Advice needed

julie1075

Hello, thanks for taking the time to read this, I'm really in need of your help.

Last May my little Lhasa was on her lead and was attacked by a Staffy not on a lead or muzzled in a park. She suffered severe trauma to her neck but luckily survived with no real serious injuries. The dogs owner was very shocked (and a little naive over dangerous dogs) and agreed to pay the vet bill. She arranged a payment plan with the vet and rang me regularly over the next few weeks to see how my little dog was.

So you know what's coming right. I had a letter today saying she hasn't paid anything since November and there is still £150 left on my account to pay. I vaguely remember the vet saying if she defaults on paying they will chase me for the money and I'll have to sue her. The thing is she is a live in carer, placed by an agency and I have a feeling she must've moved on. So I have no idea where to find her.

Am I going to have to try and pay this bill? Can the vets do this?

Thanks for reading,
Julie

walwin

First thing that comes to mind as I'm assuming your Lhasa isn't insured (?)
is have you got house insurance with legal cover. If so, they can advise you re. trying to recover the money from the woman.

As far as your vet is concerned, it's your dog who had the treatment, so ultimately you are responsible for the bill.

BitterAndTwisted

People's circumstances change and when they do people have to make very hard decisions. You cannot know whether this dog-owner even has a job right now as millions of others do not either.

And yes, if the other dog-owner has defaulted you are now responsible for the vet's fees. It stinks, I know.

mrcol1000

I think your have to pay it. Its your dog. Its your bill. Have you tried contacting the other owner to see what they say? They aren't really under any legal obligation to pay the bill only a moral one. If you sued them it would end up costing a lot of time and effort and money for a small amount. Then they could claim poverty and pay you a pound a week for the next three years. Especially if she has a carer.
I would just pay the bill and be grateful your dog was not killed.

tandraig

julie1075 wrote: »

Hello, thanks for taking the time to read this, I'm really in need of your help.

Last May my little Lhasa was on her lead and was attacked by a Staffy not on a lead or muzzled in a park. She suffered severe trauma to her neck but luckily survived with no real serious injuries. The dogs owner was very shocked (and a little naive over dangerous dogs) and agreed to pay the vet bill. She arranged a payment plan with the vet and rang me regularly over the next few weeks to see how my little dog was.

So you know what's coming right. I had a letter today saying she hasn't paid anything since November and there is still £150 left on my account to pay. I vaguely remember the vet saying if she defaults on paying they will chase me for the money and I'll have to sue her. The thing is she is a live in carer, placed by an agency and I have a feeling she must've moved on. So I have no idea where to find her.

Am I going to have to try and pay this bill? Can the vets do this?

Thanks for reading,
Julie

She suffered severe trauma to her neck but luckily survived with no real serious injuries.

so there werent any serious injuries? I assume then that severe trauma was bruising? did it need stitches (normally people say how many stitches were needed)

The dogs owner was very shocked (and a little naive over dangerous dogs)

I think you are the naive one here - staffys are NOT on the dangerous dogs list last time i looked and DONT have to be muzzled in public.

you can try to trace her as surely your vet has her contact details - and then persue her through the small claims court or tell your vet to do so if his contract is with her!

julie1075

Actually she had 17 stitches to her neck as though her throat had been slashed, so I'm sorry if I don't know proper medical terms to describe her injuries. By dangerous dogs, she told me her dog doesn't like other dogs so why have it off the lead in a public park - that's what I meant by naive.
She doesn't have a carer, please re-read.
I have since found out she still doesn't put it on a lead and it has attacked 2 more dogs and a man that tried to save his dog has had to have stitches in his arm.
What has my dog being insured have to do with this? If you drove your car into mine I wouldn't claim on my insurance! Plus with it being nearly a year ago, I'm sure they wont be interested in a claim now.
I've actually found out where she is now and paid her a visit. If she doesn't start paying her bill I will take her to court as it was her responsibilty and her fault which she has never denied. And just because you think that she might be out of work and can't afford it doesn't mean I am in work and can afford it and I should let her get away with it.
Thanks for your comments, don't really understand why you lot are so nasty to people that ask for help. For those that were kind and pleasant, thank you.

Fire_Fox

The best thing to do is send her a recorded delivery letter, paying her a visit can be deemed harrassment and does not provide evidence if you do need to attend court.

emlou2009

I dont see where anyone has been nasty here?

You were very lucky that your dog was attacked by a dog with a owner willing to pay some of the vet fees, as much as it may have been the morally right thing for them to do, there are many many owners out there that wouldnt pay, or simply couldnt. Also lucky that the vet accepted the offer of a payment plan from a third party, I dont think my vet would allow that.
Legally you dont really have a leg to stand on, its your dog, and as you did say the vet told you if she didnt pay they would chase you, which they are doing. You were aware of this! No need to throw your toys out the pram and tell "us lot" that we are nasty to people, you asked advice and its been given.

purplepanda_2

It's an awful situation to be in you could always try and take her to small claims court or visit CAB they will be able to advise you.

In regard to the dog I would report it to the dog warden as its not safe to be around other dogs and the owner is irresponsible.

walwin

walwin wrote: »

First thing that comes to mind as I'm assuming your Lhasa isn't insured (?)
is have you got house insurance with legal cover. If so, they can advise you re. trying to recover the money from the woman.

As far as your vet is concerned, it's your dog who had the treatment, so ultimately you are responsible for the bill.

julie1075 wrote: »

Actually she had 17 stitches to her neck as though her throat had been slashed, so I'm sorry if I don't know proper medical terms to describe her injuries. By dangerous dogs, she told me her dog doesn't like other dogs so why have it off the lead in a public park - that's what I meant by naive.
She doesn't have a carer, please re-read.
I have since found out she still doesn't put it on a lead and it has attacked 2 more dogs and a man that tried to save his dog has had to have stitches in his arm.
What has my dog being insured have to do with this? If you drove your car into mine I wouldn't claim on my insurance! Plus with it being nearly a year ago, I'm sure they wont be interested in a claim now.
I've actually found out where she is now and paid her a visit. If she doesn't start paying her bill I will take her to court as it was her responsibilty and her fault which she has never denied. And just because you think that she might be out of work and can't afford it doesn't mean I am in work and can afford it and I should let her get away with it.
Thanks for your comments, don't really understand why you lot are so nasty to people that ask for help. For those that were kind and pleasant, thank you.

Where was I nasty?

I was trying to be constructive and helpful.

I really wish I hadn't bothered

Pixiechic

Gosh, I really feel for you in that situation, I would have been scared out of my wits, poor little boy. I don't think that you were naive at all, if you had your dog on a lead and your dog was attacked by a dog that was known to be aggressive and attacked your dog off it's lead without a muzzle then how could that be naive of you?
I hope she does pay even though it is more of a moral obligation maybe not legal but she should be more responsible with her dog if it behaves that way. Why should you suffer the cost of an attack by someone else's dog?
I am pleased that you have now found her and I hope she pays the rest and I hope that your poor little dog is happier and well recovered.
All the best:)