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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:
CheekyHobson · 07/11/2024 19:44

“That’s an odd way of saying ‘I’m sorry I made a fuss about our dogs eating some of each other’s food, especially given the huge favour you did me.’ But yes, let’s move on.”

Helpisonitswaydear · 07/11/2024 19:40

Ps. I couldn't not reply with something like this suggested by @Billybagpuss 😆

Helpisonitswaydear · 07/11/2024 19:39

God you have good restraint.... she's insanely rude!!!!! You've saved her a ton of money and gone out of your way to help her, I'd be avoiding her from this point on

Billybagpuss · 07/11/2024 19:38

‘Your gratitude for my dog sitting for you for 4 days is overwhelming!’

or just 👍

unbelievable.

2chocolateoranges · 07/11/2024 19:36

I’d definitely ignore that text. She’s mad! “Calling it quits” 😂😂
4 tins of dog food against 4 nights of dog sitting, no comparison.

TheHangingGardensOfBasildon · 07/11/2024 19:35

But she just says on reflection let's forget about the dog food and 'call it quits'.

Wow! That's the equivalent of tucking in and single-handedly polishing off a four course meal with lobster and several bottles of expensive fine wine; and then saying to your dining companion, who has only had a veggie pasta salad and a Coke, "Let's just split the bill 50/50 and call it quits!"

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 07/11/2024 19:30

I'd ignore her text and just avoid her in future like you did today.

Americano75 · 07/11/2024 19:28

Call it quits? Fuck right off!

diddl · 07/11/2024 19:27

LifeisNOTlikeemmerdalefarm · 07/11/2024 19:24

I bet she's on mumsnet

Well it's certainly a MN non apology & point well missed!

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 07/11/2024 19:25

Send her the bill for dog sitting. No good deed goes unpunished.
I bet she never had a dog sitter in the first place and chanced her arm at asking around and getting the ‘sympathy vote’.

IlooklikeNigella · 07/11/2024 19:25

"definitely not quits, but I'd like to just move on from this very unpleasant experience now." And ignore her forever.

DemonicCaveMaggot · 07/11/2024 19:24

I wouldn't reply anything at all to that text. That woman has more front than Brighton.

Although 'Yes four nights of free dog sitting vs two cans of dog food is totally 'quits'' has a certain, savage, appeal.

LifeisNOTlikeemmerdalefarm · 07/11/2024 19:24

I bet she's on mumsnet

Buffs · 07/11/2024 19:22

Well done you and thanks for updating us. Personally I would avoid making eye contact with the dreadful woman again and please please do let us know if she ever has the nerve to request your dog sitting services in the future!

SatansBobbleheadedDashboardOrnament · 07/11/2024 19:22

Call it quits. 😂 Probably already planning her next holiday to Mauritius and has suddenly realised that she's bitten off the hand that feeds her. Or her dog, that is.

helen32 · 07/11/2024 19:20

Call it quits! She’s insane 😂
good on you op, keeping it civil.
She’s definitely a prat though!

DowntonNabby · 07/11/2024 19:19

If you haven't told anyone, I wonder if she's on MN?!

Trickabrick · 07/11/2024 19:17

dogbiscuitsareforlife · 07/11/2024 19:10

I've had a text. Not sure if anyone has said something to her although I've not spoken to any other mum about it. But she just says on reflection let's forget about the dog food and 'call it quits'. A bizarre take on my dog sitting for 4 nights.

She isn't a close friend just a mum at the school gates so I'm not concerned about losing a friendship although of course it's always nice to get on with everyone. So I'm going to leave it and not do or say anything more.

I’d be so tempted to reply with 👍

BettyBardMacDonald · 07/11/2024 19:16

I give you credit for restraint.

Personally I'd not be able to resist replying "Oh, no problem, I've already removed the cost of the dog food from the invoice. So your balance due to me for four nights of pet sitting is only £150. Here are my bank details.."

Sparklfairy · 07/11/2024 19:13

Are you going to reply 'Apology accepted, and you're welcome' ? Grin

dogbiscuitsareforlife · 07/11/2024 19:10

I've had a text. Not sure if anyone has said something to her although I've not spoken to any other mum about it. But she just says on reflection let's forget about the dog food and 'call it quits'. A bizarre take on my dog sitting for 4 nights.

She isn't a close friend just a mum at the school gates so I'm not concerned about losing a friendship although of course it's always nice to get on with everyone. So I'm going to leave it and not do or say anything more.

OP posts:
FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 07/11/2024 18:47

DO NOT GIVE HER ANY FUCKING DOG FOOD!

What a cheeky cunt.

DerventioRising · 07/11/2024 18:47

Wow. If I got free dog sitting for the sake of a few cans of expensive dog food, I’d think I got a great deal! Tell her you won’t be replacing the cans, but remind her the amount she’s saved in free dog sitting and calculate how many replacement dog food tins she could buy with the money she’s saved through your kindness. The woman is taking the piss.

CheekyHobson · 07/11/2024 18:44

To be honest I doubt there was a dog sitter who “let her down” in the first place. She just sounds like a cheeky fucker who likes to use guilt to get people to cover her costs.

Casperroonie · 07/11/2024 18:37

dogbiscuitsareforlife · 07/11/2024 09:00

I saw her out on dog walk yesterday but avoided her and walked a different way. I know she saw me and sort of stopped and stared at me for a while. Hopefully she'll realise I'm upset over something.

I won't be at school until tomorrow so still deciding whether to hand over tins or not.

She owes you £40 a night and a bottle of wine for the favour, why would you do that.