Money Moral Dilemma: She injured my dog - should she pay?

meher

I've no doubt in my mind that anyone decent and if they could afford to, would offer to pay; but the fact that there are owners who don't care or bother to have any health care insurance for their pets is deeply disturbing. It is a shame on the vetenary services that they haven't considered a free NHS or at least emergency care for animals. And to think of it even the ultimate fakes, the homeopathic quacks have managed to creep into the NHS.

dave2

scotsbob wrote: »

It was an accident but the people who cause accidents are the ones who have to pay.

If my car accidentally hits your car, who is to blame? If I accidentally drop your glass vase who has to pay?

If there is no insurance then the person who causes the accident pays.

Is my dog driving my car? Did you trip up over my dog when holding the vase?

OK being more reasonable. OK you hit my car, but what if I was illegally parked on a blind corner? Who "caused" the accident isn't so clear when the apparent victim wasn't behaving with due care and attention either.

Dogs are mobile hazards, they cause accidents. They do not behave with reasonable responsibility and it's your job to make up for that.

TBH lying around in silly places and getting in the way isn't just the downside to having a dog, it's part of the draw. It's part and parcel of their absolute devoted affection and except where people/dog gets hurt I wouldn't have it any other way. In fact the dafty probably thought it was coming to the aid of your friend who appeared to be in distress.

pineapple

No dilemma for me. It was an accident and it's not as if the friend was larking around and being careless. I wouldn't dream of asking for a contribution.
If anyone, it was the dog owner who was being careless in the circumstances. You wouldn't have your dog charging round an elderly person or someone who is a bit shaky on their pins. Same goes if someone is so poorly.
Oh and just too funny - the idea that the dog was following on because it was showing concern. More like it thought this was a great new game as someone else said.

sluggy1967

I would just think - it's 1 of those things, it could have been me running to the bathroom & hurting the dog. Mind you, perhaps the friend could sue the restaurant that gave her food poisoning & then use the compensation to reimburse the vet fees?

meher

Sorry for returning on this, if it were a hypothetical situation I probably wouldn't have been thinking about this dilemma; but this is a real situation and as far as the moral duty is concerned, it is greater in ensuring that the pet has a health care insurance than the friend's to pay towards the cost. Yes, a friend who doesn't offer isn't good enough but that, to me, is secondary issue. The idea of owning a pet to keep ourselves amused itself is not exciting enough to accept, to know that there are owners who haven't considered about their health care makes it worse.

purpleroom

i have to add i think its so wrong you are considering asking your FRIEND for money. For one the dog cant talk, so how do you know it wasnt running into the door, getting in the way or to blame? Why have you presumed its your friends fault not the dogs? And it is your responsibility to have kept the dog out of the way of your ill friend in the first place. As she was ill she obviously couldn't be as considerate as usual in making sure the dog wasn't there, although again I feel as an owner your responsible.

fatal1955

She deserves to know what happened. Just tell her the facts, without any suggestion of blame or demand, and make it her moral dilemma instead of yours. If she is really a friend she'll want to help with the cost. If she doesn't then you have learned something valuable about her.

jgriggle

In circumstances like this you should always say: "I'm so sorry, how much is your insurance excess? Let me cover it"

If the other person has made the decision not to have insurance then they've made the decision that they can afford to take the full hit if an accident should happen.

I'm sorry but I don't buy the whole 'I can't afford insurance' thing - it's a bit like having a pet and then saying you can't afford to feed it. Insurance is a must. In fact it should be a legal requirement.

I don't have any pets but I know I'd rather go without a few meals than not pay my house or car insurance.

Frosti

Any reputable restaurant that caused food poisoning would want to know about the friend's illness. Especially since the reaction was fast and violent enough to require hospital treatment. I'd tell the manager the whole story, including the accidental injury caused to the dog. Mention the words "environmental health" in the conversation.
With any luck the restaurant will refund the cost of the meal, cover the vets' bill and hand out vouchers for future meals generously - although you may prefer not to take them up on the latter.

If the friend had not suddenly been so ill, the accident to the dog would not have occurred. No malice was intended - so not worth risking a good friendship by asking the friend to pay the vet's bill (if the restaurant don't cough up).

I would have asked the friend to remain in the bathroom after her fifth or sixth precipitous visit there, while I summoned medical aid for her.

With the benefit of hindsight, it would be a good idea to get hold of and keep the 'phone numbers of organisations that can help with vet bills in an emergency.

rcb7

NO!
I would not ask my friend to pay, accidents happen, but i do agree with ' SMILEYT' 'SINBAD' 'OAFISH 1' 'TRYFIVE' but 'ZX81' made me laugh !

I would put the Vets' bill on a credit card, i value my friendships', but since all my friends have dogs', they would be more upset about my dog than themselves !

Oh dear.......I don't think 'KATIEJ79' has got a Dog somehow............

Life is Merrier with 'Charlie' my Jack Russell Terrier and her best friend 'Chester', the very Gorgeous Labrador !