In a bizarre incident in New Taipei City's San Chung District, a cat kept as a "public relations cat" at a local store suddenly turned aggressive and attacked a passing dog, leading to a lawsuit between the pet owners. The cat, known for being friendly, became enraged when it saw a woman walking her Shiba Inu past the store. The cat rushed out and swiped at the dog, causing the dog's owner to be scratched while trying to protect her pet.
The dog's owner subsequently filed a complaint against the cat's owner, alleging injury. However, the situation escalated when the dog owner's boyfriend retaliated by kicking the cat, prompting the cat's owner to file a counter-complaint for property damage.
The Animal Protection Office investigated the incident by reviewing surveillance footage, which showed the cat's swift and aggressive attack. The cat's owner explained that the cat had never bitten anyone before and likely attacked because it felt its territory was being invaded. Despite the cat's owner quickly capturing it with a net, the damage had already been done, and the dog walker had been injured.
The Animal Protection Office fined the cat's owner NT$3,000 for failing to provide adequate measures to control the cat's actions in a public area, as per New Taipei City's Animal Protection Autonomy Ordinance. The office also warned the owner to better manage the cat's behavior, with potential fines of up to NT$15,000 for future violations.
