Handler found liable for bigger dogs' attack on spitz

Case underlines the importance of taking precautions when walking dogs in a public place

- K.C. Vijayan

A district court found a dog handler liable for damages in a case where his two larger animals bolted off the leash and attacked a smaller dog being taken for a walk.

Dr Joanne Lim, the owner of the smaller Japanese spitz, was also bitten when she tried to shield her dog from the attack on Nov 1, 2020, outside her house in the Upper Thomson area.

Dr Lim sued Mr Nigel Foo, the handler of a golden retriever and a rough collie, for negligence.

After mediation talks failed, a four-day trial followed in the State Courts earlier in 2022.

It is the first reported case here of a negligence lawsuit involving dogs. It underlined the importance to dog owners of taking precautions when walking their animals in a public space.

In his judgment grounds issued earlier this month, District Judge Clement Seah said: "It was imprudent for (Mr Foo) to have walked two large dogs on his own" without taking some of the precautionary measures he mentioned.