Real life MMD:My neighbour's dog ate my wife's best shoes!

Astral_Cat

My wife went to a neighbour who'd asked for some advice on the garden. While she had wellies on their dog chewed my wife's most expensive shoes. Our neighbour was distraught and emailed shortly after the visit to say 'please let me pay', but hasn't followed this up. We don't know whether to charge the replacement price or what we paid (£89, half price from an outlet site, nice money saver!), or just put it down to bad luck.

I would have to say 'bad luck'. Why did she take the shoes when she was in her wellies?

ShakeyStacey

Legally a dog owner is responsible for the actions of their dog, so yes, the owner should pay up.
I'm interested by the fact that they may be covered under the household insurance if the dog is a known "chewer" but not if they decide chewing is a "doggy trait". Insurance confuses me to be honest.
When my laptop broke I found out I could get money from household insurance if I dropped it, but not if it broke by itself. SO CONFUSING!
People saying the price should be discounted for wear&tear: I'd agree if we were talking about a pair of shoes years old that were about to be replaced anyway but it seems these are a relatively new pair of looked after shoes that she wouldn't have to replace if it weren't for the actions of the dog! Why should she pay for the days she has worn them! That's not how (good) shoes work!

Augustus_the_Strong

The neighbour has kindly offered to pay - why not ask her for fifty quid, assuming she really means it? Thus letting her have a discount for doing the decent thing. If she says '£50 - for a pair of shoes?!!' with horror, you might have to discount it a bit further. Whatever you do, keep on good terms.

iclayt

I would try to find the reciept and put it through the door with a note saying "Thank you for your kind offer to pay. This is the reciept for the shoes" and then leave it in the neighbours hands to either pay the £89 or negotiate a lower price if they can't afford that. This way you're simply providing evidence of the cost of the shoes, not asking them to pay up the eighty nine quid and you don't expect a penny less.

If I couldn't find the reciept, I would put a note through the door saying "The shoes were £89, I would like to replace them with a similar decent pair which I imagine would cost at least £60, perhaps more. Would you like me to find a replacement pair first and then provide you with the reciept?" (for example)

As you don't say how old they are, I'd work out how long I'd had the shoes and if there had been any wear or tear on them before the dog got to them, ask myself if they were really still worth £89, and accept that I may get a lower sum if not.

The dog owner is technically at fault as it's her dog, but for goodwill among neighbours I would accept a little of the responsibility and accept a lower sum, enough to buy me a pair I'm happy with anyway, as the bottom line is that your wife is down by a pair of shoes, not £89 in cash.

pennypinchUK

Why try to make money out of other's misfortune? Politely remind your neighbour about their offer to pay, go and buy a replacement pair - without trying to diddle your neighbour - and then present them with the receipt.

RedSkywalker

bluebird wrote: »

It might be worth asking your neighbour if they have pet insurance,our pet insurance covers any damage our pet should make...worth asking.
if not speak nice to your neighbour and come to an agreement by showing them the original footwear bill minus fair wear and tear,then discuss calmly how best to sort this situation,most people i am sure would be only too happy to resolve any issues with neighbours.Perhaps your neighbour is embarrassed to approach you,so go knock on the door and ask to chat,don't forget take along the original shoe bill.
good luck and be good neighbours.

It is a legal requirement for dog owners to have insurance which covers any damage they may cause (unlike cats which are above the law!). That being so your neighbour is liable for the damage, however, you cannot charge what they cost or their current purchase price because they were not new and you cant claim your use of them against the dog. If your neighbours aren't aware of the insurance situation you could point out that if their dog ran out in front of a vehicle and caused damage to occur they would be liable even if it meant the driver's insurance company putting a first charge on their home until the debt was paid off (with the court setting an annual interest rate which would be added to the debt each year until the property was sold and the debt repaid).

faerie~spangles

in the interest of 'good' neighbourliness, I'd let it go.

Mind you I wouldn't have worn my most expensive shoes to visit a neighbour when I knew I was going to 'help' whatever' in the garden. I'd have worn my wellies.

Sorry, I'm having a giggle to myself. Is your wife anything like Hyacinth Bucket?

bogwart

If she's been kind enough to offer, then take the money. But I don't in all conscience see how you can justify charging the neighbour more than you paid, if that. Some people have mentioned wear and tear, and I think it is appropriate to take this into account. If you insure your car and it is damaged the insurers will not, after all, reimburse your initial outlay.

Nobody should dictate what your wife wears, but it does seem a little OTT to pop round to a neighbour wearing her best shoes. What's that all about?

happyinflorida

I wouldn't have the cheek to ask anything! If your wife is daft enough to wear such an expensive pair of shoes round to neighbours when she's been asked to go round there to give garden advice, so knew she was going around the garden, that's up to her what she wears but very daft to wear such expensive shoes for a garden! She's been wearing them, so they're probably not worth anything anyway.

happyinflorida

RedSkywalker wrote: »

It is a legal requirement for dog owners to have insurance which covers any damage they may cause (unlike cats which are above the law!). That being so your neighbour is liable for the damage, however, you cannot charge what they cost or their current purchase price because they were not new and you cant claim your use of them against the dog. If your neighbours aren't aware of the insurance situation you could point out that if their dog ran out in front of a vehicle and caused damage to occur they would be liable even if it meant the driver's insurance company putting a first charge on their home until the debt was paid off (with the court setting an annual interest rate which would be added to the debt each year until the property was sold and the debt repaid).

It is not a legal requirement for dog owners to have insurance!!! Get your facts right before you comment please. :mad: