Unleashed Dog Suddenly Dashes Out and Startles Couple; Boyfriend Protects Girlfriend by Throwing Dog and Slapping Owner

A woman in China took her dog to wander around Changsha Wanda Plaza without a leash. The dog suddenly dashed out and startled a passing couple. When the woman refused to apologize, a dispute broke out between the two parties. The man, in a fit of anger, grabbed the pet dog and threw it to the ground, and then slapped the female owner, at one point appearing to make a gesture as if to throw the dog off the upper floor.

According to “Sing Tao Daily,” the incident occurred on July 17 at Changsha Wanda Cinema. A woman in a black dress took her white pet dog shopping in the mall, never using a leash the entire time. The pet dog suddenly darted out, frightening the girlfriend of a man dressed in white. The man demanded an apology from the owner, which was refused, and the two sides soon erupted into a dispute. The female owner claimed her dog was gentle by nature and accused the other party of making a fuss over nothing. As the argument escalated, the man in white, furious, grabbed the dog and directly slammed it to the ground. During the struggle, the man also slapped the female owner, who stood in place and cried after being hit. In other video footage, the man is seen grabbing the dog and walking toward the railing, seemingly intending to throw the dog off the upper floor.

It is reported that both parties were later taken to the police station for mediation.

The incident, once footage was exposed, drew sharply divided reactions online. Many netizens believed that while the female dog owner was at fault for not using a leash, the man's public acts of throwing the dog and hitting the woman went far beyond the scope of self-defense. Others commented that with so many children in the mall, bringing a dog in without a leash is inherently risky, and they called for legislation to raise the standard for pet ownership and to strictly punish both uncivilized pet keeping and animal abuse.

Chinese media also reminded the public that responsible pet ownership is a legal duty of the owner. When walking a dog in public spaces such as malls, roads, or communities, a leash must be used at all times, and pets should not be brought into restricted venues. In case of disputes, reacting impulsively with violence will only make oneself liable, turning a victim into a lawbreaker who may face both civil compensation and administrative penalties.