Dog Owner Sued After Unleashed Pet Causes Pharmacy Clerk to Suffer Permanent Disability

The Liangping District Court in Chongqing ruled in June 2025 that Gu, a dog owner, must compensate employee Long 100,000 yuan (approximately $14,000) for injuries sustained in a 2023 incident involving her Pomeranian. The court determined that Gu’s failure to leash the dog contributed to the accident, which left Long with a tenth-level disability, the lowest severity classification under China’s injury compensation system.

The incident occurred in September 2023 when Gu entered a pharmacy with her unleashed Pomeranian. Employee Long, attempting to avoid the dog, stepped back and collided with the animal, which startled her. The impact caused Long to strike a medicine cabinet, resulting in facial injuries that required medical treatment. A court document cited by Sina Finance stated that Long’s injuries were classified as a tenth-level disability, entitling her to compensation under China’s Work Injury Insurance Regulations.

Legal Proceedings and Court Ruling

The case emerged after Long and Gu failed to reach a mutual agreement on damages. Long filed a civil lawsuit in 2024, alleging negligence on Gu’s part for not securing her pet. The court’s June 2025 ruling emphasized that while the dog did not directly bite or attack Long, its presence in the pharmacy without restraint created a foreseeable risk. “The owner’s duty to prevent harm extends beyond direct physical contact,” the judgment noted, citing local animal control ordinances.

Gu’s legal team argued that the dog’s behavior was not aggressive and that Long’s actions—backing into the animal—were the primary cause of the accident. However, the court ruled that the absence of a leash violated public safety regulations, making Gu partially liable. The compensation amount was calculated based on Long’s medical expenses, lost wages, and the tenth-level disability rating, which typically corresponds to a 10% reduction in work capacity under Chinese law.

Public Reaction and Broader Implications

The case has sparked debate about pet ownership responsibilities in public spaces. Sina Finance reported that netizens on Weibo criticized Gu’s actions, with many emphasizing the need for stricter leash laws. “Even if the dog doesn’t bite, its presence can cause accidents,” one user wrote. Conversely, some argued that Long’s response—backing into the animal—was reckless, highlighting the complexities of human-animal interactions in confined areas.

The ruling aligns with broader trends in Chinese jurisprudence, where courts have increasingly held pet owners accountable for indirect harms. In 2022, a similar case in Hangzhou saw a dog owner fined for allowing their pet to roam freely in a supermarket, resulting in a customer’s fall. Legal experts note that such cases reflect evolving interpretations of liability in urban environments, where pets are common but regulations remain inconsistent.