Wine critic sues actress-turned-dog sitter after pet cockapoo run over

Telegraph

13-03-2025

A leading wine critic is suing an actress-turned-dog sitter after his cockapoo was run over while in her care.
Harry Eyres blames Kendra Torgan for the serious spinal injuries his dog Ebony suffered after it was hit by a car outside her home in Walthamstow, north-east London.
The 66-year-old said he had been forced to spend thousands of pounds on life-saving surgery for the dog, described as a 'beloved member' of his family.
Mr Eyres hopes to recoup the cost of the treatment from Ms Torgan, who he blames for letting the cockapoo escape from her garden. It was hit after running into the path of a passing estate agent's car.
The former Etonian is seeking up to £30,000 in damages at Central London County Court. The case is also expected to incur legal costs of more than £150,000.
Ms Torgan, who starred as a 'beautiful female assassin' in the 1998 British crime thriller Killing Time before setting up a business offering pet 'whispering' and 'outdoor adventures for dogs', denies the incident was her fault.
Mr Eyres, who is also an author and poet, has written for publications including Country Life magazine. He was also formerly a theatre critic for The Times, wine editor for Harpers and Queen, and has penned columns for publications including the Financial Times and The Spectator.
His lawyers said Ebony 'wandered into the road' while being looked after by Ms Torgan at her then home in Walthamstow in October 2022.
The dog was then struck by a car driven by an employee of estate agent firm Dexters.
Mr Eyres claims Ms Torgan 'negligently failed to supervise the dog' and also 'failed to call the dog back once it left her side'.
Following the collision, the car's driver took Ebony and Ms Torgan to an emergency veterinary clinic before the pet was transferred to an animal hospital in Marlow for urgent treatment, court documents revealed.
Although the dog survived, it suffered a fractured spine which needed repeated reconstructive surgery, with metalwork and screws inserted to hold its broken bones together.
Mr Eyres said he was shocked when Ms Torgan wrote his lawyers an email suggesting 'euthanasia' might be a cheaper option than surgery, according to court documents.
'In order to prevent the vertebrae from collapsing, a revision of the original spinal surgery needed to be performed on 30 March 2023, involving removal of the original implant and screws and their replacement with a new larger implant and 13 screws,' his lawyers said. They added that the dog's treatment remained ongoing.
The case papers said: 'Mr Eyres's insurers have confirmed that they will not pay out any sums, he will say that the dog was left with Ms Torgan and she owed him a duty to take care of Ebony.'
Mr Eyres, from Queens Park, is also suing Dexters, which also denies blame.
Caitlin Corrigan, Dexters's barrister, said Ms Torgan had 'not filed a defence'. But she added that Ms Torgan had argued in correspondence that she should not be sued as an individual and that the legal action should instead be directed towards her company, despite it being dissolved in 2023.
Ms Corrigan said the dog sitter had also claimed that the collision was 'unforeseeable', as the cockapoo ran out of her garden having 'forced the gate open herself'.
Outside court last week, Ms Torgan said: 'It was completely out of character as [Ebony] bolted out of the gate'.
The Dexters employee said he was driving with the utmost care. Elaine Everett, the firm's solicitor, claimed he had no chance of avoiding hitting the dog.
She added: 'Dexters will aver that [Ms Torgan] failed to control the dog in question, resulting in it suddenly running into the road.'
The loser in the court battle could face a bill of more than £180,000. Some £30,000 in damages is being sought, with Mr Eyres's costs estimated at £112,390, while those of Dexters are budgeted at £40,337.
The case will return for a full trial at a later date.