A text message I received on Sat:

"Lesley's beloved dog, Jack, died in the Wanchai Vet Clinic last night.Dr Mike Hilditch is deeply concerned. He says that whatever this poison is, it poses a very serious risk to humans too and could be absorbed through the skin.

Please get the word out to all the parents you know. This situation is already so ghastly, we must try to ensure a child doesn't get harmed.<HR>
Unfortunately, outbreaks like this one seem to happen every number of years on Lamma. Here's a photo gallery I published for the Lamma Animal Protection:
Poisoned Pets - In Memoriam (Photos by LAP, Sep 30, 2003)
<HR>
A Chinese version of this poster below would be strongly recommended and will become available tonight.

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Poster in Chinese is done and out. Please, please i need all your support on Thursday. LETS STAND TOGETHER AND SORT THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some facts about paraquat you folks might want to know before coming to the meeting.

1. Toxic effects ( excerpted from http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Actives/paraquat.htm )

Paraquat is highly toxic to animals and has serious and irreversible delayed effects if absorbed. As little as one teaspoonful of the active ingredient is fatal. Death occurs up to 30 days after ingestion. Absorbed paraquat is distributed via the bloodstream to practically all areas of the body. The lungs selectively accumulate paraquat, and therefore contain higher concentrations than other tissues. This develops into pulmonary oedema and other lung damage, leading to fibrosis. Liver damage occurs and renal failure may follow as the kidneys remove absorbed paraquat.
Paraquat is also toxic if absorbed through the skin. The minimum lethal dose by oral ingestion in human beings is about 35 mg/kg body weight, although less could be lethal without treatment. In dogs the lethal dose is 25-50 mg/kg and in cows and sheep 50-75 mg/kg(7). There is no vapour toxicity, but it can cause nose bleeding if inhaled.
No antidote for poisoning exists although it is recommended that the highly absorbent Fuller's Earth is administered. Hospital care must be sought without delay.


2. General Facts & Immediate Signs & Symptoms ( excerpted from CDC website)

-In the United States, due to its toxicity, paraquat is available for use only by commercially licensed users.

-Paraquat can be easily mixed with food, water, or other beverages. If the form of paraquat that is used is the form that does not contain the safeguard additives (dye, odor, and vomiting agent), people might not know that the food, water, or other beverages are contaminated. Eating or drinking paraquat-contaminated food or beverages could poison people.

-Paraquat poisoning is also possible after skin exposure. Poisoning is more likely to occur if the skin exposure lasts for a long time, involves a concentrated version of paraquat, or occurs through skin that is not intact (skin that has sores, cuts, or a severe rash).

-If it is inhaled, paraquat could cause poisoning leading to lung damage.

-In case of a large amount of ingestion:
pain and swelling of the mouth and throat -> nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea (which may become bloody) -> dehydration & low blood pressure
* Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
* Lung scarring
* Liver failure
* Kidney failure
* Confusion
* Coma
* Seizures
* Injury to the heart
* Fast heart rate
* Muscle weakness
* Respiratory (breathing) failure, possibly leading to death

-In case of a small to medium amount of ingestion:
* Liver failure
* Kidney failure
* Heart failure
* Lung scarring (may evolve over several weeks)
will develop within several days to several weeks.

If... you think your dog has come in contact with paraquat,
FIRST, DISPOSE EVERYTHING THAT WAS ON HIM/HER, chain, clothes, leash, name tag, everything.
As quickly as possible, wash any liquid paraquat from his/her skin with large amounts of soap and water. Washing with soap and water will help protect people as well from any chemicals on their bodies.

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Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

I've just received these bilingual notices below both from the Lamma police and the District Council for posting in this forum.

Not sure how welcome (or not) these are to dog owners, but at least they explain the relevant laws and regulations....

Senior Inspector Poon writes that the "Police is carrying investigation into the above incident with a special team from Crime HQ of Cheung Chau Police Station.
They will interview all the witnesses to the cases as to establish the facts. At the same time, we will display notices to remind dogs owners to exercise proper control of their pets. We'll also arrange a forum to discuss the matter with locals at the office of the North Lamma Rural Committee [opposite HSBC] possibly in the evening on 2011-10-06 (Thursday). We will keep you informed when everything is fixed up. "

Not sure yet if this is supposed to compete with the Diesel's meeting on Thu evening or if they can combine the meetings, ideally. The Rural Committee office is pretty nice and comfy, so maybe it would be a good venue for the "official" part of the meeting before continuing in Diesel's afterwards?

There's also a Reward Pledge form for catching the dog killer that'll be circulated on Thursday by the Diesel's meeting organiser(s).

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Call from our Lamma Police Chief, SI Philip Kwok:

They're going ahead with a separate, "official" meeting about this issue at 7pm on Thursday in the Rural Committee Bldg, upstairs in the conference room, together with the SPCA and other parties to explain the facts so far and collect more info from dog owners. Bilingual posters to follow soon.

They police didn't consider it appropriate to join the meeting in a bar, but as it's at least one hour before the 8pm Diesel's meeting, it's actually quite good timing.

Get the "official" facts first and then move to Diesel's to discuss what actions to take about them....

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The police's notice is ridiculous.
I think their duty is to arrest the dog killer, but they have shifted the focus asking people to control their dogs.

Btw, I wonder if people remember that district councilor Yu Lai Fan has ever posted a banner with her tips to ask owner to "make your dog become lovely"?

Why didn't they post the regulation on killing and poisoning of dogs?

You mean this banner?



It basically says the same as the police notice, but that "Gentle Reminder" sounds so, so, so ... motherly! Almost like, "You naughty boys and girls, put your dogs on a leash!"

Well, let's ask the police about the exact regulations and punishment for dog killers....

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