Dog injured during stay at kennels

boxer16

Hi all. I'm hoping someone can help me.

We recently kenneled our dog for just over a week. He's been in a kennel several times before and has always been fine.

As we were putting him in the car outside the kennels, we noticed his face was all cut, inflamed and weeping. We went straight back to find the owner and all he said was "oh, i didn't notice". After getting him home we also discovered that he had cut his heel and grazed his back end.

We've had him at the vet twice now; he's had injections, two courses of antibiotics, cream and a medicated wash which has totaled close to £200.

What I was wondering is, would we be wrong to ask the kennel to cover the vet bills as he was injured whilst in their care? Should they have insurance in place to cover instances like this? The excess on our insurance is quite high so there would be very little point in making our own claim.

marlot

It all comes down to negligence.

If you can show that the kennels have been negligent then you have a claim. One option would be to use the small claims court (money claim online). Very easy to raise a claim, and get the judge to decide.

Caroline_a

As we were putting him in the car outside the kennels, we noticed his face was all cut, inflamed and weeping. We went straight back to find the owner and all he said was "oh, i didn't notice". After getting him home we also discovered that he had cut his heel and grazed his back end.

Big alarm bells. What sort of kennels doesn't look closely at the dogs in their care several times a day. Once when I couldn't get my GSD into the kennel of my choice I used another one on the recommendation of a friend. When I picked him up he seemed a bit quiet. At home he was listless and a bit wobbly on his back end. I took him to the vet that night who examined him, said it might be a muscle sprain, gave him an anti-inflammatory jab and asked to bring him back in a couple of days. 2 days later he was fine. When I chatted to the vet about it, it appeared that we had both come to the same conclusion that he'd been drugged.

There are good kennels and kennels that should be closed down...

moggymutt

I would definitely tell the kennels to pay- sounds like he's been in a fight or tried escaping through a hedge.

trolleyrun

I'd expect the kennel to pay too. Sounds like negligence to me. They should have insurance, but even if they don't, they should still pay. Go see them, take all the paperwork from the vet and tell them (don't ask) to pay. Politely, of course

meritaten

Yes, if you can prove you took him straight to vets then the kennels should be 'liable'. if however there was any lapse in time (such as the next day) then the kennels will say it was caused in that time. you need your vet to detail exactly how old the injuries were. and be precise about when you picked him up, and when he saw the vet. because the rest is 'he said she said'. and I am on your side hun! if it comes down to court this is what they are going to want for evidence .

elsien

Did you not get onto the kennels before/after the first vets visit? That's what I did when mutt was ill due to a mistake by kennel staff. As soon as I knew she needed the vets I phoned and told them I expected them to pay, which they did.
Your problem now may be proving the link, as others have already said.

smokey_dave

You have been given good advice by several people. Just two points I will make.
1/ Where you on your own when you collected your dog or were any other persons present ( ie - a witness ).
2/ How soon were you able to get your dog to the vet.