Mrs C was walking her elderly dog in an orchard in Kent when she was confronted by what she first thought was a bear but in fact turned out to be a Newfoundland puppy which had been let off the lead by its owner. The Newfoundland bounded over to Mrs C dog as it did bumped into Mrs C’s leg, breaking her knee. Liability was denied on the basis that this was a case where the Animals Act 1971 didn’t apply. Unusually the claim went all the way to Court and involved witness evidence from the dog behavioural experts and leading Newfoundland breeders. In what has now become a very important decision in animal injury law the judge found in favour of Mrs C and she received compensation in excess of £10,000 for her injuries.
Knocked Over by “Bounding Dog”
