Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Friend asking for dog food 'compensation'

705 replies

dogbiscuitsareforlife · 04/11/2024 10:43

What do you make of this.

One of my school mum friends, (I'll call her Mary) has a dog and we often bump into each other out for dog walks and walk along together. Not super close, but chatty and friendly

Last week Mary told me she had been let down by a dog sitter for a holiday. She couldn't find anyone so I offered to help. Our dogs get on well and I'm used to having more than one, although at the moment only have one. She asked how much I'd charge but I said no bother just provide his usual food and treats, which she did. Her dogs food is a superior top end brand to the food I give mine.

All was great whilst we had him, but when feeding, the dogs seemed to favour each others food and swapped between bowls. I didn't think too much of it but did mention it to one of the other mums at the school gates in a jokey way, saying my dog obviously preferred the more expensive brand to the supermarket stuff I provided. Whereas her dog really liked the cheaper stuff.

Mary has obviously been told and today asked me if I fed my dog her dogs food. I was a bit taken aback but explained the above and of course I did give her dog its own food but sometimes dogs want what the other dog has.

She was very cold and told me to compensate her for any tins I gave my dog as she wasn't there to provide for my animal! I'm totally bemused, I saved her £100's in dog sitting fees and although I'm not now going to charge her she must see she is totally unfair.

Or am I wrong and should I buy a pack of 4 tins to give her. My DH says ignore but I don't want bad feeling.

OP posts:
Dontlletmedownbruce · 04/11/2024 13:18

It's a pity you didn't still have bags of her dog's poo. You could return it to her house for her to dispose of.

EnterFunnyNameHere · 04/11/2024 13:16

Work out what the difference in price between your usual food and her premium food, then message back to say:

Dear Mary, to clarify, I put your food out for your dog and my food out for my dog. It's not my fault they chose to swap! However, if the £ you feel you lost by my dog eating some of your food is so much more important than the ££££ you saved when I offered to dogsit for free, I'll transfer the money - just let me know your details.

CheekySwan · 04/11/2024 13:15

give her the food back along with an invoice for boarding and dog walking, include the invoice somewhere that food costs have been covered also, cheeky bitch

Dontlletmedownbruce · 04/11/2024 13:12

No way would I compensate her. If she pushes it just tell her you'll adjust it off your nightly rate and she can transfer the money she owes you. Absolutely no way would I be paying her. Shocking behaviour. If she starts bad mouthing you let her because it will be a reflection on her and not you. Any rational person could see she is way out of order here.

doodleschnoodle · 04/11/2024 13:10

Hi Mary, just want to check: you're asking me to give you money after I looked after your dog for free? I'm sure I've misunderstood what you mean, as that sounds crazy written down, doesn't it?! So just wanted to check as obviously wires have got crossed somewhere!

But seriously, she's a twat and I wouldn't be speaking to her again.

Jellyslothbridge · 04/11/2024 13:10

Did she give you exactly the correct amount of food for the dogs stay or did she provide extra that was or was not returned?
I would message and say just so you are clear in case you got the wrong end of the stick I gave your dog his food and my dog my food at no point did I use your supplies instead of my own. They sometimes swopped and it is hard to estimate how much was munched. If given this information you still feel I owe you compensation I will estimate how often this happened and what percentage of the tin was consumed and give you the difference between the cheaper and more expensive food.

Porridgeislife · 04/11/2024 13:10

Raspberryripple11 · 04/11/2024 13:05

I would say the dog is the one suffering…

But there’s many more things that could happen than vomiting/diarrhea.
Short term - stomach pain, itchy mouth, bloating, increased thirst, increased hunger, increased urination, constipation
Even if just for a few days it could cause longer term skin and digestive problems.

If your dog is at risk of long term issues if he/she doesn’t eat her prescribed food, then you’d make that extremely clear to whoever is taking care of him/her. OP is not at fault for dogs being dogs.

LovelyDaaling · 04/11/2024 13:10

How could she even bring herself to ask for the money.

Cosycover · 04/11/2024 13:09

The cheek of some people astounds me.

I'd be really tempted to go down the petty route and give her back a half tin of food. With a huge smile on my face.

