Money Moral Dilemma: Should we have to pay the vet bills?

Pmarmalade

Talk about a real break down in communications! Do you not talk to them at all?

They should have phoned you in the first instance to inform you the dog was ill. Why wouldn't you want/deserve to know?

As they didn't, you should have told them to phone you first in future after the first instance.

Pay the vet bills unless after explaining your situation they sympathise and offer to pay for you.

elizabethhull

This says it all beautifully, I think

antonia1 wrote: »

Pay the bills that you already have, but tell your parents-in-law the following:

"We're really grateful that you have been looking after the dog for x months, but unfortunately money is becoming a serious issue and we feel we need to have the dog properly re-homed as we cannot afford the costs associated with having the dog. Thanks again for your help, please take this bottle of wine as a thank-you"

They can't complain because you have paid all the costs to date, and you can be sure that you won't have any more bills.

LittleBabyNothing

If I was responsible for someone else's pet I would always take the precaution of going to the vet if I thought there was even the slightest chance of there being a problem. I would also contact the owners, obviously, but it would be vet first...

Looking after a pet is a huge responsibility. Kids come first, then pets, then you.

If you drink or smoke, consider quiting both. Huge savings.

Ultimately though you have to sort out the communication issues.

Sooler

MSE_Lee wrote: »

My parents in law are rather affluent and at the time we weren't.

So currently we have ...

The owners - dog free - no feeding , no walking , no washing , no keeping the dog entertained regular £50 vet bill :mad:
The inlaws - lumbered with a dog :mad:, got to walk it :mad:, feed it :mad:, entertain it :mad:, wash it :mad:, home it :mad:
The dog - evicted from home due to child moving in :mad:, not seeing owners :mad:, rehomed :mad:, new carers :mad:, now regularly gets carted of to vet for health checks
The vet - regular £50 income

As the OP infers they are now affluent, take the dog back. I suspect the inlaws are fed up with the OP as they are now affluent but haven't taken the dog back.

cleopatra4485

Can families not discuss things anymore? I would personally pay what is owed so far and stress how grateful I was that they were looking after the dog, but as I have two children to provide for and lacking in funds. If they could discuss any future visits to the vets and point out that it may have to come to a point of rehoming the dog. Goodluck

louisajonas

If you are struggling financially, how on earth can you afford repeat vet bills?! If the dog is so ill it needs to keep going to the vet, get them to put it down!

wornoutmumoftwo

If the dog is being 'looked after' by them on a tempory basis until you're back on your feet/in routine with baby - then yes, but I would have a word about taking it to the vets for every little minor problem.

If they have taken the dog in as their own - then after the first bill - no, I wouldn't pay.

rockdj99uk

Absolutely you should. A dog is for life.

Ruth1

If you are still paying vets bills then surely the other expenses of looking after a dog are minimal you can feed a dog like a king on less than £10 a week, £5 and still keep him healthy.

Is this more of a case that you don't want the poor dog ,in which case you need to ask the in laws to keep him as there own, or rehome the poor dog.

I do fostering, at times I have had a double pushchair and another child in tow but my dogs still got walked every day and looked after the same,sometimes it wasn't easy but its just about putting the effort in.

lhogg65

You chose to have a second child despite already owning the dog. Rehome the dog via a reputable organisation or have it destroyed as you seem to lack the commitment to treat it fairly, whatever the circumstances. I couldn't wait to get home to my 2 dogs after the birth of my son and used to walk the dogs with him carried in a papoose, wrapped up warm-did me good to get out too. Yes, it's harder picking up dog poo with a toddler in tow _pale_, but that's the choice you make when you take on an animal.

I am not judging you and there are a lot of unknowns here, some already covered by other posters. Money/time issue-already discussed. Did your in-laws volunteer to have the dog or did you make it difficult for them to say no? What experience of dog ownership do they have? Is the dog of a breed/temperament that could cause a danger to your baby/children? will you be able to afford vets bills in future?

Sometimes we have make hard decisions and if you really can't cope, do what is right for the dog and get on with your life-the saving you make could be saved for your children, perhaps?

Certainly not worth falling out with the in-laws over, but let your OH tell them what you've both decided to do.

Good luck.