Rex v Huggins - Case Note

A famous case on the subject of a master’s liability for its beasts, in this case Rex, an elderly beagle with a bladder infection — an animal mansuetae naturae — by its nature tame — with no known history despoiling a neighbours’ trousers.

To recover the dry-cleaning bill, Mr. Huggins joined Rex to the action.

The action failed: as Rex was a mansuetae naturae and his master had no constructive knowledge of his bladder condition, the action in scienter must be declined . Obiter: Had Rex been a tiger, or a scots terrier, it might have succeeded.