Real life MMD: Our dog ruined the neighbour's curtains - should we pay?

eilbrohob

In reply to baazii my daughter bought a rescue dog 7 years ago and he had been badly mistreated. The only place he felt safe was in a cage [a very,very large one, he's a Great Dane] which was left open so he could come and go as he pleased but if they went out for a short while they had to shut the cage door [as they found out from neighbours] he cried and howled while they were out if the door was left open. So some dogs need a cage as their own safe haven not because someone wants to lock them up.
And who in their right minds leaves a dog alone on bonfire night, dog owner or not EVERYBODY knows animals are afraid of fireworks.
You leave any caged animal near anything next to their cage and it will be pulled in and eaten regardless of their size mice, gerbils, rats hamsters, birds, cats and dogs, as many of my friends and relatives have found out to their cost. So, sorry, but to me it was a case of stupidity on both counts, leaving the dog in the first place on 5th Nov and leaving it next to something it could chew. The other thing is that in this day and age if they can afford to buy curtains that cost £1000 then they can most likely to afford to have them repaired as a lesson in dog ownership.

aggrieved

I'm gobsmacked that there are dog owners who keep their pet in a cage. Shameful; neither of you deserve to keep a dog.

jessiedebbie

What a joke. I hope you don't pay for the curtains.
Who in their right minds offers to look after a dog on November 5th and then goes out for the night. No sympathy.
Tell them politely to sod off and leave it at that. idiots.
Have they provided you with proof that the curtains are really worth £1000.00. i doubt it. More like £150 to £200. Even then its their fault.
Hard lesson to learn.:T:T:T:T:T

Artemis

Issue counter claim of £1K siting said canine has Post Distress Disorder due to neighbours incompetence, then offer to drop case on condition that they install venetian blinds.

Sooler

It's the dog what did it, tell the neighbours to settle it with the dog, nothing to do with you

SlipStream

As the OP I'd just like to thank everyone for their views. Helpful and encouraging. I won't go into further details but an arrangement is in sight. I did just want to reassure posters who fear cruelty in using a crate (and indeed want to report me to RSPCA!). The dog in question is much loved, well cared for and his crate is his den. 90% of the time the door is open (including overnight) and he goes there to relax out of choice. It's not used as a punishment. The door is closed if he's left in the house alone but this does not distress him and it's usually only an hour or so. BTW the incident was in October so our friends are not quite as thoughtless as it seemed (it took a while for the original post to reach the board). Thanks everybody:T

N1AK

aggrieved wrote: »

I'm gobsmacked that there are dog owners who keep their pet in a cage. Shameful; neither of you deserve to keep a dog.

And people like you who can ignorantly insult strangers without having nearly enough information to form an informed picture don't deserve to have their opinions heard. Grow up and lose the god complex.

debbiesmum

I think you should compensate for ruined curtains. Your dog did the damage - the neighbours have made efforts to check out their insurance etc. to no avail. As another Moneysaver commented thought I think you should pay for similar replacements - the curtains may have cost £1000 but how old were they?

JayD

I seriously doubt very much that the curtains cost £1K - were they made of spun gold???

I think this is a 50/50 situation and that they should replace the curtains and show you the bill before you cough up anything.

Their inexperience is not sufficient excuse for not being a little more watchful and placing the cage too close to valuable possessions. Similarly, you knew that the period your dog would be with them included fireworks night and you should have made special mention of its inability to cope.

Conrad

If someone looked after my child and he drew on the walls I'd pay up in full.
Of course the dog owner should cough up in full.