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Justice for Papi: Owner's 3-Year Fight for Dog Poisoning Victim
5 Apr
Summary
- A woman dedicated over three years to seeking justice for her poisoned pet.
- The accused was found guilty of poisoning 11 dogs with toxic sodium fluoroacetate.
- The perpetrator received a four-year prison sentence for possessing a dangerous substance.
In Beijing, China, a woman named Li Yihan has become a symbol of perseverance after dedicating more than three years to seeking justice for her pet dog, Papi. The 13-year-old West Highland Terrier was poisoned in 2022, an incident that prompted Li to quit her job and pursue legal action.
The investigation identified a 65-year-old neighbor, surnamed Zhang, as the perpetrator. He was found guilty of placing chicken coated with the highly toxic and odorless chemical, sodium fluoroacetate, in a children's park. This incident tragically resulted in the deaths of nine out of eleven poisoned pet dogs.
Due to China's limited animal protection laws, Li studied civil and criminal codes to build her case. She filed a private criminal case and a civil lawsuit, representing ten other victims. In December 2025, Zhang was sentenced to four years in prison for possessing a dangerous substance, the maximum penalty for pet deaths.
Li faced significant harassment, including bullying and doxxing, during her fight for justice. She publicly revealed her face for the first time to assert her right to transparency, hoping her efforts would set a precedent for future animal cruelty cases.
