dog boarder won't return money - small claim

julie5113

I would appreciate anyone's thoughts on this. In the summer I had to make a last minute booking (day before as other plans fell through) for someone to look after a dog while I went on holiday.

I found a lady online nearby who advertised as a dog hotel and said she would have the dog for £20 a day. She asked me to transfer money to her bank account to secure place which I did (£160 for 8 days). I took the dog to her the next day a time agreed. She texted me 40 mins later to say things were alright. Then shortly after she rang me and said could I fetch dog as he was jumping the fence and opening the garden gate and letting himself out. I said I would come and get him. She then rang again and said the dog had attacked one of the other dogs. I drove over to get the dog and when I arrived 2 hours into the stay she said the dog had attacked another dog and her builder had witnessed it etc.

I asked her which dogs had been attacked and then went and inspected the two dogs both of whom were very happy and didn't have a mark on them. My dog is a very placid submissive dog and I found it hard to believe her. She then said she had cctv evidence and she would report the dog as dangerous. I said I would like to see the footage (she has not produced it or reported us). However, she then said she would not return any of my money. I could understand her keeping some of the money, say £20, but to keep £160 seemed outrageous.

I have since found out that many people have had problems with her. I tried to report her to the local council, but they said she didn't have a licence so there was nothing they could do. They have some confusion as to whether they need to licence dog boarding when it happens at a person's home and are currently 'trying' to sort it out. This means that this lady can get away with anything basically.

I have taken out a small claim against her. She has no t&c's on her website and neither did she give me any paperwork. I think she just made up the bit about my dog attacking other dogs as she knew she wouldn't have a leg to stand on if she just couldn't keep the dog because it jumped her fence as this would mean her premises were not adequate and she couldn't supply the service. This dog as I said is very docile and despite her ranting on about the attack she has produced no evidence of such.

Please can anyone give me any observations or advice about how to approach this. Thanks

Hintza

julie5113 wrote: »

I have taken out a small claim against her.

You seem to have the ball rolling already.

What evidence do you have that you collected the dog within a few hours? If you are not careful this could turn in to he said she said type argument.

Good luck sounds a nightmare.

JReacher1

Let's be honest your dog must have attacked another dog. A dog kennel is not going to just throw your dog out for nothing. If they did that they wouldn't have a business! Perhaps your dog can't cope in an unfamiliar place.

Still you should be able to get a refund for the money you spent.

hollydays

Did she have a cctv camera even?

hollydays

JReacher1 wrote: »

Let's be honest your dog must have attacked another dog. A dog kennel is not going to just throw your dog out for nothing. If they did that they wouldn't have a business! Perhaps your dog can't cope in an unfamiliar place.

Still you should be able to get a refund for the money you spent.

The op already explained the boarders premesis couldn't contain the dog- that's the reason they didn't want the dog there

hollydays

Law on dog kennels
http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/Publications/Manuals/RatingManual/RatingManualVolume5/sect215/a-rat-man-vol5-s215.html
How could she be exempt?
If you try to find a last minute kennel, I expect this is the kind of establishment you will end up with.

browneyedbazzi

hollydays wrote: »

Law on dog kennels
http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/Publications/Manuals/RatingManual/RatingManualVolume5/sect215/a-rat-man-vol5-s215.html
How could she be exempt?
If you try to find a last minute kennel, I expect this is the kind of establishment you will end up with.

She won't be exempt from the requirement to have a licence for animal boarding - it sounds like the council is incompetent!

sheramber

JReacher1 wrote: »

Let's be honest your dog must have attacked another dog. A dog kennel is not going to just throw your dog out for nothing. If they did that they wouldn't have a business! Perhaps your dog can't cope in an unfamiliar place.

Still you should be able to get a refund for the money you spent.

On the contrary, by throwing it out ,as you put it, and keeping the payment for the whole period they have a very profitable business.

hollydays

Perhaps you should speak to trading standards, either that or the councils licensing department.

xxJudexx

They need a license to board dogs in their own home. I would try and report them to the council as well as claim for the money back.

If she is on social media at all you could also writer about your experience on her pages so potential clients know what she is like.

Stevie_Palimo

Small claims court I would say after writing a letter with 7 days notice to say I require my money back and the evidence here, If she fails with this then you can take action and also prior to the hearing you are entitled to see the evidence from her, By not showing you it she will be more likely to fail in her bid to counter claim/have the case thrown out.


It does not matter if she is registered or not as she offered a paid for service and failed to deliver.