How to claim compensation for stray dog bite
A court in Volgograd ordered the city administration to pay 30,000 rubles ($330 at current rates) as compensation for moral damages after a stray dog bite. The mother of the injured teenager obtained the ruling following an attack last fall.
“The child was walking with a classmate in the evening. Three dogs were nearby. One of them suddenly ran up from behind and bit him on the calf, piercing the skin,” the mother, who wished to remain anonymous, told the court. The incident occurred near a store on 8th Air Army Street, where, according to the woman, stray dogs have been gathering for about ten years.
After visiting a trauma center, the victim’s side filed a complaint with the prosecutor’s office. The agency initiated a court case, initially seeking recovery from the municipal budgetary institution “Severnoye.” The court, after reviewing the case, placed responsibility directly on the Volgograd administration.
Instructions from a lawyer
Attorney Roman Grebennikov, owner of the law firm Spartak, explained the steps necessary to claim compensation.
- Immediate medical attention. Visiting a trauma center is mandatory for rabies prevention and documenting injuries. Keep all medical certificates and prescriptions. Also, record the scene, photograph wounds, and collect witness contacts.
- Identify the responsible party. The proper defendant is the city administration, as it is responsible for the safety of the urban environment and organizing the capture of stray animals, in accordance with Article 230 of the Civil Code and Federal Law No. 498.
- Contact the prosecutor’s office. The most effective route is to write a statement to the district prosecutor’s office at the location of the incident. The prosecutor will conduct an investigation and may file a lawsuit in court to protect the victim’s interests, saving the victim from handling the process independently.
- Justify moral harm. In the statement of claim, emphasize the moral and physical suffering (Article 151 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation). This includes pain from the bite and subsequent injections, fright, development of phobias, and increased anxiety.
The lawyer noted that the fact of being bitten by a stray animal is itself a basis for demanding compensation and confirms the authorities’ inaction, so proving the administration’s fault separately is not required.
The problem of stray dogs in Volgograd is systemic. According to Rospotrebnadzor (the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing), about 30 people in the region suffer from bites or saliva contact with stray animals daily. However, far from all seek judicial protection.
This is not the first case where Volgograd residents have obtained compensation through the courts. For example, several years ago, the city administration was ordered to pay two teenagers 50,000 rubles ($550 at current rates) each after similar incidents.
