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Original poster

Can I take legal action? Dog related trigger warning

161 replies

Ellythe · 18/08/2024 01:20

My dog is my baby. I got her 3 years before my child died and she helped me through it all and she knew him.

I am currently in the USA, waiting for a plane home 8 days earlier than planned because I got a call from the woman looking after my dog saying that her Mastiff has mauled my dog and she has lost a leg and an eye in the fight. I've seen the cctv footage and my dog walked near her dog and he lunged at her and then attacked her.

Shockingly the boarder doesn't notice the interaction between the dogs until her neighbour comes running into her house shouting because she can hear my dog yelping and screaming. At the time of the fight the person I paid to look after my dog was grooming another dog and in a completely separate area of the unit. The other person insured to look after the dogs was out at the shop and so there were 5 day care dogs and 4 home boarding dogs + her own 3 dogs.

What is my legal recourse?

I want her to pay for my dog's treatment, the flights etc.

I would never have let her look after my dog if I realised she wasn't in the same area as the dogs. I didn't realise that dogs were being left completely unattended for up to 6 hours whilst she's grooming.

For the avoidance of doubt my dog didn't do anything to cause her dog to attack her, she merely walked passed him and he just went for her.

She is 6 years old and I cannot lose her. She is the last connection I have to my child. I'm beside myself right now. This is hideous.

I need to know what to do next. Do I report to the council? The rspca? The police? I want to take any and all action I can.

OP posts:
redtrain123 · 24/08/2024 07:19

Sending hugs to you and your pooch.

The hoarder should have insurance so you should be able to claim, or can you claim off your pet insurance?

Not sure whether you came home early or not. If so, can you claim that off your travel insurance?

wonderingwhatlifemeans · 24/08/2024 07:19

This may be a bit of help but there is a tripod cat group on Facebook so there may be a dog one too. If not ask to join the cat one and explain the situation. They have been so helpful as my mums adopted feral cat had to have a leg amputated at Christmas and we had no clue what to do. Animals do adapt but in your case it is awful and they shouldn't have to.

FountainsOfPens · 24/08/2024 07:18

FountainsOfPens · 24/08/2024 07:13

She should have insurance.

You should have insurance.

I'd speak to your insurers and ask their advice.

Sorry - I just spotted the update where she paid.

Good for you for trying to also get her closed down. Is your dog is a real cutey!

FountainsOfPens · 24/08/2024 07:13

She should have insurance.

You should have insurance.

I'd speak to your insurers and ask their advice.

Newfluff · 24/08/2024 06:40

She's saying that her insurance company won't cover the cost because she wasn't actively looking after the dogs

So she was uninsured as well.

Op I am so very sorry to read this thread.

Good luck with the legal side of everything

Mummyoflittledragon · 24/08/2024 06:34

What a poor love. ❤️ Your baby knows you love her with all your heart. And your love and strength will help her to heal more quickly. My plonker ate a sock last year and nearly died. He was tube fed in the beginning and had 3 surgeries in the end as the wound herniated. It took a few months but he made a full recovery. Dogs recover much faster than humans.

I am sorry you’re being made out to be some kind of perpetrator with this woman. She sounds absolutely vile. I hope she’s never allowed to own or look after animals again.

Candaceowens · 24/08/2024 06:25

This is absolutely traumatising OP, I'm so sorry.

Fluffyelephant · 24/08/2024 06:07

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Karmaisac4t · 24/08/2024 05:49

How absolutely awful, I’d bury her in legal action until the cows come home. I hope Rosie makes a full recovery.

k1233 · 24/08/2024 05:49

She's a real cutie OP. They bounce back better than you think, so hold on to that thought.

I fully understand your devastation at what has happened to her. You thought she was safe and now feel you've let her down because she's been badly hurt. It's great you've made the boarder pay upfront. Like you I'd be doing everything I could to ruin her business. I'm not sure if the no win no pay lawyers take on these cases, but they may be an option for this sort of negligence. In Australia your dog is treated as property, so be prepared to hear that terminology if you pursue the court route. It's not minimising what has happened to her, but is just how the law works.

LittleTalkingMan · 24/08/2024 05:26

Absolutely horrible! Poor Rosie!

Sweetnessandbite · 24/08/2024 05:26

Your poor baby. I am glad she is home. It is so unthinkable. How is her behaviour now she's home? She's been through an awful ordeal, you both have.

I am glad the boarder has had her licence suspended.

I hope Rosie continues to recover well. I could honestly cry for her x

DowngradedToATropicalStorm · 24/08/2024 05:22

If they have had others looking after the place, i.e., they have broken the terms of their insurance, I would not mention this legally yet.

You want that insurance policy in good working order to get the vet bills paid and compensation for your flights and upset etc.

After that, let rip to stop them running their half assed business.

