Gonçalo Amaral referenced the shih tzu episode in his book.

[pegasus]

If as you think the pet had been 'killed as a warning' why should that be linked to Madeleine's case?

Of those with a connection to Madeleine, who would know where the Amaral residence was other than perhaps a locally based criminal ... and don't forget that Dr Amaral had worked against organised crime and drug dealers for many years.
So is it the suggestion that the perpetrators ... who must by definition be local criminals ... killed the dog?

I think the significance of what he has written is in relation to the rather belated realisation of just how difficult it would have been to dispose of a child's body, and perhaps a regret there hadn't been a more diligent search of the PDL bins which had been emptied on schedule after Madeleine's disappearance.

It is elementary to find a person's address, for example by following home from work one day.

[Eleanor]

But the reason he drove home was because his wife had phoned him and told him the dog was dead.

The night before.  He could have hit the dog then.

[slartibartfast]

The night before.  He could have hit the dog then.

That is pure conjecture which appears to be for the sole purpose of portraying GA badly.

[Eleanor]

That is pure conjecture which appears to be for the sole purpose of portraying GA badly.

Speculation.  This is what everyone is doing.

And why should accidentally hitting his dog in the dark portray him badly?

[Benice]

I don't think for a minute that there was any 'dirty dealings' going on with the dog, but his method of disposing of a much loved family pet left a lot to be desired IMO.   I wonder what he told his children?

[Eleanor]

I would prefer to think it was an accident.  And much more likely.

But I don't believe that Sofia was frightened by it.  That would be ridiculous.  She had been a Policeman's Wife for five years, with him catching drug runners.

[pegasus]

I would prefer to think it was an accident.  And much more likely.

But I don't believe that Sofia was frightened by it.  That would be ridiculous.  She had been a Policeman's Wife for five years, with him catching drug runners.

I would be frightened after finding my dog dead from an unexplained head injury.
I certainly would not dismiss it with an "oh dear I found my dog dead from an unexplained head injury, oh well, never mind, these things happen."

Am I imagining it or at a later date was Mr Amaral's neighbour burgled? - can anyone remember the source for that?

[Eleanor]

I would be frightened after finding my dog dead from an unexplained head injury.
I certainly would not dismiss it with an "oh dear I found my dog dead from an unexplained head injury, oh well, never mind, these things happen."

Am I imagining it or at a later date was Mr Amaral's neighbour burgled? - can anyone remember the source for that?

Dogs do get hit by cars.  And they do die.  And the cars don't always stop or report it.  Nothing strange about it at all.

[ferryman]

I don't think for a minute that there was any 'dirty dealings' going on with the dog, but his method of disposing of a much loved family pet left a lot to be desired IMO.   I wonder what he told his children?

The key point about that, apparent, anecdote is that it was the springboard and inspiration of Amaral's supposition about what Gerry, allegedly, did with the body of Madeleine ...

[pegasus]

... Amaral could have run over the dog himself the night before....

That would be like claiming Mitchell could have tried to hack his own voicemail.
Both those wild suppositions are theoretically possible, but unlikely to be correct.

[DCI]

That would be like claiming Mitchell could have tried to hack his own voicemail.
Both those wild suppositions are theoretically possible, but unlikely to be correct.

What has Clarence Mitchell got to do with Amaral's dog being killed?

[pegasus]

What has Clarence Mitchell got to do with Amaral's dog being killed?

Nothing.
It was a critique of the IMO impossible suggestion above that Mr Amaral might have ran over his own dog 24 or so hours before his wife found it.