Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think this was Neighbours fault? (diagram included)

166 replies

HiyaMummy · 26/12/2017 15:46

I live on the top floor of a block flats. 2 flats per floor. Rented from a Housing Association. Diagram not to scale

The squares in the corner of the flats are our front doors. Next to our front doors we each get a space, probably the size of an understairs cupboard. The HAs contract with us says this space is for the storage of pushchairs (which I do for DD) and non perishable food and drink items. The alcoves don't have doors on so you can see into each others alcoves and easily access them. We're not allowed to add doors or even poles for curtains/screens - I've asked before, but the HA say the block is secure so anything that gets stolen should be easily found.

Over Christmas I stored some of DDs Christmas Presents and some alcohol there. I left some of the chocolate out there along with some bottles of beer.

Neighbour has a dog. On Christmas Day after coming back from family his dog was off lead and while neighbour unlocked the door, the dog got into my alcove, where he promptly knocked over a crate of beer bottles licked that up and ate some of the chocolate.

This morning neighbour knocks on my door and asks me and DH to pay for the vets bill he's now got as his dog has become very ill from eating and drinking the contents of my alcove.

While I sympathise because it's awful when your pets ill I have a cat and I hate it when she's ill I feel it's the neighbours fault for allowing his dog to be off lead in the communal areas where he may have access to stuff he shouldn't be having such as chocolate.

Neighbour is coming back later to discuss it and I want to know if I'm UR to refuse (we can't really afford vets bills, we have pet insurance for the cat for this very scenario)?

AIBU to think this was Neighbours fault? (diagram included)
OP posts:
DavidBeckhamsleftfoot · 26/12/2017 16:38

Definitely inform him that if he pushes this with you, you will be forced to report his dog to the HA for not being under his control and they may require the dog to be removed from the building. I suspect he'll scuttle off quite rapidly.

KarmaStar · 26/12/2017 16:38

As a dog owner I would ,in this situation,have apologized profusely and offered to replace the damaged and stolen 😊🐕items.
The owner should be in control of their dog.
Do not pay their vet bill OP.
I hope the dog is better soon,not his fault poor boy.

Backingvocals · 26/12/2017 16:39

The line in the contract about storing food and alcohol is .... unusual for a contract.

Tistheseason17 · 26/12/2017 16:39

Unashamedly placemarking for the update...

KarmaStar · 26/12/2017 16:42

P.s.,how long does it take to open her front door?less than a minute?and the dog did all that ?I don't think so.
She's lying.
The dog was out of her control/sight for a lot longer than that.
Not your fault

Maelstrop · 26/12/2017 16:45

I wasn't in when this happened. DH and I were at the pub and DD was with MIL and SIL, so I can't honestly say how long the dog was in the alcove for. Obviously a while! Dark chocolate can make dogs ill, the darker it is, the worse for dogs, but a lot of commercial chocolate won’t have a huge effect, although some dogs will react, obviously.

Has he got vet bills/proof? Regardless, I’d go with your dog was out of control and I will report it next time. Pp is right, he should be apologising for allowing an off lead dog t9 go int and spend some time in your alcove. I would go back to the HA and insist on doors/locks. Their remarks re stuff stolen can easily be found is ridiculous.

Rudgie47 · 26/12/2017 16:48

Dont pay anything, the dog should have been on its lead straight away and the man should have insurance.
Just tell him your not paying and to insure his dog.

ThisNameIsJustForChristmas · 26/12/2017 16:49

He is being a CF! He should be paying to replace the items damaged and/or eaten by his out of control dog!

BattleaxeGalactica · 26/12/2017 16:50

Cheeky fucker.

If anything you should bill him for the goodies his out of control mutt scarfed down.

TSSDNCOP · 26/12/2017 16:55

I reckon the dogs allowed to roam in the communal area. Even the greediest dogs will have taken time to find the booty and scoff enough to incur a hefty vet bill.

