02.09.2026 11:31
The lawsuit filed for S.G., who was attacked by her neighbor's 'Japanese Akita' breed dog at the age of 11 in the Menderes district of Izmir and left with a 12-centimeter scar on her face that could not be corrected through aesthetics, has concluded. The court sentenced the dog owner to pay a total of 1,200,249 TL in material and moral damages, including interest accruing from the date of the incident; in the reasoning of the decision, it was emphasized that the scar on the face would affect the child's future professional and economic life.
A verdict has been reached in the compensation lawsuit filed for S.G. (14), who was attacked by a 'Japanese Akita' breed dog in the Menderes district of Izmir three years ago, leaving permanent scars on her face. The court ordered the dog's owner to pay 1,200,249 TL in material and moral damages. In the reasoned decision, it was emphasized that the scar on the face would negatively affect the child's future professional and economic life.
While returning from the market with her siblings on August 30, 2023, in the Menderes district of Izmir, S.G., who was 11 years old at the time and attacked by a 'Japanese Akita' breed dog owned by Ibrahim A., was seriously injured in the face and ear area. Following hospital treatments, the legal struggle initiated by the family on August 5, 2024, has concluded. The decision was finalized on August 20.
"A DISFIGUREMENT THAT WILL NOT DISAPPEAR EVEN WITH COSMETIC SURGERY"
In the medical reports obtained during the trial process, it was documented that S.G. has multiple permanent scars approximately 12 centimeters long on her face, and these scars cannot be removed even with cosmetic surgical intervention. Experts presented to the court that this destruction in the facial area would directly and negatively affect the child's psychology as well as her future economic and professional life.
WILL BE PAID WITH INTEREST FROM THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT
The Menderes 1st Civil Court of First Instance delivered a landmark decision under the "liability of the animal keeper" article of the Turkish Code of Obligations. The court ordered the payment of a total of 1,200,249 TL in compensation, including 950,249 TL in material damages and 250,000 TL in moral damages. It was stated that legal interest would accrue on the compensation from the date of the incident, August 30, 2023. In the reasoned decision, it was stated that the permanent scar on the face would attract attention regardless of which profession the child chooses as she grows up and would undermine her economic future.
"LOVING IS NOT ENOUGH; THERE IS LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY"
Tamer Atabay, the attorney for the plaintiff family, evaluating the decision, stated that the laws are extremely clear and said: "The court ordered compensation exceeding 1,200,000 TL in total. This decision is not against animals but against the person who assumes legal responsibility for them. Loving an animal is not enough; you must undertake its care, train it not to cause harm, and take precautions. If an animal causes harm to a person's life or body, its owner must pay for all material and moral damages."