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Wong Sing-fat's 50kg Tibetan mastiff, Kobe. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Hong Kong dog owner whose 50kg Tibetan mastiff mauled woman must pay HK$643,057 compensation

JULIE CHU

A dog owner has been hit with a HK$643,057 compensation bill for allowing his 50kg Tibetan mastiff to cause serious injuries to a woman.

The High Court case centre on Wong Sing-fat’s dog Kobe, which mauled Pun Tung-king at Wai Tau village in Tai Po on October, 2011.

Pun told the court she suffered multiple bite wounds to both her legs, including one 10cm cut. She spent 18 days in hospital and had since required physiotherapy, psychological and psychiatric treatment.

Read more: 'It rushed at me like a tiger' - woman seeks HK$1.4 million for dog attack

In his judgment, Mr Justice Anthony To Kwai-fung wrote: “From now on, [Wong] should understand when he takes Kobe to a public place, he bears the duty of care of other users in the area.”

The court had heard that Wong’s Indonesian helper, Sofiah, was walking the dog on the night of the attack, but failed to keep hold of the belt that was linked to the dog’s collar. Sofiah said the dog was just too powerful, and that she fell as she tried to pull Kobe back.

Pun, who worked in her husband’s restaurant, said her injuries left her unable to stand for a long time, limiting the work she could do.

“To a dog lover like [Wong], Kobe is a lovely strong dog,” the judge wrote. “But for [Pun], she found the dog a ferocious black monster.”

He believed Pun’s fear of dogs was real and accepted experts’ opinions that she lost 2 to 5 per cent of her earning capacity. He ruled Wong had to compensate Pun for her suffering and her financial loss.

He added, “[Wong] allowed a big dog to enter a public place. It is foreseeable that it could be dangerous to people and small animals in the area. There is no doubt he has to bear responsibility of the duty of care to others.”

Wong admitted a charge of walking a dog without a leash and was fined HK$1,000 at Fanling Court in 2012 in relation to the incident.

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