Original poster
HiyaMummy · 26/12/2017 16:56

Realised it had happened when I went in the alcove earlier to get the pushchair. There was glass on the floor and the wrappers of two selection boxes where ripped, there's also a large bar of dark chocolate that's been eaten as well. He came out while I was getting the pushchair out which isn't exactly quiet to do and mentioned it.

Dog has cuts to mouth and paws. And I was told he's also on a drip so assume maybe alcohol/food poisoning of some sort (can that happen to dogs?). I don't know much about dogs.

Will definitely look into doors/lockable cupboards in future.

DHs has just got home so Neighbour won't be long.

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 26/12/2017 16:57

As a dog owner, I’d also be offering to replace the goods. As for the dog being left for longer than a few seconds, perhaps yes, perhaps no. I had a lab and when he was a young dog, he managed to scoff 5 or more cream eggs in a few seconds - I forgot I had them in my bag and put on the floor. The amount of time the bag was on the ground would have only been enough time to fumble for keys and unlock a door. He also grabbed a dishwasher tablet out of my hand once as I was taking it out of the packet. Some dogs are lightening fast when it comes to food - or what they think is food.

That said, it is very irresponsible of the owner not to have it under control in the shared space. There could be children around or people frightened of dogs. For that alone I would be reporting him to the council. And for the damage.

I would also request replacement and see what he says cheeky git.

DillyDilly · 26/12/2017 16:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Mummyoflittledragon · 26/12/2017 16:58

Cross post. To drink enough alcohol to get poisoning suggests more than a few seconds.

GlitteryFluff · 26/12/2017 17:02

I think he’s being a CF.
He’s annoyed with himself for not paying attention and so is finding someone to have a whinge at.
If that’s the wording in the tenancy then you’ve done nothing wrong.

origamiwarrior · 26/12/2017 17:09

It will be the dark chocolate that has made him ill, not the beer (I can't imagine a dog would drink beer, if there was chocolate to be eaten). Dark chocolate is the worse type for dogs.

No way will you be paying anything. Neighbour will be paying you for the lost goods, and you will be reporting him for an unsupervised dog

(that's the negotiating starting point - don't expect you'll need to enforce any of these once neighbour realises how cheeky he is being and apologises)

zen1 · 26/12/2017 17:10

Is there not a clause in the contract that states pets should be supervised at all times whilst in communal areas?

OnTheRise · 26/12/2017 17:12

Chocolate is toxic to dogs, so if the dog ate a lot of it then it could be on a drip at the vet's. But this is not your problem. Your missing food items are your problem, and your neighbour has to pay to replace them.

Good luck, OP.

WhoWants2Know · 26/12/2017 17:13

Dogs can be buggers for dark chocolate, and it can be fatal, so I'm sure that's what caused the problem. But just as if the dog picked it up from anywhere else, it's the owner's fault.

PhuntSox · 26/12/2017 17:13

Did the neighbour clear up the mess? If not greet them at the door with a mop and bucket!

Poor dog!

Ikanon · 26/12/2017 17:13

The CF neighbour should definitely be offering to replace the items stolen by the dog. If a child has been unsupervised and the same happened how would it be your fault?

amicissimma · 26/12/2017 17:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FluffyWuffy100 · 26/12/2017 17:15

He’s having a laugh!

When he comes round say “I’m so glad you’ve come over to dischess how and when you’re going to pay for the items your out of control dog ruined whilst you weren’t appropriately supervising”

MrsU88 · 26/12/2017 17:17

Not your fault.... if my dog ate something belonging to a neighbour from their property then that is entirely mine and my dogs fault and we'd owe an apology to the neighbour.

They are trying it on and obviously don't have the dog insured...don't fall for any of it!!

LavenderDoll · 26/12/2017 17:19

Neighbours fault
His dog he should have been supervising it. How long did he allow it to destroy your belongings from your storage. He should be offering to replace your goods