A magistrate court in Mumbai sentenced a man to three years in prison after his pet Rottweiler bit his 72-year-old relative three times in 2010. The elderly man suffered severe injuries to his arm and leg.
On May 30, 2010, Santacruz businessman Cyrus Percy Hormusji (44) and his relative Kersi Irani (44) were arguing on the street about a property dispute. They were standing near Hormusji’s car, which was accompanied by a Rottweiler and a Labrador. Hormusji let the dogs out, and one of them attacked Irani.
According to the court, Hormusji was aware of the aggressiveness of the dog breed and it was his responsibility to ensure the safety of others in the dog’s vicinity. Hormusji was found guilty of ‘negligent conduct with regard to animal’ by the court.
The court in its order said, “The informant is 72 years and at such old age, a strong and aggressive dog attacked him. When a grown-up person like the accused was going to a public place with such an aggressive dog, if reasonable care (is) not taken, it is certainly harmful to the public. Therefore, in cases where there is the question of public safety, leniency is unwarranted.”
