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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not pay this bill?

80 replies

Doggymum · 02/08/2012 14:04

I have name-changed for this, because, well, you guys can be scary! Sorry if it's a bit long, trying not to drip feed

So, the story is that a couple of Saturdays ago I went up to the local park with the dc and ddog. DC took their bikes, I took a ball to throw for ddog. We live in a small village and we were the only ones on the whole park.

Ddog, has a number of doggy friends and is generally friendly with other dogs; however on a few occasions he's growled and snapped at unfamiliar dogs we've come across on walks and so I always put him on the lead the second I see another dog approach.

We'd been there for a few minutes, when just as I'd thrown the ball for ddog, ds fell off his bike, grazing his hands and knees and I rushed over to him to mop up the blood! Just as this was going on, a woman and her dog arrived at the park and before I knew what was happening, ddog and the other dog were fighting. I rushed over, dragged ddog off, took him away and tied him up so I could go back and see how the other dog was doing. He seemed OK, but I apologised profusely and told her that although he seemed OK, if he did need to go to a vet, then to let me know. The woman was very understanding and nice about the whole thing - I felt awful, and cross with myself for being distracted at the wrong moment!

A couple of hours later she turned up on my door and told me that she had decided to go to the vet because the dog and been limping, that he'd had a couple of injections etc and would be going back the next week. I told her to let me know how much it cost, and she told me that she was insured and was happy to claim if the bill went above £75, which was the standard excess. I told her that I would of course pay the excess and we parted on good terms.

A few days ago she came round to see me again, with a bill for £145 and saying that actually, she didn't really want to claim on her insurance so would I please either claim on my insurance or pay the whole thing. Our excess for third party claims is £250, so no point in us claiming and I agreed that I would pay the £145.

DH, however, is not happy. He says that it's unreasonable for her not to claim on her insurance as a) that's what insurance is for b) that's what we'd initially agreed and c) there was nothing to stop her from claiming from her insurance in addition to us paying her the money.

So, who's being unreasonable, me or dh? What would other people do in the same situation?

OP posts:

JeezyPeeps · 02/08/2012 14:24

Your excess is £250. If hers was the same you would have to pay the full amount. If it was you at fault, then I think you should pay the full amount.

fishybits · 02/08/2012 14:26

If you know for a fact i.e through eye witnesses that your dog attacked the second one, you should pay the bill but pay the vet directly after seeing the paperwork and confirming that you are paying for the injuries caused by your dog.

X posted

Rachog · 02/08/2012 14:26

I would pay the bill but I would pay it directly to the vet. Definitely keep your dog on his lead from now on.

Andie20521 · 02/08/2012 14:26

Having been in this position, I would say no problems, and write a cheque in the name of the vet, or if she has paid give her cash but in both circumstance ask for a copy of the invoice (I'd say it was for my insurence company, even though I wasn't about to claim due to the excess, because if the dog has further complications, eg wound turns septic, needs an op etc then you could look to claim)

Yes, I understand she might have been able to claim on her policy, but it will increase the premium substantially, and for the rest of the dogs life.

CakeMeIAmYours · 02/08/2012 14:26

oldraver The op is in no position to be quibbling. If this has been reported to the police, therre would be a good chance of her dog being taken from her and destroyed.

I'm frankly quite shocked that anyone would think otherwise. That said, however, I have often wondered where the anti-dog brigade get their ammo from. Answer appears to be, from irresponsible dog owners like OP.

D0oinMeCleanin · 02/08/2012 14:27

An off lead dog, aggressive dog running up to us when the owner is not watching is my worst nightmare. I walk three dogs at a time. They would act to protect each other if one got into a fight. A small dog would not stand a chance, unless the owner was quick enough to remove it before a fight broke out.

I have control over mine, but rely on other owners to keep their dogs under control.

If this happened to me I'd making a huge song and dance out of it, in the hope that it would spur you into being more responsible.

Pay the bill quietly and thank your lucky stars that 1) your dog/her dog was not seriously injured and 2) that this woman is so understanding.

DaisySteiner · 02/08/2012 14:27

OK, yes, I do know that my dog was responsible because the other was on a lead. However, I do not accept that mine should be on a lead at all times just because he has previously growled and snapped - he is always on a lead when other dogs are around, but on this occasion there were no other dogs around until this one arrived whilst I was distracted and ddog has certainly never, ever done anything more than snap before. Her dog has previously gone for mine in the past - I imagine that on this occasion ddog thought he'd get in first. Certainly I will be even more careful in future, but before this he'd never attacked another dog before and it's actually quite rare for us to even see another dog on our walks - we live in a really quiet village.