I would also remove this thread ASAP, see a solicitor and take it from there.

DowngradedToATropicalStorm · 24/08/2024 05:07

Seriestwo · 18/08/2024 01:26

Get home, see your dog.

Take photos.

Make contemporaneous notes of who says what to you.

download the CCTV and back your computer up.

ask the vet for advice about police and lawyers.

I hope your dog is ok, but these questions you have are all tomorrow issues - right now focus on your flight and try to get some sleep.

Don't ask the vet. They are not registered with the relevant bodies to offer legal advice and they would be fools to attempt to do this.

Legally, they are not even supposed to recommend a pet insurance company.

tinklingchimes · 24/08/2024 05:02

I'm so sorry this happened to your dog OP. You are definitely doing the right thing.

Londonrach1 · 24/08/2024 04:56

Just read updates. Rosie so cute. You are amazing op. Please keep reporting. No way should this lady ever board another dog.

Londonrach1 · 24/08/2024 04:48

Seriestwo · 18/08/2024 01:26

Get home, see your dog.

Take photos.

Make contemporaneous notes of who says what to you.

download the CCTV and back your computer up.

ask the vet for advice about police and lawyers.

I hope your dog is ok, but these questions you have are all tomorrow issues - right now focus on your flight and try to get some sleep.

Perfect answer. Hope your dog is ok op. Just travel back safely xxx

Justmyluck2024 · 24/08/2024 04:39

Your poor dog! That is utterly horrific. Does she have insurance? I am no legal eagle, but I would sue, sue, sue until the cows came home! Wishing your pup a quick recovery x

TruffleDaisy · 24/08/2024 04:26

She's saying that her insurance company won't cover the cost because she wasn't actively looking after the dogs

I don't understand this.

She's saying the insurance company won't cover costs because she wasn't doing what she was supposed to be doing, i.e. what you were paying her for?

Wow.

I wonder if she's insured at all, and that's just an excuse.

Licence conditions differ slightly with each council but in order to be 5* she must have met Higher Standards of licence, she will have broken just about all of these with her 'care'.

Does she have all the revelant permissions for her dog grooming business?

Honestly I'd be so, so upset and angry too if I were you.

The fact is, this attack was preventable with the correct care and dog boarding procedures. She's completely negligent.

Original poster
Ellythe · 24/08/2024 04:18

TruffleDaisy · 24/08/2024 04:07

Hi OP, this is horrendous I'm so sorry for what's happened.

I'm a home dog boarder and I only accept 1 dog at a time to ensure each dog is properly cared for and completely safe.

Mixing so many dogs, day care & boarding, using children to watch them, all are so against guidelines and she will lose her licence. Was she even insured? Did she have consent forms for mixing the dogs?

I can't believe they were left unattended, it was waiting to happen and it's so sad it was your beloved pooch.

Since this happened I've found a planning permission application with 7 objections from their neighbour complaining about dogs barking and howling for hours at a time.

I signed a contract saying that she is friendly with other dogs. Basic contract and I wish to God I'd asked more questions.

I will not stop until they are closed. The vet bill is in the thousands as she's been in hospital care has 2 operations, pain killers, fluids etc. in fairness the boarder has paid the vet bill because I made her do that.

She's saying that her insurance company won't cover the cost because she wasn't actively looking after the dogs so she asked us to pay initially and then they'd pay us back but I refused. It happened under her care, she's responsible

OP posts:
TruffleDaisy · 24/08/2024 04:07

Hi OP, this is horrendous I'm so sorry for what's happened.

I'm a home dog boarder and I only accept 1 dog at a time to ensure each dog is properly cared for and completely safe.

Mixing so many dogs, day care & boarding, using children to watch them, all are so against guidelines and she will lose her licence. Was she even insured? Did she have consent forms for mixing the dogs?

I can't believe they were left unattended, it was waiting to happen and it's so sad it was your beloved pooch.

Original poster
Ellythe · 24/08/2024 03:56

Sorry it's been a horrible week. She's home now, I've made a complaint to the police, council, licensing and anyone who will listen. I feel sick that I let her get hurt.

The dog boarder has been suspended but she's still posting on social media about woe is me like it was my dogs fault her dog mauled mine.

I will never leave her with anyone again. If we never go abroad again because I can't leave her then so be it.

I won't share photos of her now because it's actually traumatic looking at her with stitches in her face and a shaved amputated leg.

She's adapted very well to being a tripod though! She's doing well. Still needing hand feeding and she's got a lot of pain killers on board bless her

OP posts:
XelaM · 23/08/2024 22:42

I hope Rosie is doing better OP xxx 😢

Sweetnessandbite · 21/08/2024 14:40

How's Rosie doing?

XelaM · 19/08/2024 20:02

Omg I hope your poor little cutie recovers quickly ❤️ this is so horrible 😞