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AIBU?

To send the person who ran my cat over the vets bill?

118 replies

RaaRaaTheLion · 30/06/2015 22:11

Last night, my beloved cat was run over; We arrived home moments after it happened to find a crowd of neighbours in the street around her. The driver had sped off and was nowhere to be seen.
The nieghbours were fantastic and had already called ahead to the vets, even offering to look after DD if needed while we saw to our cat. We rushed her to the out of hours vets, where we were told 2 of her legs were broken, one of which would need amputating and the other setting in plaster, never mind the internal damage which had occurred. She had to be put on oxygen and have a catheter fitted. Had we proceeded, the cost of this would have been £800, plus rehabilitation for her learning to walk again. We decided the kindest thing to do would be to have her put to sleep, as she would have been miserable and myself and DP did not want to put her through more pain - for this, we had to pay out £135 for the treatment she had, the euthanasia and the cost of an out of hours very. We also had to take her home with us and ask my DM if we could bury her in their garden as we are currently renting; cremation would have cost another £100.

This morning, one of the neighbours stopped by to check in on the situation, but also to tell us that he had found the car who hit her, and the road name they live on which is less than a minute from our house.

Would it be unreasonable of me to knock on their door and present them with the vets bill, or at the very least leave a note on their windscreen? Be gentle with me, I loved the daft kitty and really wish we'd kept one of her litter, the last of which left us on Sunday.

OP posts:

Report

Anon4Now2015 · 30/06/2015 22:13

Perfectly reasonable. Though I suspect they may simply deny that it was them and I'm not sure what you do then.

chlo95 · 30/06/2015 22:13

YADNU, so sorry for your loss.

whois · 30/06/2015 22:13

Law says dog - yes, cat - no.

Let them roam free, you takes your chances. This is what pet insurance is for.

TheReason · 30/06/2015 22:14

Sorry to hear about your cat.

Unfortunately, as the owner of an animal you are actually responsible in this case. I work in an insurance company - and if a car is damaged by a dog or cat etc loose on the road, the car owner actually has the right to claim from the animal owner.

whois · 30/06/2015 22:14

I would have stopped to se did it was ok, but if you tried to give me a bill I'd be telling you to jog right on.

exexpat · 30/06/2015 22:15

Condolences on the loss of your cat, but I'm afraid you are BU.

Sadly, if cats are on the loose, they do cross roads, sometimes right in front of cars, and it is not possible to stop in time.

The driver should have stopped (not sure what the legal position is though- they may not be obliged to), and I would be angry in your position that they didn't, but I don't think you can hold them responsible for vets bills. That is something you as a pet owner have to be prepared for.

Goldmandra · 30/06/2015 22:15

Sorry but, unless you have some reason to think they ran her over on purpose, YWBU to give them the bill.

Cats don't have much road sense. The driver probably couldn't avoid her.

Toughasoldboots · 30/06/2015 22:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 30/06/2015 22:16

Oh that sad.

Morally, of course they shouldn't have driven off but legally, my understanding is that there is no liability in respect of any injuries as essentially the law treats cats as feral. Hence why I have no recourse when my neighbours' cats crap all over my garden

DoreenLethal · 30/06/2015 22:18

Most drivers wouldn't actually do it on purpose.

We don't know that they know they did anything - as you weren't there to witness it. Driving off - might mean they don't know they did anything.

Shakirasma · 30/06/2015 22:19

Sorry about your cat OP

I do think YWBU to do that. It was very shitty of them not to stop, but the collision was not necessarily their fault. Unless they deliberately ran your cat over then the accident was just that, an accident. Cats are a pain for suddenly dashing across the road.

However, if you know for certain that they aimed at your cat and hit them deliberately then that would be a police matter.

RaaRaaTheLion · 30/06/2015 22:20

It's not about the money, although I realise that my post made it sound like it was. It was definitely that car, as we took the license plate down. I completely understand what you're saying about cats being legally seen as feral. I probably should have added that she wasn't in the road, but on the pavement when she was hit - 3 people are witness to this.

OP posts:

thatsn0tmyname · 30/06/2015 22:22

I'm really sorry to hear the news about your cat but I don't think the driver is liable, even if they did drive off. Cats are erratic and often run out in front of cars. A driver going at the correct speed and fully concentrating is not at fault and may not have been aware they hit the cat. As a driver I would refuse to pay. I'm sorry.

6cats3gingerkittens · 30/06/2015 22:24

Send them the bill. If l knew who killed my cat a few weeks ago and drove off l would smack them in the teeth as well.
And wrecking their car would make me feel better too. Bastards.
You have all my sympathy for the loss of your pet and l hope you feel happier soon.

chewymeringue · 30/06/2015 22:26

I'm so sorry! How awful for you and your cat of course. I would be very upset about a person running off of they were fully aware they'd run over a pet but to ask them to pay the bill? No way. I'm really sorry but I think that's a very unreasonable thing to do.

hiddenhome · 30/06/2015 22:26

Unfortunately, cats run in front of cars all the time. I've had two who were killed in this way and it was entirely my fault because I allowed them to roam.

The driver shouldn't have driven off, that's nasty and cruel, but they're not liable.

Cats should really be confined in the garden and not allowed near roads.

fastdaytears · 30/06/2015 22:26

This is so sad. I'm so sorry about your lovely cat.

It is difficult from a driver's perspective though. A cat jumped out from a hedge in front of my car at about 6 am on a country road yesterday and I was so upset even though I didn't get anywhere near it. Upset though because I know there would have been nothing I could have done if it had been closer. I was in tears by the time I got to work (ridiculous I know).

I'd check your insurance too if you have it as my policy definitely covers euthanasia and out of hours.

YUDOTHIS · 30/06/2015 22:28

RaaRaa, If the driver was on the pavement and hit your cat while on the pavement I'm sure he/she broke at least one or two laws, Not to mention dangerous driving. fleeing a crime scene is illegal is it not? animal abuse is illegal, if hitting someone/something with your car isn't abuse I don't know what is...

chewymeringue · 30/06/2015 22:28

Do you actually think they did it on purpose? Then you need to call the police.

Pat1ence · 30/06/2015 22:30

Sorry about your cat OP

Unfortunately, they're under no legal obligation to stop. Morally, the absolutely should have I doubt they'll pay if they didn't have the decency to stop. Handing them a bill may just cause you more upset, they're obviously not a very nice person.

DoughDoe · 30/06/2015 22:30

Why was the car on the pavement?

brickinit · 30/06/2015 22:30

YABU

Why should the driver foot the bill when the cat has run in front of his car?
The driver is not at fault!

If you let your cat roam free and your cat runs in front of a car then the cat is at fault, not the driver and you are being very unreasonable to think that the driver should pay.

However, the owner of the car was a real arse for not stopping.

Pat1ence · 30/06/2015 22:31

Just seen that your cat was on the pavement. I wouldn't go round with a bill, if call the non emergency police line and take it from there.

BabyFeets · 30/06/2015 22:32

Yes I would and if they ignore you chase them in the courts.

paulapompom · 30/06/2015 22:32

If the cat was on the pavement that is a disgraceful thing to do! Decent people would stop, and try to help/find the owner. You could speak to the driver but i don't think you will get anywhere, and I would be cautious if you are feeling emotional (understandably), you don't need an unpleasant argument. So sorry about your puss xx

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