BTW, I've seen the bill and it seems genuine, but she's already paid it, so I can't pay the vet directly.

Re - going back on my word, well yes, I agree that I shouldn't go back on it, but she has too by changing her mind about claiming on her insurance!

MarysBeard · 02/08/2012 14:27

You might consider more socialisation training/classes for your dog though, OP.

I don't have a dog but my parents and ILs have labs I regularly look after and they never snap at other dogs.

HipHopSkipJumpomous · 02/08/2012 14:27

You must pay up. Their insurance situation is neither here nor there WRT your obligations to cover the cost of the damage your dog did.

Sorry but "generally friendly with other dogs; however on a few occasions he's growled and snapped at unfamiliar dogs" doesn't cut it. Your dog is aggressive towards other dogs to the extent that it injured this one. You must keep your dog on a lead at all times and it should be muzzled.

akaemmafrost · 02/08/2012 14:27

You should pay it but I would be pretty pissed off about it too if I were you.

CakeMeIAmYours · 02/08/2012 14:27

Agree though, paying the vet directly (the full amount) would be a good compromise.

Kayano · 02/08/2012 14:30

You should pay!

Why was the dog not on a lead if it has form? Seriously

MarysBeard · 02/08/2012 14:30

I don't think we can say is responsible or otherwise. She made a mistake which she admits. Lots of people with aggressive dogs you wouldn't see for dust let alone offering to pay a vet's bill. Let's get some perspective here.

HipHopSkipJumpomous · 02/08/2012 14:30

great NC Daisy :)

Clearly your dog is NOT always on the lead when other dogs are around. And by your own argument, as soon as there is another dog around and your dog isn't on the lead, your dog provokes a fight & injures another animal. Therefore you should not let your dog off the lead unless it walks to heel and stays there permanently (which clearly it doesn't).

Pickles77 · 02/08/2012 14:32

You need to see her vet report and then pay. Unfortunate the same happened to me. I always keep my dog on a flexible lead now even though he has doggy friends too

Kayano · 02/08/2012 14:33

Perspective is a loud and occasionally aggressive dog was not on a lead and not being properly supervised and there is a bill to be paid

The end

D0oinMeCleanin · 02/08/2012 14:33

I wouldn't say it needs to be muzzled, but it needs to be carefully supervised and kept on a lead until proper training has been done.

HipHopSkipJumpomous · 02/08/2012 14:34

I'll admit this scenario frightens me too Dooinmecleanin (no dogs but young DD who for reasons unknown to us all, is terrified of dogs. And they are always bounding up to her)

Ariel24 · 02/08/2012 14:34

Sorry, you don't accept your dog should be on a lead at all times and you always make sure your dog is on a lead when other dogs around? You were distracted, this could happen again for all kinds of reasons. It doesn't matter than you are in a village and hardly ever see other dogs around, there clearly are other dogs around, this happening once is once too much. Our dog is on a lead AT ALL TIMES when in public. So bloody what that she went back on her word, you are lucky she is being so understanding.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 02/08/2012 14:34

Well then, if the other dog was on a lead that puts a different spin on it as it obviously was your fault.....and I presume the injuries were def from your dog attacking it? If so then you have to pay, its the right thing to do.

But yes, if your dog cannot be trusted which he obviously cant then he should be on a lead all the time..next time you get distracted he could be mauling a toddler or such.

Epic name fail too!

fishybits · 02/08/2012 14:34

In that case you need to pay her and just be aware that there may be future vet charges relating to this injury.

MarysBeard · 02/08/2012 14:38

In that case you need to pay her and just be aware that there may be future vet charges relating to this injury.

In which case the OP needs to also enclose a letter with her payment stating that in accepting this payment it is full and final settlement of all claims relating to the incident.

Fair enough to pay up but you don't want to find yourself played like a rusty fiddle.

HipHopSkipJumpomous · 02/08/2012 14:40

Fair enough to pay up but you don't want to find yourself played like a rusty fiddle.

how is paying for the cost of sorting out the injuries your dog caused "being played"?

D0oinMeCleanin · 02/08/2012 14:40

"next time you get distracted he could be mauling a toddler or such" - dog aggressive dogs are not automatically toddler aggressive.

Kayano · 02/08/2012 14:44

But you never know

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