On April 16, 2026, the Beijing No.3 Intermediate People’s Court delivered its final ruling in a landmark case involving the poisoning of companion animals—Beijing’s first-ever pet-poisoning incident resolved through criminal prosecution. The court upheld both the criminal sentence and the associated civil compensation, marking the end of legal proceedings that began with the incident in September 2022, spanning over three years and including nine trial adjournments.
The Incident
In September 2022, in a residential neighbourhood in Beijing’s Chaoyang District, multiple animals were poisoned after ingesting chicken necks laced with sodium fluoroacetate—a highly lethal compound previously used in pesticides and rodenticide and now banned in China—placed in public areas. 11 pet dogs were poisoned (nine died), and two stray cats were also found dead.
The suspect was identified as a 65-year-old local resident, surnamed Zhang, who was arrested and later convicted of using hazardous substances.
Criminal Judgment
In this case, prosecutors initially charged Zhang with “intentional destruction of property” but later upgraded the charge to “putting dangerous substances into society”, classed under endangering public safety, because the poison was placed in shared community zones—affecting not just pets but posing a direct public threat.
Zhang received a four year prison sentence in December 2025, and since he did not appeal, the decision became final.
Multiple pet owners later filed a civil appeal seeking emotional distress damages, but the Intermediate Court rejected the appeal and upheld the original civil ruling.
Civil Compensation Ruling
The court ordered Zhang to pay damages ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of yuan to the affected pet owners.
Li, the owner of Papi, a 13‑year‑old West Highland White Terrier, was awarded ¥8,000 RMB in civil compensation. Li had originally filed a claim of ¥250,000 RMB—including ¥20,000 for Papi’s market value, citing typical breed prices of ¥20,000k–¥50,000k, and ¥230,000 for emotional distress. In support of the latter, she submitted medical records documenting depression following Papi’s death, as well as evidence of job loss and reduced income. The court, however, did not support the emotional distress claim and upheld compensation at ¥8,000 RMB.
A Three-Year Legal Journey
The case received widespread media attention, in part driven by Li’s efforts. She resigned her job, studied law, and collected evidence, persevering through a gruelling 1,185-day journey to secure justice for Papi and other victims—a saga that spotlighted the legal limitations surrounding companion animals in China.
Legal Significance
With this April 16, 2026 ruling, the case is officially closed. It sets an important legal precedent, affirming that poisoning animals in public areas falls under the crime of endangering public safety, rather than mere property destruction.
