Dog survives brush with Black's Link poisoner
The Mid-Levels serial dog poisoner, who has eluded police capture for about 16 years, has struck again, a pet owner warned yesterday after her dog narrowly escaped death.
The offender apparently managed to return to Black's Link and hide chicken laced with poison, despite efforts by police and a $50,000 reward for information leading to the culprit's capture.
Ivanka Bozinovic-Pearson yesterday told how her seven-year-old dog fell ill after eating chicken meat laced with poison in Black's Link about 1pm on Sunday.
She was walking with her husband, pet Ginger, their friends and two other dogs when she saw her dog eat something in the grass. The other two dogs sniffed the food but did not eat it.
She pulled her pet away and found a handful of chicken meat mixed with a purple chemical.
Mrs Bozinovic-Pearson said her dog did not react immediately. 'Within half an hour, she started dripping from her mouth and showing signs of poisoning.
'She was wobbling on her feet. She could stand but could not walk. She looked like a drunken person.'
When their worst fears were confirmed the couple rushed Ginger to a Stanley vet who saved its life.
Mrs Bozinovic-Pearson picked up all the remaining meat and took it to the vet, who told her the poison was very strong.
She reported the incident at the Happy Valley police station.
Police said it was the first such case since April this year, when two labradors had died after eating poisoned meat in Black's Link.
Police said they would conduct a thorough search to ensure no other poisoned bait had been put down.
'The dog poisoner usually struck two or three times a year. The trail of toxic meat has previously been found in Black's Link, Comb Road and Bowen Road,' an officer said. 'On one occasion, our officers found five packs of meat laced with poison in Mid-Levels.'
Mrs Bozinovic-Pearson said: 'They [police] know the poisoner is back. Perhaps it's time to step up their action.'
Her vet told her pet owners should carry a bottle of very salty water that could make their pets vomit in case of poisoning.
At least 20 dogs have died of poisoning in the Black's Link area since 1989 and up to 200 more have fallen ill. Efforts to catch the killer have proved fruitless. The only reported witness, lawyer Jonathan Midgely, in 1995 described seeing a balding Asian man in his mid-40s acting suspiciously in the area.
recent baits
June 1, 2004 Two Labradors are saved after eating poisoned chicken meat on Black's Link
June 2, 2004 A man finds poisoned chicken meat on Black's Link
July 8, 2004 A woman finds piles of poisoned meat on Bowen Road
April 13, 2005 Two Labradors die after eating poisoned meat on Black's Link
April 15, 2005 A Labrador eats poisoned chicken on Black's Link, but the dog is saved by its owner
