Lamma-zine Placeblog about Lamma Island, Hong Kong - October 2011

Like Finding a 'Needle in a Haystack'?

MAIN STREET, Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island, Hong Kong � Leading police officers have promised a serious and diligent investigation, within the limits of available resources, to nab a "sick individual" responsible for killing many of this island's dogs.

"We understand it's an emotive issue," said Hong Kong Police marine-district deputy-commander Mark Taylor. "We want to catch this person as much as anyone does. Believe me -- we're on the case! We take this very seriously and will do what we can to the best of our abilities with the manpower we have."

On October 6, Taylor and several colleagues, notably Cheung Chau division commander Mak Pui-Yuen and community-relations officer Kwok Shu-chi, faced a standing-room-only, spill-into-the-street crowd of worried villagers at a public meeting in the Lamma North Rural Committee.

The police appealed for people to provide relevant information by promptly reporting anything suspicious. "We believe there's a lot of information out there that isn't reaching us," Taylor said.

A Lamma-based group, Lifelong Animal Protection (LAP), says about 20 local dogs have died since late September after eating, licking or otherwise contacting poison (probably on tainted meat) left near popular footpaths by an unknown person. Veterinarians who treated the dying dogs believe the poison is paraquat, a powerful herbicide typically in powder or liquid forms. Banned in some places, it's legal in Hong Kong. A single lick can kill a dog, ultimately of lung failure and other organ damage. The dying process, with vomiting, gasping and seizures as the initial symptoms, may take a week or more.

Technically, Hong Kong's animal-cruelty laws can lead to three-year prison terms and HK$200,000 fines. When dogs die, criminal-damage charges may prompt 10-year sentences.

Not every poisoning incident was reported to the police. "Some people have made a specific choice not to come forward," Taylor said. "We only can act on the reports and evidence we receive."

At the meeting, several people said they lack faith in the police because officers showed little sensitivity on past dog-related issues. As for this time, "the police don't have a clue," one person declared after stepping outside.

Taylor warned the public not to raise unfair suspicions. "For people to point fingers at others, without evidence, is totally wrong and doesn't help. It creates a split in the community when we need unity to help us to catch this guy." Yet moments later a listener recalled once seeing a farmer soak pigs' ears in poison and mysteriously bury them. Another suggested that the poisoner should need to compensate for the dead animals' veterinary bills.

Earlier on the day of the meeting, 30 extra police officers came to Lamma and searched futilely for tainted meat or other evidence along designated pathways. "We can't keep asking guys to come to search and find nothing," Taylor said. "We can act again only on strong information�. It's like a needle in a haystack for us unless the operation is intelligence-led.

"For police officers, it's horrible to say we're hamstrung to a great degree, but we are. We could send officers along those paths every day. If the guy knows we're out there, he won't put the stuff down. It's when we're not there that he'll act, but that's when you're there. Our only chance is through information from the community."

One listener suggested placing surveillance cameras in strategic spots. "I doubt if most people on Lamma want police cameras everywhere," Taylor said. "Cameras might give us some indications, but to place them in the public domain isn't straightforward. It's not something we'd like to do on Lamma."

Dog-poisoning erupts regularly on Lamma, but several years sometimes pass without incident. "For sure, you need to protect your dogs in the near term," said Tailor. That means using leashes and muzzles when walking them.

The police advocate "responsible" dog-ownership. "Let's be honest," Taylor said. "This guy probably puts down poison because he has a perceived reason. That's a reality."

Another black spot exists along Bowen Road on Hong Kong Island. For several decades, there dogs sporadically have died from poisoned meat.

"On Bowen Road, people have lost so many dogs," Taylor said. "And it's a simple, A-to-B, straight piece of road. Over the years, hundreds of police officers have investigated. They've had surveillance cameras, undercover guys and sweep-searches, but gotten nowhere. Flooding the place with police hasn't worked. With all the paths on Lamma, it certainly won't work here."

Then again, Bowen Road "has no real community to help. We've never caught the poisoner there because we never really had community help. With the much-stronger community on Lamma, I think we have a chance. You look after each other and love dogs. You understand the importance of this, as do we. We can succeed, but only if the community sticks together and helps. Perhaps we can catch this person. Perhaps! But the police can't do it alone.

"That's why we're here tonight � because we need you guys to help us. We need you to come forward, maybe with details about people you know who've said things, perhaps about dogs fouling their environment, or people who showed noticeable anger about dogs�. We need for the community to give us active information about your dogs and what you see when out walking them. Information given to us will be in confidence, and how we act on it will be in confidence."

If people notice suspicious behavior and believe they see the poisoner in action, they shouldn't pick up suspected poison or assault the culprit. Fisticuffs could lead to injuries or assault charges even for concerned citizens. "If you lay hands on someone, you may end up in court yourself," Taylor said. Other tactics will work better:

notice the suspect's identity or appearance and report the details to police;
follow the person while telephoning the police (maybe even using the 999 emergency number) and direct them for an arrest; or
photograph the suspicious individual and behavior.

Anyone finding meat near a pathway should stay there to stop dogs or people from touching it and call the police to collect the evidence. "As long as there are no other urgent cases, like robbery, an officer will go straight to the site," Mak said.

Taylor noticed glares and glum looks in the crowd. "I know it's extremely frustrating," he said. "I've been seeing people's faces drop when they think �you're not doing this, not doing that, not doing the other'. But the information we've had is very recent. We've started people moving, got crime-officers involved and done a sweep. We're not dragging our feet and really want to get on with this, but we can't act on anything except hard evidence, which takes time for us to get together. And we'll only get it with your help. It's very early days of the investigation. Maybe you're going to have to bear with us for a considerable time."

Immediately after the police-led meeting, an even larger group of dog-owners and concerned citizens gathered at nearby Diesels Bar. Chaotic and emotional, the second meeting also reflected the fury of pet-owners that many dogs have died and all others face a dire danger. Often several people spoke simultaneously, yelling to be heard.

Visibly worried, the villagers debated several plans, including organizing regular foot patrols to watch for the poisoner or tainted meat, chasing more media attention and putting up "wanted" posters to seek information and frighten off the culprit. Many attendees signed a pledge to contribute money as a reward (initially pegged at HK$30,000) to anyone supplying information that leads to an arrest. The dog owners plan to meet again on October 13.

People dearly love their pets. Obviously, anyone who unfairly kills dogs, no matter how cunning the method, makes enemies very quickly.

"Everyone loves their dogs," Taylor said. "Firemen love their dogs. Police officers love their dogs. We empathize."

Final Wag:
A surprising moment happened just before the dog-protection meeting arranged by the police. As people arrived at the Lamma North Rural Committee Building, a mobile phone belonging to one of the organizers burst into music to announce an incoming call. What song did it play? It was "Puppy Love".