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A court in Shanghai has ordered a dog owner to pay 90,000 yuan (US$12,600) to a pregnant woman who miscarried after being startled by his unleashed dog. The 41-year-old woman, surnamed Yan, had struggled for three years with IVF treatments to conceive, making the loss even more devastating.
The incident occurred earlier this year when Yan was walking in her residential area to pick up a package. A golden retriever, owned by a man surnamed Li, suddenly ran towards her, causing her to step back in shock and injure her back. Soon after, she felt pain in her waist and abdomen.
Yan was taken to the hospital where, tragically, doctors were unable to detect a heartbeat from the fetus. Yan, who was nearly four months pregnant, expressed her heartbreak: "After the dog frightened me, I felt pain, and sadly, my baby could not be saved."
Yan filed a lawsuit against Li, who admitted the dog was not on a leash but claimed it was an assistance dog for the visually impaired and posed no threat. He also suggested Yan should have been more cautious given her pregnancy. However, the court ruled in favor of Yan, stating that the dog should have been leashed as required by China’s Animal Epidemic Prevention Law.
The case sparked widespread debate on Chinese social media, with many sympathizing with Yan’s loss. One netizen commented, “It’s shocking that the pet owner didn’t react when his dog startled a pregnant woman.” Another added, “This poor woman went through so much, only to lose her baby like this.”
The court emphasized that a pregnant woman walking near her home should be able to feel safe, and Li’s failure to control his dog had directly caused Yan’s tragic miscarriage.
Source: SCMP
