A Polish court ordered a dog owner to pay 15,000 PLN in compensation after his large dog escaped through an open gate and attacked a woman.
Incident Details
The attack occurred when a woman was taking her child to kindergarten while walking her own dog. A large dog escaped through an open gate left by the property owner and attacked her. The victim suffered multiple open wounds to her wrist and hand, as well as a fractured finger that required surgical treatment.
Compensation Dispute
The case went to criminal court, which found the dog owner at fault and initially awarded the victim 7,000 PLN in compensation. An appellate court reviewing the appeal found this amount too low and increased it to 15,000 PLN, though not to the 96,000 PLN the woman had requested. The appellate court considered both physical injuries and the stress experienced by the woman due to the attack on her dog in front of her minor son.
Owner Responsibility Established
The court emphasized that while the owner had the right to keep the dog on his property, he failed to provide proper supervision and ensure the property was properly secured. The court cited Article 10a, paragraph 3 of the Animal Protection Act, which prohibits releasing dogs without proper control and identification markings, except when on properly secured private property.
Municipal Regulations Cited
The court referenced the municipality’s cleanliness and order regulations, which require pet owners to take precautions to protect people and animals, provide proper care, and not leave animals unsupervised. The regulations specify that dogs must be leashed or muzzled in public areas. The court concluded the owner failed to secure his property properly, leaving escape routes open and leaving a large dog unattended.
