Preventing Dog Poisonings

For three decades, the Bowen Road and Black’s Link areas have become synonymous with a suspected dog poisoner. In the early 1990s, dogs were found poisoned almost every month having ingested bait left in the grass verges and more than 200 dogs and an unknown number of cats and wild animals have been poisoned over the years.

In recent times, sporadic dog poisoning cases have also occurred in other areas including the Cyberport Waterfront Park in Pok Fu Lam, and Sai Kung. The poisons are varied so it is impossible to know whether they are the work of one person or several.

Increased action by the police and SPCA inspectors, as well as growing public awareness, have helped reduce the number of poisonings but poisonous bait – including laced pork, chicken and even char siu – continues to be found in concealed areas.

Whether the poisonings are deliberate or accidental, there are some simple steps you can take to keep your dog safe on the streets and trails of Hong Kong:

1. Leash your dog and watch them at ALL times. In recent years, poisoned meat has been found concealed in the vegetation at the side of the road as well as slopes accessible only to unleashed dogs;
2. Keep your dog close to you when walking, and stop them from eating anything on the ground. The majority of poisoned dogs were either not leashed or not supervised closely;
3. All dogs should wear a basket-muzzle to further reduce the risk of ingesting anything from the ground (a muzzle which allows your dog to pant is best to avoid heat stress);
4. Keep an eye out for warning signs – either that officials have used rat bait or that a poisoner is known to be operating in the area. The SPCA Inspectorate has placed warnings regarding malicious poisonings in known trouble spots;
5. Always take your mobile phone and some cash with you – you never know when you might need to jump into a taxi and rush to a veterinary clinic; and
6. Avoid areas with known poisonings.