Real Madrid footballer Ferland Mendy faces a legal process for a crime of injuries following his mastiff's attack in January 2023. The animal escaped from his home in Alcobendas, bit a 17-year-old teenager in the leg, and attacked two other dogs, one of which had to be euthanized. The dog lacked a microchip and insurance, which aggravates the owner's responsibility.
Canine control: security systems and geolocation for pets 🐾
Current technology allows preventing such incidents through virtual fences with GPS and smart collars that alert the owner if the pet leaves a safe perimeter. Systems like mandatory microchips and liability insurance are basic management tools. Implementing an electronic enclosure with motion sensors and automatic doors reduces the risk of escapes. Mendy's case shows that technical prevention is cheaper than compensation or criminal proceedings.
Mendy's mastiff: a defender who didn't ask for permission 🐶
The footballer's dog showed more initiative than some Real Madrid defenders: it decided to go out into the street without consulting. Too bad its target wasn't a rival striker, but a minor and two dogs. The mastiff, without a microchip or insurance, acted like a free agent in the worst sense. Now Mendy will learn that in Spain, dogs don't have a release clause, but they do have owners who answer to the law.