The animal rescue community is completely heartbroken over a suspected string of dog poisonings in Lok Ma Chau. During what should have been a happy Chinese New Year, 22 dogs were found dead or went missing, turning the holiday into a nightmare.
For over five years, volunteers from the Sai Kung Stray Friends Foundation (SKSFF) have cared for the dogs near the Lok Ma Chau fish ponds like family. They provided food, clean water, vet care, and free neutering. But this safe haven was shattered when dogs suddenly started disappearing.
How the Nightmare Began (Mid-February)
The tragedy unfolded rapidly over just a few days. During a routine feeding on February 14th, volunteers noticed two dogs were missing from their usual pack of six. The very next day, a call to the site owner confirmed their worst fears: five dogs had now vanished, leaving only one sweet girl named BLui (B Nui) behind.
On February 16th, the situation escalated when police received a report of a pet dog found dead in an open area on Liu Pok Road. The dog, a 3.5-year-old female, had no visible injuries and was strongly suspected to have died from poisoning.
After learning that dogs from other nearby sites were also disappearing, a volunteer rushed back to check on BLui. At first, BLui greeted her with a wagging tail, but soon sat down and refused to move. Spotting vomit on the ground, the volunteer realized that BLui might have already ingested poisoned food. Suddenly, BLui let out a scream, bolted into the nearby marshland in a panic, and tragically died. By the end of this horrific weekend, at least 13 dogs in the area were already dead or missing.
A Heartbreaking Search (Feb 17 – Feb 23)
The search over the next few days was devastating. Volunteers had to pull the bodies of beloved dogs, like Felippe and Brother, out of the ponds.
Finding a missing puppy named Glue was especially hard because of the thick bushes. Thankfully, a kind construction worker used his excavator to clear the weeds. Even then, volunteers had to cut through the remaining bush with a machete. Finally, on February 23rd, a volunteer borrowed a small boat, rowed into the mangroves, and tragically found Glue’s body floating in the water.
The Tragedy Continues (Late Feb – Early March)
The nightmare didn’t end. On February 25th, a sweet dog named Hak Mui was found dead in a canal, still wearing her Chinese New Year collar decoration. On March 2nd, workers found another gentle dog, Ting Girl, dead.
“No Trespassing” signs have recently popped up on nearby land, volunteers suspect these dogs are the victims of local land disputes or spite. The toll has now reached a staggering 22 dead or missing dogs.
Urgent Evacuation & How You Can Help
The Police and Crime Squad are actively investigating this as animal cruelty. To stop more dogs from dying, SKSFF urgently moved 11 surviving dogs from the sites to their shelter for safety.
SKSFF is a caring and loving facility for over 200 dogs, and their monthly medical and running costs are approximately $400,000 HKD. As they rely entirely on community support, your donations are vital to sustaining their life-saving work.
If you don’t love them, at least don’t harm them. Let’s speak up for these voiceless dogs, demand that the culprits be brought to justice, and support the volunteers who are working so hard to give them a better life and future.
