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

duchy

KDH001 wrote: »

I think you should just accept it was an accident and pay your own vets bill. If you asked me for money to cover that, I'm afraid I would be saying,"OK, but I will be suing you for poisoning me, and claiming compensation from you for that". It will cost you more than your vet bill.

You'd look a bit stupid in court as the food poisoning wasn't from the home the accident happened but from eating out. Did you READ the OP ?

C.Lightowler

Your friend most probably feels absolute awful as it is... I would imagine that asking for money to cover the vet bills would only make her feel even worse.

I'd advise you don't even ask.

VIBondGirl_2

As an owner of two big dogs, husband and i accept that we have to pay if they get up to mischeif and also endeavour to keep them out of it.

The OP should have put the dog out of the sick friend's way, if we have guests we put our dogs in their baskets so people don't trip over them, spill things on them, make sure they don't gobble someones dinner etc.

Both DH and I were made redundant last year and had to cut back, we changed over pet insurance and in the 14 days we weren't covered our youngest dog got a firework thrown at him while free running and bolted home - getting hit by a car on his way. We had to pay for that, no chance of identifying car or firework thrower - you just have to accept these things as a dog owner. The PDSA offer help to those on certain benefits for animal care, perhaps a pay by instalments arrangement with vet, maybe you could do some voluntary work for them to pay the bill - but you can't ask a sick friend to pay for your animal's care, that's your responsibility.

malibu_jenni

This one is hardly a dilemma - of course she should pay. She injured the dog, and so it is her fault and she should pay the bills. I dont see how anyone could argue differently!!

Marco12452

No, not to pay all, but you could ask her to contribute.
If she can afford to ???

RuthnJasper

In a case where my dog was injured by a stranger's mutt, I did get some payment towards the bills from the owner at fault.

However, this was an accident involving a suffering friend and the dog. The dog probably thought that some kind of exciting chase game was going on and was keen to participate - no-one, human or canine was really at fault here.

If I was the friend that had inadvertently hurt the dog then I would offer to pay some of the bill. However, if it was MY dog, I would neither expect nor demand payment from my friend.

However - I would make contact with the restaurant (perhaps in a joint letter from the friend and I, complete with a copy of the restaurant's receipt) and highlight the fact that my dog was accidentally injured and needed veterinary attention as a direct consequence of the food poisoning, which they caused. I might also be tempted to copy the local Environmental Health office in on my letter...

Surfer

If you have home contents insurance, this type of accident may be covered. Check your policy. If not, I would pay the bill as I would have been negligent in not keeping the animal out of harm's way however I would mention the incident in the hope that they may agree to re-imburse me some of the cost but I would not push it. If they were a true frined they woudl do not. If not, find another friend.

money_honey

I have to agree with the majority above. I know it might seem unfair, especially as you can't afford the vet's bill, but it comes down to the fact that it was your dog and therefore your responsibility to keep it out of your friend's way. I personally wouldn't dream of asking my friend to contribute, having suffered from food poisoning myself the only thing you can think of at the time is getting to the bathroom as quickly as you can!

ashleypride

malibu_jenni wrote: »

This one is hardly a dilemma - of course she should pay. She injured the dog, and so it is her fault and she should pay the bills. I dont see how anyone could argue differently!!

Because the dog owner has been negligent and the accident was easily forseeable and avoidable - had they taken the appropriate action.

Let's say, I invite some mates around, and we all get drunk, they trip over the dog and injury him - whose fault is that? IT'S MY FAULT!

shellsuit

No, she shouldn't have pay ~ you should have insurance.