In a decision sure to make canine lovers rejoice and veterinarians cringe, Fort Worth’s 2nd Court of Appeals has ruled that value can be attached to the love of a dog, overruling a 120-year-old case in which the Texas Supreme Court held that plaintiffs can only recover for the market value of their pets.
On Nov. 3, the 2nd Court ruled in Kathryn and Jeremy Medlen v. Carla Strickland that dog owners can recover damages from a defendant based on the “sentimental value” related to the loss of their pet — a decision the defendant’s lawyer argues could create new causes of action against vets.
