A man residing in Sichuan, China, faced significant criticism on social media for a concerning incident. The man subjected his pet dog to a cruel test, attempting to determine if wild mushrooms growing in his field were poisonous. He fed the dog the mushrooms to assess their safety.
After the dog showed no adverse effects from eating the mushrooms, the man then fed the same mushrooms to his family. Within hours, the family members fell ill and required hospitalization. It’s noteworthy that the dog had stopped eating after consuming the mushrooms.
Prior to consumption, the man wanted to be certain of the mushrooms’ safety. He discovered wild mushrooms in his herb garden. He brought them home but aimed to verify they were not poisonous before eating them. The man’s son, Jiang, explained to Chinese news outlets that the mushrooms resembled termite mushrooms, which are available in local stores. However, as these were wild, there was a chance they could be toxic. Driven by a desire not to waste them, the man devised a plan. He cooked the mushrooms and fed them to his dog to test for toxicity.
The man observed the dog for two days, anticipating any health issues. But, there were no apparent effects, only a reduced appetite. The dog stopped eating. Although the family had reservations, they decided to use the mushrooms. The man prepared the mushrooms for his wife and son. Hesitant, they consumed only a small amount. Within two to three hours, both experienced nausea and diarrhea. They were promptly taken to a hospital, where doctors attributed their condition to mushroom poisoning. Doctors performed gastric lavage to remove any traces of the mushrooms. Jiang then realized that while the dog didn’t show immediate signs of poisoning, it had ceased eating since the meal.
The man received harsh criticism online for using his pet dog in this manner. It’s important to note that China lacks comprehensive laws to address animal cruelty.
