A 74-year-old man from China’s Sichuan province poisoned his entire family after feeding them wild mushrooms he had first tested on his pet dog. The dog escaped unhurt, but the family had to be hospitalised, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.
The man, identified only by his son’s surname Jiang, found several clusters of white, slippery mushrooms on his herb farm on July 13. Despite knowing the risks associated with wild fungi, he was reluctant to discard them. Instead, he cooked the mushrooms and fed them to his dog, hoping to find out if they were safe.
After observing the dog for two days and noticing only a lack of appetite, Jiang senior assumed the mushrooms were safe. He then served it to his wife and son, who ate only a small portion since they doubted it.
Three hours later, all three developed nausea and diarrhoea and were rushed to the hospital, where they underwent stomach pumping. It was only then that the family realised the dog’s symptoms had been a sign of mushroom poisoning.
The incident drew sharp criticism online, with many users condemning the man’s decision to use his pet as a test subject. “It is the price they paid for not respecting animal life,” one user commented. Another asked, “Do they not have feelings for their pet dog?”
Wild mushroom poisoning remains a serious health risk in China, where foraging is common in rural areas. Experts warn that even mushrooms resembling edible varieties can be toxic and should never be consumed without proper identification.
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