Draft to define liability on animal attacks

Owners of unsupervised pets that injure people will be responsible for compensating the victims, according to the latest draft law submitted to the top legislature for a third reading yesterday.

The draft tort liability law, designed to ensure that people are compensated when their civil rights are infringed, has new sections that draw a clearer line about who should be responsible in the event of an animal attack, Zhang Bailin, vice-chairman of the NPC Law Committee, said while briefing lawmakers.

The draft stipulates that animals' owners or managers will be held responsible if they have not adopted safety measures to keep their pets from attacking others, Zhang said.