A dog owner in China has to pay 90,000 yuan (Rs 10,63,278.90) to a woman who suffered a miscarriage after his pet jumped up at her.
The Shanghai Court has asked the man to pay compensation for the physical and emotional distress caused during the encounter.
The 41-year-old woman, surnamed Yan, became pregnant after undergoing multiple in vitro fertilisation (IVF) surgeries over three years, according to the Shanghai Morning Post.
The incident took place when Yan was walking through her residential community to collect a package from the courier station. A golden retriever suddenly bolted out of a building and bounded towards her, causing her to step back and injure her back. She also felt pain in her waist and lower abdomen. The police were called to respond to the dispute between Yan and the dog’s owner, whose surname is Li.
Yan visited the hospital later that day and was kept overnight. The following morning, doctors could not detect a heartbeat from the fetus.
Li acknowledged that his golden retriever was not on a leash at the time, but asserted that the dog, being an assistance animal for the visually impaired, would not harm anyone. He also placed some blame on Yan, claiming that she should have exercised more caution knowing the risks associated with her pregnancy through IVF.
Yan filed a lawsuit against Li, and the court ruled in her favor, ordering him to pay 90,000 yuan for the physical and emotional distress caused during the encounter. Li acknowledged that his golden retriever was not on a leash at the time but claimed that the dog, being an assistance animal for the visually impaired, would not harm anyone. He also placed some blame on Yan, stating that she should have exercised more caution knowing the risks associated with her pregnancy through IVF.
Yan expressed her heartbreak, saying, “I’ve been pregnant for nearly four months. After the dog frightened me, I felt pain in my belly. I went to the hospital, but sadly my baby could not be saved.” She added, “It’s really hard for me to have this baby. I’ve had IVF treatment for three years. Now I have miscarried. I am heartbroken.”
Under China’s Animal Epidemic Prevention Law, pet owners are required to keep their dogs on leashes in public areas. Penalties for violations can include fines of up to 200 yuan (US$28), and if a dog injures someone, the owner is legally accountable for the damages. The court determined that Yan’s miscarriage resulted from being frightened by Li’s dog, which should have been on a lead, and upheld her request for compensation.
The Shanghai Court has asked the man to pay compensation for the physical and emotional distress caused during the encounter.
The 41-year-old woman, surnamed Yan, became pregnant after undergoing multiple in vitro fertilisation (IVF) surgeries over three years, according to the Shanghai Morning Post.
The incident took place when Yan was walking through her residential community to collect a package from the courier station. A golden retriever suddenly bolted out of a building and bounded towards her, causing her to step back and injure her back. She also felt pain in her waist and lower abdomen. The police were called to respond to the dispute between Yan and the dog’s owner, whose surname is Li.
Yan visited the hospital later that day and was kept overnight. The following morning, doctors could not detect a heartbeat from the fetus.
Li acknowledged that his golden retriever was not on a leash at the time, but asserted that the dog, being an assistance animal for the visually impaired, would not harm anyone. He also placed some blame on Yan, claiming that she should have exercised more caution knowing the risks associated with her pregnancy through IVF.
Yan filed a lawsuit against Li, and the court ruled in her favor, ordering him to pay 90,000 yuan for the physical and emotional distress caused during the encounter. Li acknowledged that his golden retriever was not on a leash at the time but claimed that the dog, being an assistance animal for the visually impaired, would not harm anyone. He also placed some blame on Yan, stating that she should have exercised more caution knowing the risks associated with her pregnancy through IVF.
Yan expressed her heartbreak, saying, “I’ve been pregnant for nearly four months. After the dog frightened me, I felt pain in my belly. I went to the hospital, but sadly my baby could not be saved.” She added, “It’s really hard for me to have this baby. I’ve had IVF treatment for three years. Now I have miscarried. I am heartbroken.”
Under China’s Animal Epidemic Prevention Law, pet owners are required to keep their dogs on leashes in public areas. Penalties for violations can include fines of up to 200 yuan (US$28), and if a dog injures someone, the owner is legally accountable for the damages. The court determined that Yan’s miscarriage resulted from being frightened by Li’s dog, which should have been on a lead, and upheld her request for compensation.