looking after friends dog disaster!!

sososilly

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moomin5

I think offering to pay half is a fair gesture, if you hadn't taken the dog on free board she'd of had to pay full amount as doesn't sound like anyone else is willing to dogsit for her. Even though owner is skint, if the dog needed vet treatment etc while she was abroad i presume she'd of had to find the money for that also.

It sounds like the owner wasn't completely honest to you about the dogs behaviour so i don't think its really your fault as such, given the owner's reaction by hitting dog & rubbing its nose in mess, it certainly won't of taught the dog not to toilet indoors. Perhaps see added cost to yourself as a lesson learned about this friend and also to do a short trial while owner is still home to test waters before offering to dogsit for anyone in future.

Darlyd

Op I understand your frustration. What's done is done. When they come home, just make out how bad you feel and offer her half (as you have already).

Me personally would of held on to him, sounds like he has hell at home.

Fire_Fox

Sososilly: I am sorry you have had some a negative first thread, but welcome from me anyway!

I suggest you contact the RSPCA and voice your concerns over the welfare of the dog, it is unacceptable to hit a dog or put it's face into it's own waste. No friend of mine would treat a living creature in that manner and get away with it, anymore than they would if they did it to their child! Given that your friend failed to arrange a backup for HER dog in the event that you were unable to look after it, failed to ask you to take her HER dog to the vets if there were any problems (soiling is not always behavioural, stress can trigger cystitis) and doesn't appear to have financial back up if HER dog falls ill (even with insurance, money is needed up front, holiday on credit suggests no savings), the dog may be better off elsewhere. But that isn't really what you want to hear is it?

To everyone else: this is NOT Sososilly's dog so she cannot be expected to treat it as if it were. If it were her dog that were fouling, I would hope she would contact the rescue or breeder for advice, get the dog medically checked out, use a DAP diffuser and/ or employ the services of a behaviourist. How is it any less stressful for a dog to be imprisoned in one room in a strange house than be taken to a kennel where they are should be accustomed to dealing with stress and soiling?

I would not be able to deal with a new pet who soiled everywhere any more than I would feel comfortable adopting a pet that is completely blind. Not all adoptions work out, so rescues and responsible breeders contract a new owner to return the pet if there is a change of circumstance. Doesn't sound like I would need to adopt a problem animal anyway, since all of you have obviously got in there first. Am sure you all decided to adopt one of the many damaged children in care homes rather than further overpopulate our planet. :rotfl:

zaksmum

Poor dog. Hope he's had his kennel cough vaccination and doesn't come home ill.

meritaten

I cannot help feeling its a bad situation all round - OP? - you sure you want this person for a friend? after all she misled you about her finances, laughed at you behind your back for having her dog, mistreats her dog - and told someone she wouldnt have had yours for you!
I would still give her half the kennel fees - but I dont think either her or her dog would ever be welcome in my home again.

blue_monkey_2

If the posts are true. It's getting too far fetched for me to believe it now I am afraid.

Everyone said the OP was in the wrong and so all this other stuff 'came out' about her 'friend' not treating the dog very well and some of you started siding with her - and then some more bad stuff that this 'friend' does. And now everyone has gone from saying the OP was wrong to siding with her and saing how awful the friend is. It is one way to get you all on side I suppose. I really do not believe it though I am afraid, I think the OP has found a way to twist you round her finger and side with her and you have all been sucked in.

What I find is odd, she offered to look after the dog for this woman as she was a friend, but all the stuff she knows about this 'friend' (nails, hair, holiday, laughing, dog not being toilet trained, etc...) is 2nd hand information from another 'friend' - so why not double check with the friend who knew the dog better? Would you offer to look after the dog of someone you barely knew...?? There is no way, that would be on par with looking after their kids!! And this is why I think the OP is lying, sorry. Maybe I've been around here way too long.

sososilly

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myway_2

zaksmum wrote: »

Poor dog. Hope he's had his kennel cough vaccination and doesn't come home ill.

No good kennel would take him without.
Can see both side's kind of but you did offer to have the dog! Poor boy must wonder .what the hell is going on:(. I've looked after friend's dog's who weren't quite like they said but i still kept them knowing it wasn;t forever. Bit like children they act different away from home. Hope his ok poor lad.

rising_from_the_ashes

I'm glad to hear that owners/dog have been reunited. The fact that her husband came to collect the dog, apologised and refused to accept anything towards the kenneling costs says a lot.

IMHO, taking on someone's pet - especially in your own home (where they're bound to be unsettled even if a frequent visitor) is a lot for someone to do - I'm lucky in that my dog can go to my parents (like a 2nd home to him so he's very comfortable there) and I have friends who pop in a couple of times a day to check on my cats if I'm away for a couple of days - if I was going away longer term (haven't for years), they would go to the cattery.

If I was going to take someone's pet here, I'd want a "trial" run for a couple of days before they went away, just to make sure it was going to work out.

As you say, hindsight is easy - and I'm sure we've all been in positions that we've put ourselves in which weren't the smartest move ever - put it down to experience.

If it helps at all - I do think your posts were genuine - I've put myself in many a situation when I should've known better and where things escalate and you end up wondering "why on earth did I do ......" - we're human, we make mistakes, we learn from them and try to "do better" next time.