SHANGHAI (SCMP): A dog owner in Shanghai was ordered by a court to pay 90,000 yuan (US$12,600) in compensation to a pregnant woman who suffered a miscarriage after the pet jumped up at her.
The 41-year-old woman became pregnant after undergoing multiple in vitro fertilisation (IVF) surgeries over three years, according to the Shanghai Morning Post.
The incident occurred earlier this year while the expectant mother, surnamed Yan, was walking through her residential community to collect a package from the courier station.
Suddenly, a golden retriever bolted out of a building and bounded towards her.
Yan was startled and stepped back, injuring her back in the process. She also immediately felt something in her waist and lower abdomen.
The police were called, and officers responded 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.
“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,” Yan said.
“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,” she added.
Following the incident, Yan filed a lawsuit against Li. The court ruled in her favour, 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 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.
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 said it was reasonable for a woman more than 15 weeks pregnant to walk near her home.
The court determined that Yan’s miscarriage resulted from being frightened by Li’s dog, which should have been on a lead. As a result, Yan’s request for compensation from Li was upheld.
The case garnered significant attention, being viewed 110 million times on Weibo, igniting a heated online debate about the issue of dogs not being leashed in public spaces.
One internet user expressed disbelief, stating: “It astounded me that this pet owner remained indifferent when seeing his dog jump on a pregnant woman.”
Another commenter sympathised with Yan, saying: “Poor woman. It will be difficult for her to get pregnant again.” - South China Morning Post
