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

[HiyaMummy]

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)?

I think you are very trusting to keep such items in a communal area. I’d be very careful about what you leave there in the future and absolutely do not pay their vets bill.

It seems odd and terribly irresponsible of your landlord to recommend that a space outside your door, accessible and visible to to all should be used to store crates of alcohol and food !

Sorry if this has already been said (have to post and run as I was on my way to bed when I saw the thread) but aside from the issue of blame (and I agree OP is absolutely not at fault) it's possible that NDN may be able to get help with vet bills if on a low income. I guess PDSA no longer an option if dog is already being treated at another vet but there are other possibilities - maybe you could suggest this to your NDN if you want to stay on good terms OP (but mainly to help the poor dog which was obviously not to blame).
www.money.co.uk/pet-insurance/how-to-get-help-with-vet-bills.htm
(Article not just about pet insurance btw)

Not your fault. He should have been looking after his dog.

Haha I thought you were going to ask if unreasonable for dog owner for his damaging your items. I would have said hell no ask for the money. Vets bills omg what a cheeky cunt.

my dog is always getting hold of chocolate she is a nightnare but has never been ill

But if I had kids and lived there I would be furious you were storing hazardous breakable bottles there and particularly alcohol. TBH, I think you're quite fortunate it was a dog that got in there rather than a child

You'd have no right to be. If your unsupervised children stole my chocolate and alcohol I'd be fucking furious at you. At least the dog knows no better, one would hope your children would.

Fuck the dog and fuck the NDN too. Cheeky bastard asking you to pay his bills. Invoice his sorry ass for your stolen food/drink.

Hope he is landed with a bill he cant afford to pay.

People like that are a leech on the world - always someone elses fault and demand compensating for their pig-ignorance. Ignore the fucker from now on. If he engages, tell him to fuck right off.

Totally on your side, op, but playing Devil's Advocate. Chocolates are perishable so technically shouldn't have been in the alcove and choc. is poisonous to dogs. However to get through packaging and eat chocs. means dog was unsupervised for several minutes at least. Tell the c.f. to pay his own bills.

I understand your need to eat chocolates as soon as they are in your reach, but chocolates are not considered perishable. They do have a long use by date.

So in the space of two bank hold he seen a vet? Really, get a copy of the paid Bill from vet. Also dogs don't get that ill. Total bullshit

Dogs can and do get that ill.

Of course dogs can get that ill

He is being a CF.

Remind him his dog shouldn’t have been eating your chocolate, it’s not up to you to keep dangerous food out of his reach. Tell him you are being more than generous in not asking him to pay to replace the broken bottles etc.

Ignore him after that.

Also dogs don't get that ill

The can, and they do. Chocolate can be toxic for dogs (depends on type of chocolate and quantity). It can make them very very ill or even kill them.

If the dog was unsupervised long enough to eat an entire chocolate bar, I'd be concerned about it also being unsupervised long enough to knock a child/ elderly person down the stairs. Even small, friendly dogs can easily trip someone who isn't 100% steady on their feet.

Hopefully this is a good wake up call to your neighbour that they should have the dog under control.