Dog in a car accident - looking for advice

Samantha1985_2

Firstly let me tell you I am sick to my stomach, and so sorry this happened.. for dog, dog's owner and the car driver.

I am looking after 2 dogs for a family member (they are known escape artists and have got out at home many times). I have 2 dogs of my own, so this really upsets me but I have to know if I have liability and for what?

I had left my dog leads in the car from a walk earlier on (before the visiting dogs were dropped off) so I opened my door and both of the visiting dogs shot out! I quicky dropped what I was doing as soon as I noticed and called them.. they were getting close to the road and I was screaming for them to come back whilst running towards the road.. I saw a renault clio coming up the road and I stopped calling (instinct here i guess) I obviously didn't want them to come back accross the road to me to be hit by the car.. in a split second I heard screaching brakes and a bang from the larger of the two dogs being hit.. The dog scarpered as quickly as possible back to my front door. The car driver stopped and my partner ran accross to them while I went to see to the dogs. The dog who was hit has had the bottom of her tail cut off by the car and has superficial cuts/bruises on her back legs.

I called her owner as soon as I had ascertained what injuries there were (there was quite a bit of blood from the tail and you could see part of bone or gristle?). This part I do not understand.. the owner told me to leave the vets till the morning after I had explained the injuries and called a vets for an idea of price (£200ish for an evening call out on a sunday) she does not have her dogs insured!! She did not come up to see the dog (I would have been up here pronto!!! and down the vets!!! In fact I would have paid to take her to the vets if it wasnt for how much debt I am in at the moment ( ). Owner came up this morning to take dog to vets.. and said she will drop her back after (they are going on holiday today which was the reason I was looking after the dogs) I don't really feel comfortable having her now.. I'm scared (really scared! & so upset ) that they might get out again.

Then there is the issue of the damage to the other car.. It looked just like bumper damage, but the car would not start and had to be jump started the car as I said is a renault clio new shape. They are calling be back tonight to tell me what damage has been done and a price (yes I realise this is not thier fault!).

My question however is am I liable for all of these costs? Vets, repairs etc? It's not my dog and although I feel terrible about what has happened I really don't have any cash or savings lying around to fork out.

Any words of advice are very very welcome

Thanks in advance
Sam

lavidaloca

Sorry not much advice but I didn't want to read and run. I would say you will be liable for the car repair but the owners for the vets bill. However, any decent pet owner would pay the car bill. Check your house contents insurance for 3rd party liability just in case. I think these owners are being very selfish leaving you to look after two escape artists dogs knowing you have two of your own also. Why can't they put them in the kennels?

ameliarate

I am sorry I don't know the answers but wanted you to at least feel people are listening and supportive.

Samantha1985_2

lavidaloca, these dogs are my aunts dogs and I have them around 4 times a year to help her out as they would not be able to afford the holiday & kennels. Nothing like this has ever happened (they have never escaped before as I am usually very doggy alert and take them to open fields with no roads). The crunch though is they are on benefits and have very very little cash probably less than me (I really can't believe they are not insured when they often pull a runner!).

I'm so nervous about them phoning tonight, I don't know what I am going to say because if the bill is more than £100.00 I am not going to be able to pay it.. Will check with my house insurance though (not sure if they would cover pets or even pets that are not mine) - Thanks

suki1964

Whilst I understand you feelings, this is your aunts problem. She maybe shouldn't be thinking for four holidays a year if vet bill's and kennelling is beyond her means.

If shes on benefits the blue cross or rspca will be able to help with veterinary treatment.

You had best check your insurance policy as either you or your aunt is liable. Even if its you thats liable your aunt has a moral duty to pay the costs.

lavidaloca

suki1964 wrote: »

Whilst I understand you feelings, this is your aunts problem. She maybe shouldn't be thinking for four holidays a year if vet bill's and kennelling is beyond her means.

If shes on benefits the blue cross or rspca will be able to help with veterinary treatment.

You had best check your insurance policy as either you or your aunt is liable. Even if its you thats liable your aunt has a moral duty to pay the costs.

Good reply. I meant you/your Aunt to check your own insurance to cover the car repair it won't pay out for the vets bill. Agreed your Aunt should pay all the costs.

Dobiesmon

Hi
Well I am on benefits due to having a disabled son so I can't work but also having 3 dogs are insured I don't have holidays or even nights out , I don't have house insurance .and if they can afford a holiday they can insure a dog .

But to leave the dog over night with out a vet checking it out is bad how can you say that you are dog loves the dog from the car hitting it could have died .

if you have your own dog insurance try claiming on that .
as for the car make sure you see quotes on proper garage heading should be at least 2 .
I think the owners of the dogs should pay if they chewed your shoes or sofa you would expect payment

The rspca would have a contact for the nearest vet working on their behalf or even send one out

~Chameleon~

I have to say that it amazes me she can afford four holidays a year whilst on benefits but that's a different subject and isn't going to help you with your immediate problem

I have a feeling that the dogs won't be covered under your household insurance but it's worth checking anyway, and also if you have legal advice cover it might be worth giving them a ring to find out where you stand legally on this.

Also, as suki has already mentioned, you could try the RSPCA or PDSA for veterinary treatment if you have a local clinic.

Horace

If your Aunt can afford 4 holidays a year whilst living on benefits she should be able to fork out for vets' bills and even for damage to a car caused by one of her animals.

I would suggest that she calls the Blue Cross, PDSA or the RSPCA - in fact as she obviously has no interest in her dogs' welfare then perhaps she shouldn't even own them so if I were you I'd get in touch with the RSPCA and report her.

suki1964

Horace wrote: »

If your Aunt can afford 4 holidays a year whilst living on benefits she should be able to fork out for vets' bills and even for damage to a car caused by one of her animals.

I would suggest that she calls the Blue Cross, PDSA or the RSPCA - in fact as she obviously has no interest in her dogs' welfare then perhaps she shouldn't even own them so if I were you I'd get in touch with the RSPCA and report her.

Actually the RSPCA may already be involved, the vet the dog has seen may have chosen to report the owner as its now an offence to not get an animal medical attention when its obviously needed

Samantha1985_2

Dobiesmon wrote: »

Hi

But to leave the dog over night with out a vet checking it out is bad how can you say that you are dog loves the dog from the car hitting it could have died .

I know this, I really don't have the funds I spent all night with the dog and followed the advice of the vets I called.. checking gums for paleness periodically, bandaging the tail and listening for irregular breathing & any pain.
I was genuinely shocked that they didn't want to come over or call a vet :eek:! I kept the number on my phone and was ready to call should anything I deemed irregular occur.. I would not worry about my dogs vet bill as they are both insured fully and hence would of called immediately.