Article 1626

The owner of an animal is liable for injury caused by the animal, notwithstanding that it has escaped his control accidentally or the injury caused was unforeseeable.

A person who has taken possession of an animal shall be liable for any injury caused by the animal while in his custody. However, an employee attending to an animal, or making use of it for the owner’s account or for the account of another person, shall not be liable for any injury caused by the animal unless it is due to his own fault.

The owner who has paid compensation to the victim may recover from the person in whose charge the animal was. He may claim to be indemnified in full, unless the injury be due to his own fault or that of a person for whom he is liable.

In order to secure compensation which may be due to him, the possessor or holder of immovable property may seize and retain another person’s animals which cause injury on that property. He may kill them where circumstances require this in order to prevent substantial injury disproportionate to the animal’s value. He shall in both events notify the owner of the animals without delay or, where the owner is unknown to him, take the necessary measures to ascertain him.