Money Moral Dilemma: Should I pay for the iPad my dog broke?

crmism

It seems like your neighbours were doubly careless to leave a phone on a chair where your dog could reach it, and then to leave a fork lying around on the floor. Such things can occur any time, anywhere, however, even by people who look after their belongings, and it's quite possible that your dog was misbehaving.

Lesson one is not to leave your dog with them again, and thereby avoid the possibility of further incidents. Lesson two is to pay up for the phone repair and vet's bill - careless though your neighbours might have been, they were doing you a good turn by looking after it and, had you not left your dog with them, none of this would have happened.

Whatever you do, don't blame the dog.:)

mac9091

No i don't think you should be responsible for your dog breaking their Ipad. It is their responsibility to ensure that their property is looked after.

That said, i then say that the vets bill is your responsibility as your are responsible for your dogs well being.You should have pet insurance in case things like this happen. Just like they should have home insurance (is the claim financially smart is another issue)

TBagpuss

I think you should offer to pay. They were doing you a favour, and presumably they are not used to having the dog in their house so wouldn't necessarily be in the mind set of keeping it 'dog proof'

It would be unreasonable if they were out of pocket as a result of doing you a favour.

If they were professional dog-sitters it would be different, but as they are not, then you should pay.

The vet bill should be covered by your pet insurance and again, this sounds like an accident, they should not have to pay for that.

In future, you can always chose to use a professional dog-sitter, put the dog in kennels or take it with you.

stattman

I think this is really simple.

See what it is will rectify the situation. So there's no point trying to second guess what the outcome is.

What are you happy to see as the outcome and what is it they want?

If there a gap, then figure out how to compromise. Like I said it's not difficult.

If you find it easier to meet their expectations, but are not happy about it, Then tell them! You'll do x, y, z, but then make sure they know it's going to have an impact elsewhere... (on the friendship or whatever). I'd make a fuss about the size of the vet's bill. !

Next time try the kennels - less hastle and they have public liability insurance. ! Good Luck.

001LJ

My parents visited my house and I specifically told my dad not to leave his shoes on the floor as the dog WOULD chew them, dad forgot and the shoes got chewed. I immediately offered to replace but my dad would not accept, he was aware of the behavioural issue and ignored my instruction, he was happy to replace himself.
The next time he visited, he kept his shoes safe, but left his brand new electric shaver on the floor, the dog destroyed it. I again offered to pay, he would not accept as he blamed himself for leaving something within the dogs reach.
We then visited my dads house with the dog, this time he dog chewed the brand brand new replacement shaver. I immediately offered again to pay for this, but again my dad refused, he had let the dog in to his house and left something lying around, he considered it his fault.
HOWEVER....my dad did not offer to pay for vet checkup or X-ray fees, nor would I have asked him to. My dog, my responsibility!

Hodgie

Your neighbours have admitted that your dog trod on a fork. As they agreed to look after it, whether for gain or not, they are negligent.

You only have their word that the dog caused damage to the tablet. It (the tablet) must have been left in a precarious position otherwise it wouldn't have been knocked off. That ain't the dog's or your fault.

That's playing devil's advocate but I'd suggest that you pay the vet's bill and let the neighbour pay for the repair.

That was you needn't lose friends just over a dog.

JuliusCaesar

Your neighbours were doing you a favour. What did they get out of it?

Next time your dog needs a holiday, put yourself into kennels.

terill

I think this is a case of the right answer not being the best answer. If your dog ran into the neighbours house uninvited and broke the iPad then no question you should pay. However they were looking after the dog at the time so really it's up to them to pay. However, if they look after your dog a lot and save you £100s in kennel fees over the year then you should pay. It is only the screen which won't be too expensive to fix. If not they prob won't help you out in future so will cost you more in long run. Also, I don't think it's fair to expect them to pay for vets fees. A fork accidentally dropped on the floor (may even have been the dog knocked it off a table) shouldn't be a course for suing. Suck it up, pay for the screen, keep your friendship and tell yourself it's cheaper in the long run to do it this way.

[Deleted User]

Split both the repair bill and the dog in half.

marich

A dog's foot injured by standing on a fork ! Mon cul !

Sounds like another desperate MSE "What'll it be this week".

Broken screen - tough luck or carelessness ? Sounds like they won't be Woof-sitting next time . Do you believe them ? Was it their child blaming the dog ? All sounds very lame...