Should my friend contribute to vet fees?

flossy_splodge

marich wrote: »

Given the Election season is upon us , I think you should take a leaf out of the politicians' present hymn-book .

Your friend should not have to pay a single penny because it's the dog's responsibility to behave sensibly and avoid barbed wire . The vet's bill should be paid for by cutting the dog's food benefits until the bill has been paid.

You can be assured this choice will restore the dog's dignity , not just physically but also spiritually . After all , every dog should know there's no such thing as a free lunch !

oh I LOVE IT!
What on earth happened to personal responsibility? Its no wonder this country is in a mess.
She was in charge, its HER responsibility.
End of.

gettingready

MSE_Sam_M wrote: »

A friend was walking my dog Nutmeg last week when Nutmeg ran into some barbed wire no one knew was there. The vet cost me over £300, but my attitude is, she's my dog, so my responsibility.

However, my friend feels guilty and has offered to pay half the vet fees. I want to decline but my husband feels my friend should have been more careful and wants me to accept her offer. What should I do?

your friend should be more careful about barbed wire that nobody could see? your friend should contribute to vet fees while he/she was doing you a favour walking your dog?

refuse any money from the kind friend you have

give the dog a belly rub

happyinflorida

Can you afford the vets bill or are you struggling to pay it? If you can afford, you have your answer.

Was it partially your friends fault that the dog ran into the barbed wire - were they not paying full attention, ie using their mobile phone?

Can your friend afford it or are they just offering because they feel bad about it? If they cannot afford, you should not accept as it is your dog and this friend was doing you a big favour in taking it for its walkies.

Train your dog better too - it should walk a lot calmer and not go so mad when out that it harms itself this much.

Also I hope you have already cut down this barbed wire so no other animal gets injured?

happyinflorida

marich wrote: »

Given the Election season is upon us , I think you should take a leaf out of the politicians' present hymn-book .

Your friend should not have to pay a single penny because it's the dog's responsibility to behave sensibly and avoid barbed wire . The vet's bill should be paid for by cutting the dog's food benefits until the bill has been paid.

You can be assured this choice will restore the dog's dignity , not just physically but also spiritually . After all , every dog should know there's no such thing as a free lunch !

You horrible person - I hope you have not got a dog and you never get one.

TBagpuss

Your friend was doing you a favour, from what you have said she was not careless and didn't do anything wrong, so no, she should not pay.

If she had let the dog off the leash when you had told her not to do so, or takes the dog to an area you had told her not to go due to barbed wire, it might be different, but she has done nothing wrong.

Paying vets fees is part of owning a pet.

Don't let her pay, and if she pushes, suggest that she buy the dog a treat.

Fujiko

Certainly she should not be expected to pay although as others have suggested a few doggie treats would be a nice gesture. I'm sure she was mortified at what had happened.
It is good to hear of someone having such a good friend. So many of the problems on here seem to be about friends who are anything but, so be grateful for that. I hope your four-legged companion was not too badly injured and is now getting better.

fairy_lights

I took my boyfriends parents dog for a walk once - he somehow managed to get a twig stuck in his mouth and they had to take him to the vets to get it removed. I felt terrible about it, the poor dog was so distressed and it cost them £20 just to get the stick pulled out with a pair of forceps!
I offered to pay but they wouldn't hear of it, he was their dog and their responsibility, and they felt that any accidents he had were their problem, and as I'd been doing them a favour by walking him in the first place it wouldn't be fair for me to pay. If they'd accepted the money for it I think it would have put me off walking him again to be honest, accidents happen.

maiasopohie

All dog owners must have insurance! Legally only 3rd party liability but still... Your friend was doing you a good turn & it's very generous for them to offer. I presume you can claim it on your insurance anyway, so no need for her to pay. But if It was me, I'd feel really bad & a bottle of wine would do, or just the excess on your policy. My dogs are only covered for Accident as Illness is too expensive... But still, there's a £70 excess. I might ask for no more if any if she's volunteered to pay.

Johnny_Dangerously

maiasopohie wrote: »

All dog owners must have insurance! Legally only 3rd party liability but still...

Insurance isn't mandatory. No need for it if you don't want to take it.

hannerrbabes

As you said that noone knew the barbed wire was there, it could not have been avoided. Thus, noone is at fault. However, the fact that you decided to own a pet means that you have accepted any financial burden which is bound to come upon you. Therefore, don't accept the offer.