Jifmicroliquid · 04/11/2024 13:09

I wonder how it was worded to Mary to make her react this way. Someone has been stirring the pot.

premierleague · 04/11/2024 13:06

Send her an invoice for the cost of you looking after the dog, and subtract the cost of the food. she'll still owe you....

Phoenix1Arisen · 04/11/2024 13:05

Well, now you (and loads of other people) know why she "couldn't find anyone" - line 6 of the opening post.

Raspberryripple11 · 04/11/2024 13:05

LordEmsworth · 04/11/2024 12:21

If it had upset her dog's stomach then surely OP would have been the one to suffer... it's a pretty swift feedback loop!

I would say the dog is the one suffering…

But there’s many more things that could happen than vomiting/diarrhea.
Short term - stomach pain, itchy mouth, bloating, increased thirst, increased hunger, increased urination, constipation
Even if just for a few days it could cause longer term skin and digestive problems.

StasisMom · 04/11/2024 13:04

apostrophewoman · 04/11/2024 10:46

Offer to recompense her for the tins when she's paid you £40 a night for dog boarding.

Yes!!!

Idontjetwashthefucker · 04/11/2024 13:00

BarbadosItsCloserThanYouThink · 04/11/2024 11:23

Most dogs get the same thing everyday so it probably was exciting for them to swap.
This woman is a dick, and if she brings it up again I'd say oh I thought you were joking, I didn't for one moment think you'd be serious after I looked after your dog for you free of charge and probably saved you much more than the food cost.

I'd go with this response rather than telling her you'll give her an invoice for the dog sitting. You said you'd do it for free so it's silly to now say you expect payment

LuckySantangelo35 · 04/11/2024 13:00

DO NOT buy her any tins OP, you would be a complete doormat if you did that.

Cattyisbatty · 04/11/2024 12:53

Did you do this for free? If so there's no way I would compensate, sorry.

ManchesterLu · 04/11/2024 12:53

XelaM · 04/11/2024 10:51

Really not a big deal 🙄 It's quite funny when dogs prefer a more expensive brand 🤷‍♀️ I can't believe anyone would think twice about a harmless comment like that

Yeah I agree - and it's even more funny when the dog prefers the cheaper brand when you've been paying loads for expensive, posh food for years!!

OP, this person is being absolutely batshit. Tell her to sod off, and remind her how much she would have had to pay if she'd paid a professional to take care of her dog.

MSLRT · 04/11/2024 12:52

What a cow. Definitely do not give her any money. I would make it very clear that you were doing her a favour which you will not be repeating. Maybe tell the mums at the school gate who seem quite good a relaying what you have said.

Funnywonder · 04/11/2024 12:51

wheretoyougonow · 04/11/2024 12:13

Ask her to replace the tins that her dog stole from yours.....

🤣🤣

jannier · 04/11/2024 12:50

Tell her straight I happily took your dog for free saving you £x I walked him, picked his shit up etc not wanting a thing but because my dog got to his bowl and vice versa you want me to pay you give your head a wobble and don't ask me again.

DysonSphere · 04/11/2024 12:48

BeensOnToost · 04/11/2024 12:42

I'd buy the food, cool things a little and wait patiently for the prime moment to throw it in her face when she needs a favour.

"You must be joking, last time I petsat I got accused of pinching your dog food, not a chance I'm putting myself in that position again."

This!

Give her the tins. Act fine about it. When she wants a favour next tell her absolutely no way in hell.

Floppyelf · 04/11/2024 12:47

BeensOnToost · 04/11/2024 12:42

I'd buy the food, cool things a little and wait patiently for the prime moment to throw it in her face when she needs a favour.

"You must be joking, last time I petsat I got accused of pinching your dog food, not a chance I'm putting myself in that position again."

And let people know what a cunt she is.

SpunkyKoala · 04/11/2024 12:47

Tbh when I’ve looked after my friends dog there’s always an element of food envy and they all want what the other has

Floppyelf · 04/11/2024 12:46

You’re an idiot for doing something for free which people usually charge for. take note, the cf took the piss because you already let her know that you’re open to being treated like a slave.