How much responsibility do pet owners really bear?

A dog hit by a car in Corfu has prompted a broader question: how far does responsibility extend for people who keep pets?

The incident involved a dog described by the deputy mayor for civil protection as a household pet belonging to the family living in the house in front of the scene. Yet the animal was on the road, where it was struck by a driver who said she had been careless.

The commentary argues that responsibility cannot depend on the limits owners choose for themselves. Dogs with collars, microchips and owners are still allowed to roam freely, the writer says, exposing them to the risk of being killed or causing harm. In his view, a guardian’s legal responsibility should follow from the decision to take on that role, whether the failure comes through an action or an omission.

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The dog was a pet and belonged to the family living in the house in front of which the incident occurred.

The author compares this with the way responsibility for minors gradually came to be assigned to adults rather than simply excusing parents for their children’s actions. He says lawmakers may eventually recognize that animals, like children, depend on their guardians and that owners should be accountable for what happens when they fail to protect them.

The conclusion is blunt: if the dog in Corfu had been inside the yard where it belonged, it would still be alive.

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The law requires responsibility for every illegal act to be assigned to the people capable of bearing it.