to expect her to pay the full amount?

[ameliarose78]

About a year ago I met Z through a dog club, we have the same type of dog and we met up a few times.

Z has a mental illness and as such doesn't work and relies on a pension, her DP works full time - no DC.

She put a post on FB asking if anyone could mind her dog for 2 weeks while her and dp went on holiday - I said I could, she offered to pay me but I said there was no need.

During said dog's stay at my house, she jumped onto my bedside draws from my bed and ate a piece of dark chocolate. As she is a very small dog this was a toxic level and I had to bring her to the vet for emergency treatment - total bill was 300 quid.

I asked her owner to pay me back for this. This was roughly 6 weeks ago and as yet I haven't seen any money - just saying how hard it is for them, how they can't afford it and promising to have paid it numerous times and have had it 'bounce back'.

So AIBU to ask her to pay the full sum and should I go round to her house and ask her for it?

Do they have insurance? If so, thy should be able to claim this money back anyway.

Was the dog not insured ?

Surely the dog was in your possession so it's is your responsibility.......

Yes! You should have made sure the dog didn't get the chance to eat chocolate! It happened on your watch, you suck it up.

I think it's a bit unreasonable really - surely if you were taking care of the dog and allowed it to get hurt it's your fault / bill.

I'm not sure. You had a duty to look after the dog. You should have made sure it couldn't get to chocolate- you're at least partly to blame.

Tricky as the dog ate the chocolate on your watch, so maybe she thinks you're responsible? Has she spoken to you about it at all? I would pay if it was my dog though, small dogs are like toddlers and reach all the stuff you thought you had hidden away.

Well, you shouldn't really have left chocolate out in a place where the dog could get it so easily, so it could really be seen to be partly your fault, but then again you looked after the dog for free. I'd say they probably just haven't got the money, especially if they have just paid for a holiday. Could you ask them to pay in £50 instalments? And maybe just ask for £200 or £250 as it was your fault.

The dog ate the chocolate whilst in your care. It could have died.

I think you have a nerve asking for any money at all.

The dog was under your supervision, total in your care and your own house.

It was not in the care of the owner in any way.

This was not as a result of an existing health complaint.

You looked after her dog allowed it to eat poisen and then expect her to pay the bill.

Delightful

Why was the chocolate left lying out?

TBH I think you should bear at least some of the costs of the vet's bill at the incident happened due to your lack of diligence.

Not flaming, just stating. Sorry.

She left her dog with you. You were responsible. Hence the responsibility lies with you!! As a dog owner yourself surely you should have been more careful?

It was your responsibility, she shouldn't pay you

I'd expect to be paid back - but if they are struggling to come up with the £300 all at once I'd discuss a monthly repayment based on what they can afford?

She left the dog with you. The dog was your responsibility. You made the chocolate accessible for the dog. You have to pay the bill.

Id be too mortified that I had nearly killed her dog! I wouldn't dream of asking for money.......

I can't believe you asked her for a penny. You hurt her dog and you want her to pay for that?!

Paying the vet bill is the least you should do. If you had looked after the dog properly like you offered to do you could have saved yourself the £300 but you didn't. So that's your tough luck.

I think you are being very cheeky asking for her to cover a cost that you caused! You should not have asked her for the money.

Huh. Mumsnet really surprises me sometimes.

If someone was kind enough to look after my dog for free, and then had to organise and pay for emergency vet treatment because my dog stole food, damn right I'd pay them back in full.

The OP didn't feed the dog chocolate deliberately. She was careless at worst.

And I say that as a dog owner and lover.

Yup your fault.

You let the dog go upstairs and therefore have access to the chocolate.

An accident im sure but you should have dog proofed

The dog was in your care! You left chocolate somewhere easily accessible. Why on earth should she pay?! Yeah, she should have insurance for it but if she doesn't it's something you should have checked before offering to look after it for free.

There's no way I'd ask her for money. It was your responsibility not to leave a fatal amount of chocolate where a dog could get it.

Why did you let it upstairs, never mind into your bedroom. And as for the chocolate - the dog shouldn't have been allowed/able to get it. Very easy to avoid if it's a small dog - put it on a high shelf (the chocolate, not the dog ha ha!)

That said, I think not having pet insurance is irresponsible.

Welcome to Mumsnet OP.

You are responsible for the costs incurred by your neglect. HTH