On Oct. 29, the alleged abuser in the now infamous “Puppy Doe” case was arraigned in Quincy, Mass., with bail set at $500,000 on charges of beating a female pit bull so badly that it had to be euthanized. And last month, the Massachusetts Appeals Court heard an appeal of a judgment awarding $8,608.05 to the plaintiff for injuries sustained when the defendants’ unleashed German shepherd violently attacked the plaintiff’s bichon frise — in its own yard.
At issue in both cases is the monetary figures and whether they are “excessive.” It is an important point, and one that could affect another high-profile animal rights case currently in process. Nestlé Purina PetCare recently lost an attempt to dismiss a $5 million class action filed against the company alleging that its treats made hundreds of dogs sick or fatally ill and may have poisoned many others. It’s likely that, should the case continue to move forward, the size of the claim will come into question.
