[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, even if stray animals do not have owners, it does not mean that no one is responsible. According to the principle of "who manages, who is responsible," the defendants can be identified as follows: 1. Feeders who have long-term fixed feeding habits and formed a de facto management relationship with the animals are generally recognized in judicial practice as having the responsibility of a keeper—those who feed the animals at fixed times and places, give them names, take them for baths and medical treatment, and engage in territorial activities, indicating an obvious management relationship. 2. Property management companies that fail to fulfill their obligations to remove, warn, or report stray animals in their management areas shall bear corresponding responsibilities according to the duty of ensuring safety. 3. Abandoned or escaped animals that cause harm during the period of abandonment or escape shall be held liable by the original keepers (Article 1249 of the Civil Code). If a chip or dog registration information is found, the original owners shall be directly identified as responsible. 4. Zoos and stray animal rescue organizations that fail to manage properly shall bear their own responsibilities. The compensation items are consistent with those for general animal-related injuries. The first step is to seek medical treatment and vaccinate against rabies.

I. Problem background and typical scenarios

There are about a dozen stray cats in the community garden, and the owners have been feeding them at fixed times every day for three years. A delivery guy was knocked down and injured by a stray dog that suddenly ran out while he was riding past—who should compensate him? The property management said the dog wasn't theirs, and the person who fed the cats said he was just doing it out of kindness, adding that the original owner had already moved away. Determining the responsibility for harm caused by stray animals essentially involves identifying the actual management interests and control rights behind the "ownerless" facade, with the success or failure of the case hinging on the details of the evidence.

II. Key points of contention

First, the criteria for determining the relationship between long-term feeding of humans and animal husbandry management; Second, the scope of property companies' obligations to ensure safety and the conditions for exemption from liability; Third, the search for and provision of evidence against the original keepers of abandoned or escaped animals; Fourth, the sharing of responsibilities among multiple parties when they coexist.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Lawyers

The first layer concerns the liability logic of feeders: Article 1245 of the Civil Code stipulates that "keeping or managing" animals does not require ownership. If the feeding behavior becomes long-term and regular, a de facto management relationship will be formed - the animals wait at fixed locations, rely on feeders for survival, and even follow their activities. Control and dependence coexist, and courts often hold feeders liable. One-time casual feeding is not included in this category. Evidence includes: fixed-time feeding surveillance, feeding check-in records in community groups, feeders' social media content, and photos of their shelters. The second layer defines the liability boundaries of property management companies: Property management companies are responsible for managing public areas through collecting property fees. If there are obvious risks of stray animals gathering and harming people in the area, and owners have repeatedly reported the problem but the property management company failed to remove or warn them, the company may bear supplementary or joint liability based on its degree of fault. If the property management company has set warning signs, organized removal efforts, and reported the situation to relevant authorities, it may be exempted from liability. Property management companies often argue that they "have no right to dispose of stray animals", but the obligations of notification and protection objectively exist, and inaction itself constitutes negligence. The third layer concerns the tracing of original owners: Owners with chips, dog licenses, or ear tags are identified based on their registration information; owners without such markings are verified through surveillance footage, merchant invoices, and neighbor testimonies. Abandonment is an act of negligence by the original owner, and the law fully assigns the risk period's liability to the original owner - if the animal harms others after being abandoned, the original owner cannot evade responsibility. The fourth layer focuses on litigation strategies and evidence: Victims often face the dilemma of "not knowing who to sue". The strategy is to first list visible managers (feeders and property management companies) as co-defendants, and then add identified responsible parties during the litigation process. Key evidence includes fixed characteristics of the attacking animal (photos, fur color, body type), surveillance footage, medical and vaccination records, and injury appraisals. Given the long incubation period of rabies, the cost of vaccination and follow-up observation should also be included in the list. The essence of adjudicating stray animal cases lies in risk allocation: whoever benefits from the existence of the animal (emotional satisfaction of feeders, property management companies' fee-based areas), and whoever controls the risk (removal, warning, sterilization) should bear corresponding responsibilities. The most important action on the victim's side remains seeking medical treatment and preserving the scene as soon as possible - surveillance coverage periods are typically weekly, and stray animals may move during this time, making the evidence window narrower than in general cases.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

The first step is to immediately seek medical treatment and get vaccinated against rabies, and keep the medical records and receipts. The second step is to take photos of the attacking animals and the scene, and retrieve the surveillance footage of the incident. The third step is to collect feeding records, communication with the owners' group, and property disposal records. The fourth step is to first negotiate with the property management and the feeders, and if unsuccessful, sue them as co-defendants. For serious injuries, apply for a disability assessment. Main legal basis: Article 1245 of the Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (effective from January 1, 2021) regarding the responsibility for keeping and managing animals, Article 1249 regarding harm caused by abandoned or escaped animals, and Article 1198 regarding the obligation of ensuring safety; the "Regulations on Dog Breeding Management in Beijing" regarding the reception and disposal of stray dogs; and the "Regulations on Property Management" regarding the safety management responsibilities of property service enterprises. Specific application shall be subject to the currently effective provisions.

5. Henglu Law Firm's Reminder

The claim guidelines for stray animals are as follows: First, vaccinate the animals; second, retrieve the surveillance footage promptly; third, investigate the feeding patterns; fourth, hold the property management company accountable for its negligence—the absence of active animal management does not exempt them from liability. For claims involving animal-inflicted injuries and personal damages, the following procedures can be followed:Personal injury and medical disputesObtain a comprehensive solution for the service; in the case of property liability disputes, you can combine it with other services to resolve the issue comprehensively.Business and contract disputes in enterprisesPlate; for other disputes, you can refer to it for reference.Special servicesColumn; for matters related to the enforcement of compensation, you can seek adviceCreditor's rights and debts, and enforcementTeam.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Do I need to take responsibility just for feeding them a few times occasionally?

Occasional feeding generally does not constitute a management relationship; only when long-term, regular and fixed-point feeding results in animal dependence may it be deemed as assuming the responsibilities of a keeper.

Q2: Can the property management company exempt themselves from liability for uncontrollable stray animals?

It cannot be completely exempt from liability. The property management company has the obligation to warn, evict, and report risks within the management area, and those who know about the risk of gathering but fail to take action should be held accountable for their faults.

Q3: If a stray dog bites you and you can't find the original owner, what should you do?

Check the chips, register and monitor the pedigrees of dogs; if it's still impossible to identify the owner, shift to investigating the responsibilities of property owners and long-term feeders, pursuing multiple approaches simultaneously.

Q4: Are the costs of the subsequent three doses of the rabies vaccine also included?

Yes. The cost of the entire vaccination process, loss of income, and transportation expenses are all reasonable expenses, and the claimants can claim them with receipts. The expenses for subsequent treatment after developing suspected symptoms should also be claimed.

Q5: Can I report the property management company if a stray cat in the neighborhood scratches a child?

Yes. Whether the property management has taken any measures to control the gathering of stray cats is a key focus of the review. It is obvious that there are obvious faults in long-term neglect and the existence of complaints from owners.

The above answer is based on the judicial practice in the Beijing area. The adjudication guidelines in other provinces and cities may vary. For specific cases, please refer to the local rules and evidence situation.

If you are facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the relevant evidence, so as to avoid missing the statutory time limit.Personal injury legal services·Beijing Henglu Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and publicly available adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. If a dispute arises, please consult a practicing lawyer in a timely manner.