A 38-year-old woman in China lost her life after being knocked off her electric scooter by a large dog that suddenly ran onto a road, in a tragic incident that has sparked outrage over irresponsible pet ownership.
The victim, identified only as Ms Zhang from Handan, Hebei Province, was on her way to work on the morning of July 20 last year when disaster struck. According to her family, the dog suddenly charged onto the roadway without warning, colliding with her scooter and causing her to crash heavily onto the ground.
Ms Zhang’s sister, who was riding another electric scooter nearby, recalled the terrifying moment. She said the dog appeared to dart out “as if it had gone mad”, leaving her sister with no time to react. The impact threw Ms Zhang onto the road, where she suffered severe head injuries. Despite medical efforts, she later died from her injuries.
Investigations later revealed that the dog was a Greyhound-type hunting dog allegedly owned by a local villager surnamed Shi. Reports indicated Shi was walking the dog at the time of the incident and had failed to keep it on a leash. Witnesses claimed he initially admitted ownership of the animal but allegedly changed his story shortly before paramedics arrived, insisting the dog did not belong to him.
In a shocking twist, Shi allegedly killed the dog several days after the incident and dumped its body into an abandoned village well. The victim’s husband, assisted by others, reportedly spent hours retrieving the carcass from the well. Police later confirmed that Shi was indeed the owner of the dog involved in the collision. CCTV footage reportedly showed him walking the animal regularly without a leash.
Authorities opened an investigation into Ms Zhang’s death on August 13 last year. Shi was questioned on suspicion of causing death through negligence and was later released on bail pending further action. While mediation attempts were organised by officials, Ms Zhang’s family rejected any settlement and continued to demand criminal accountability.
The tragedy deepened months later when Ms Zhang’s husband suffered a brainstem haemorrhage after spending months pursuing the case. He remains unconscious in hospital. Family members said Ms Zhang had been the main breadwinner, working on construction sites to support the household while her husband cared for their three children.
Today, the couple’s children, including an eight-year-old daughter, are being looked after by elderly relatives. With both parents no longer able to provide for the family, the household has been left without a stable source of income, turning an already devastating loss into an ongoing struggle for survival.
The case has reignited public debate over pet owner responsibility, particularly the dangers posed by large dogs being allowed in public areas without proper restraint.
