To not pay the vet bill?

[brazengarfield]

My cat injured a dog quite severely.

Every so often we see a man walking a Yorkshire Terrier past our house. My ginger tomcat is an outdoor cat but stays on the front or in the small forests close to our house with the neighbourhood cats.

I am mostly in the kitchen throughout the day and I've seen the Yorkshire Terrier trying to get from his owner multiple times to get to my cat who sits there with a lazy expression on his face. He's very brave.

Well yesterday evening I was tidying up the garden with my 6yo DS with me and somehow the man lost his grip on the leash for the tiny dog and I saw it charge barking for my cat. Cat goes rigid and yowls and next thing I know the dog is back in the man's arms with blood over his fur and my own cat has blood on himself. The man swears and storms off with the dog. I take my cat to the vet. A couple shallow bites on his front shoulder part and on his left side of his body. No stitches thankfully but antibiotic cream and bandaging and to his chagrin he has to wear a cone for a week.

Today the man came over without the dog and demanded I pay his vet bill of £600. Apparently my chubby 2 year old cat caused some large slashes on the underside of the dog that required some stitches and a bit of scratch marks on the face and over the eye (thankfully it did not damage the eye but just above it) I already paid £80 pounds for my own cat and I am barely financially stable so there's no way I could pay it when I just about managed the money for my own pet. Not that I want to or should have to. He should have kept the tiny 8 pound dog in his grip! My cat defended himself. Had the dog been any bigger my cat could of been seriously injured or killed.

I told him to get lost and shut the door in his face. He was outright rude, swearing and demanding. I now fear of the safety of my cat so I'm going to keep him in for a few weeks. Got cameras up already so the incident was caught.

AIBU to not pay the vet bill??

His dog went for your cat so he must be mad to expect you to pay!

His dog was uncontrollable and caused damage (by biting) to your animal. I'd report it as a dangerous dog.

I don’t think you are being unreasonable it sound like his responsibility but I bet the vets don’t get paid.

YANBU. Dog owner is a twat.

Actually he should be paying your bill surely??

YANBU and I don't blame you for keeping the cat in. Sounds like self defence to me.

YANBU. That's what insurance is for. He had control of his dog and he let go. His dog went on to your property and you can't be expected to pay for your cat defending itself.

Just call 101, it's really easy. That and his abuse towards you!

I wouldn't. He didn't have control over his own dog who has clearly been vying for a fight for a while!

If he asks again say you are reporting him for having a dog not under control in a public place. 😉

brazen I definitely wouldn't and would go after owner gor your costs. His dog invaded your property. You said you have cameras; threaten him with that. Hope your cat recovers well. X

Yanbu hope your cat is recovering well

Erm, he should be paying your bill. His dog attacked your cat who was minding his own business.

Agree with April, he is actually liable for your bill. Cat's are not considered as legal property of their owners in the same way dogs are so regardless you're not responsible for his bill.

That dog should learn to choose his battles. I wouldn't pay vet bills for an animal that tried to obliterate my cat. Stand by your guns and well done to ginger Tom for defending himself and his territory.

No way, the only the you were unreasonable about was not demanding he pay you the £80 for your vet bill! Cf!

I think cats are classed as free spirits, so you're not actually liable if they cause damage.

Not a chance would I be paying . His dog started it , he failed to keep his dog under control , and in attacking your cat , lost the fight . His fault . His problem . Let him sue you , just keep that CCTV footage safely stored .

Some years ago my cat Basil was attacked by an escaped Jack Russell. A lot of blood and emergency vet. Turned out that 95% of the blood belonged to the dog. The owner of the dog was hugely apologetic and paid our emergency vet bill.
If you know where the owner lives I'd be chasing them to pay your £80 bill. His dog was out of control, you owe him nothing. A gentle threat to report his out of control dog to the council might help.

He defo should be paying your bill!!

Dog was out of control and on your property. He should be paying your bill as well as his own. Dog has possibly learnt a valuable lesson. Owner clearly has not.

YAdefinitelyNBU!! Poor cat.

Little dogs can be brazen muppets (I am allowed to say that as I have two of them). The dog owner should have had proper control of his dog.

It might be worth ringing the local dog warden, telling them what happened and asking if you are responsible when someone's out of control dog attacks your cat. It's more likely he'd be liable for your vet's bill. I'd also log it with 101 if he came round shouting and threatening and you are worried he may injure your cat. Let the dog warden and police speak to him.

I have a very cheap vet, I know, but I can't imagine a few stitches and scratches being cleaned would cost that much.

Definitely wouldn't be paying for damage to his dog, he should be paying you, you could also direct him to this website:- www.gov.uk/control-dog-public

You are absolutely not liable for the bill and he should be paying yours. His dog was not being controlled and, if I've read it right, was also in your garden.