dogs have to go out in such a nasty way !

There are lots of rumours but few proven facts.
The one good thing is that I have not heard of any proven cases of paraquat poisoning that can't be traced to the initial batch of poisoned meat laid in the Yung Shue Long area last month. So at this point I think there is hope that there will be no more cases.
The police are taking the poisoning seriously and have conducted a search of the area without finding further bait.
I think people need to be very careful not to inflame passions at tonight's meetings. Five of my former foster pups have been killed so I am as entitled to emotions as anyone. But as we have not - and are most unlikely to have - proof, we must leave the matter in the hands of the police and not direct our anger at any particular person or group of persons.

Did the 15-20 Police officers that were yesterday wearing camo and gathering for a field expedition from the YSW police container have anything to do with this?

They're probably gong to raid the bars in search of the expat-controlled pesticide syndicate.