Is a dog worth more than a person? Huizhou Banquet's "Million-Dollar Dog Mom" finally faces consequences.
[2] Compiled from: Tencent News, Red Star News, NetEase News
Case review
At around 13:00 on July 2, 2021, Zou Moumou, a resident of a residential community in Bengbu, took his pet dog out without a leash (cord). At the entrance of the corridor, the dog suddenly dashed toward the daughter of his neighbor Shao Moumou, frightening the child. A dispute ensued between Shao Moumou and Zou Moumou, escalating into a physical altercation. Zou Moumou then took the dog home, while Shao Moumou called the police, claiming that her daughter had been bitten by the dog.
When the police arrived at the scene to handle the situation, the two parties once again engaged in a heated argument. During this time, Zou XX threatened and intimidated Shao XX verbally, claiming that “dogs are worth more than people,” and was promptly stopped by the police on the spot.
On July 4, the Nanhu Road Police Station of the Bengbu Economic Development Zone Public Security Sub-bureau, based on the facts of the investigation, lawfully imposed a three-day administrative detention on Zou Moumou for the illegal act of assaulting another person, and a four-day administrative detention for the illegal act of verbally threatening another person’s personal safety at the scene, with the detentions combined for a total of seven days; the matter of Zou Moumou taking a dog out without a leash (cord) has been transferred to the urban management administrative law enforcement department for handling; and lawfully imposed a three-day administrative detention on Shao Moumou for the illegal act of assaulting another person.
[6] According to earlier media reports, Zou claimed to be the owner of the local Huizhou Banquet Catering Company and threatened Shao, saying, "If you dare touch my dog, I'll kill your child. You're not worth as much as my dog; I can afford millions."
In response, Huizhou Feast Catering Co., Ltd. stated: the woman's remarks are unrelated to the company, which condemns such remarks and apologizes to the public; the company is composed of multiple shareholders, not owned by a certain family, and has decided to dismiss the woman.
Public Security Administration Punishments Law of the People's Republic of China
Article 43
Whoever beats another person or intentionally injures another person's body shall be detained for not less than 5 days but not more than 10 days, and shall also be fined not less than 200 yuan but not more than 500 yuan; if the circumstances are relatively minor, he shall be detained for not more than 5 days or fined not more than 500 yuan.
Under any of the following circumstances, detention of not less than 10 days but not more than 15 days shall be imposed, and a fine of not less than 500 yuan but not more than 1,000 yuan shall be imposed concurrently:
(1) Assaulting or harming another person in a group;
(2) beating or injuring a person with a disability, a pregnant woman, a person under the age of 14, or a person over the age of 60;
(3) Assaulting or harming another person multiple times, or assaulting or harming multiple persons at one time.
[1] The author's perspective
A single word can make or break a nation. Due to the escalation of this incident, Huizhou Banquet also faced a boycott from the local people. Not only was there a flood of criticism online, but even previously booked banquets were canceled one after another. It is understood that Huizhou Banquet was originally a high-end dining establishment in Bengbu, and young people would consider it for hosting weddings. Business used to be booming. After this incident, business has become much quieter. Some said, “If Huizhou Banquet doesn’t fall, it means we Bengbu people haven’t done our job.” Others joked, “I dare not eat at Huizhou Banquet, for fear the proprietress will set her dog on me.” This shows that a single remark from the “proprietress” has had a significant impact on Huizhou Banquet.
At this point, we realize that the focus of this incident is not that both parties violated the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, but rather that the few arrogant words of the "Huizhou Banquet proprietress" struck a nerve with the public. Undoubtedly, the remarks of the "Huizhou Banquet proprietress" were indeed inappropriate. That smug and ugly face, that expression of doing whatever one pleases, and that mindset lacking basic respect for life and basic awareness of public boundaries not only deserve moral condemnation, but the downfall of Huizhou Banquet also serves as a painful lesson for her.
