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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go halves on this??

39 replies

cmac76 · 01/06/2022 14:19

Ok so I have never been in this situation before so really keen to get others view on this. Apologies if it’s long.

we have a Labrador (20 months) who is v placid/affectionate and fairly calm most of the time. He goes to a doggy daycare place once a week where we drop him off and he goes nuts running round for 3 hours. This is one of the few times where he is NOT calm and jumps around when he gets there and he is like a different dog compared to at home.

I went to pick him up today and they told me he smashed a huge window!! They have a coffee shop there and the dogs go in and out of a section covered in stones next to the coffee shop. I had handed him over beforehand so he was with the people who run the place. He managed to kick up some stones that cracked the window and then somehow (I’m not too clear on this next bit) threw himself/jumped up at the window and the whole thing cracked. This window is about 2m x 1m and really thick. I’m astounded…

Anyway they haven’t asked for money directly and when I asked if it would be insured the owner said he’d have to find out. I said let me know and what the excess will be. Who is at fault here and what should I pay if anything?

The other thing is had the glass actually fell out, it could have resulted in serious injury for anyone/any dog in that area. Is this just a really unfortunate accident or what?? Really don’t know what to think??

AIBU to pay something / all or nothing? Generally my dog loves going and we’ve never had an issue but I can see we need to work more on his impulse control too

OP posts:
LightandMomentary · 01/06/2022 14:23

It's a commercial insurance claim for the day care owners. You were not there, you were not in charge of the dog, they were and hence I'm at a loss to see why you should pay for any of this. If there's a low excess, it would be a lovely gesture to pay for it, but if in offering they then think that you in any way should be financially responsible (UNLESS it says so in your day care contract), I'd be very careful. I would also want proof that it was your dog who caused the damage in that case, given that it doesn't sound as if your dog has any injuries.

FiveShelties · 01/06/2022 14:24

I would have been more worried that my dog was ok.

SleepingStandingUp · 01/06/2022 14:27

I wouldn't pay. They're meant to be caring for him and you're fortunate it isn't a question over vets bills

Original poster
cmac76 · 01/06/2022 14:28

Well yes that was the first thing I asked but he seems fine although am keeping an eye. He didn’t hit it with his head apparently and nothing shattered but could have been terrible. I suggested he shouldn’t come in or out that way (by big glass windows in a stony area) in future??

OP posts:
Nothingiseverything · 01/06/2022 14:29

They were supposed to be looking after your dog which involves keeping him under control. They were responsible for him. You were paying them to be. Do not pay a penny. It has nothing to do with you. They let your dog run amok in an area they shouldn't have. Any damage caused is their responsibility.

SamphirethePogoingStickerist · 01/06/2022 14:33

Jesus! If they don't have insurance then they are mad, and illegal.

Your dog should have been their priority, damage caused is secondary and their responsibility, as they were in charge of him.

Stop feeling guilty, get angry, or at least a tad annoyed.

Original poster
cmac76 · 01/06/2022 14:36

You’re right I do feel guilty but should actually be more concerned about their inability to keep my dog safe.

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 01/06/2022 14:37

Yep I agree that that’s what insurance is for

Id be more concerned that my dog managed to jump through a glass window and didn’t get any injuries at all?! It doesn’t add up?

Original poster
cmac76 · 01/06/2022 14:39

The glass didn’t actually break, it’s completely cracked in thousands of tiny pieces so is v close to shattering

OP posts:
FuchsAndMöhr · 01/06/2022 14:40

Absolutely don’t pay. They were in charge and they ‘allowed’ this to happen!

I would be finding a new doggy day care to be honest 🐶

HairyBum · 01/06/2022 14:41

This should be safety glass or at least covered with clear film exactly for this purpose. I don’t think it’s your debt to pay

LookAtThatCritter · 01/06/2022 14:43

Usually in the contract it says what you’re liable to pay for, I’ve never seen damage listed as something you’re liable for. Usually they say they can’t be held responsible for vet bills etc (at least in the ones I’ve been to). I definitely wouldn’t offer to pay for anything as that would be covered under wear and tear for their premises I would think. My youngest pup likes to throw herself at things (walls, windows etc) when she gets really excited, so I wouldn’t necessarily be worried that they aren’t watching your pup but I’d be asking how many staff they have per number of dogs etc to make sure they do have the ability to watch & separate properly if needed.

Zigzagzoozoo · 01/06/2022 14:43

I don’t think the place sounds great from the description to be honest. A dog day care where they just let the dogs go bananas? I most certainly wouldn’t be paying or offering to pay as your dog was in their (paid) care which makes it their responsibility to keep him and everybody else in the facility safe. They weren’t friends who were looking after your dog as a favour, they are a business who should be insured against this sort of thing.

LicoricePizza · 01/06/2022 14:44

Yanbu. Was the glass safety glass bcos they need to be complying with H&S requirements too?

LightandMomentary · 01/06/2022 14:44

..so safety glass then. The glass has done its job so that's good. It's an insurance job, plain and simple and if they don't have insurance for that kind of incident, they need to pay for it themselves.
I've had an 'incident' at day care before and they were not insured for damage to pets under their care (caused by another pet, by complete accident). They did however pay for the vet bills for my dog and never suggested anything remotely approaching us contributing. They paid, we thanked them, we continued to go and they're utterly fabulous. Accidents happen.

ClocksGoingBackwards · 01/06/2022 14:47

You shouldn’t have to pay anything. It’s their choice to allow dogs into an area covered in stones when there’s a great big glass window nearby. It’s pretty normal for dogs to dig or scrape their back legs along the ground kicking up whatever’s there, so it’s a risk they should have been able to foresee if they’re running a business.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 01/06/2022 14:47

They are 100% at fault. If their business is used for dogs, their premises needs to be dog proof. If not and he had been injured it would be you that was owed compensation.

Jedsnewstar · 01/06/2022 14:51

Not a chance would I pay. I would check your dog carefully for injuries and would be claiming from them for any. The dog didn’t break anything, he wasn’t looked after well enough resulting in something which could have caused him serious injury.

Fidodidit · 01/06/2022 14:54

it’s up to them to make sure their property is appropriate for the purpose for which it is being used. Your dog could have been injured - would you have been willing to pay for the damaged window then? I’m guessing not and you would have been annoyed that it was possible for that to happen.

EinsteinaGogo · 01/06/2022 14:57

Doesn't sound like they expected you to contribute, OP - was it you who brought up the subject of payment?

Your reaction should have been the same as a child at nursery:

"Oh my god, is he ok, how on earth did that happen, is anyone else hurt, I'll keep an eye on him, thank you for letting me know".

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 01/06/2022 14:58

when I asked if it would be insured the owner said he’d have to find out

I would be looking for alternative doggy day care... do NOT offer to pay for anything. None of this is your fault. Your dog was in their care when this happened.

Beachsidesunset · 01/06/2022 15:02

My dog pulled a radiator off a wall the first time she was in kennels. They apologised to me for any risk of injury and claimed it on their insurance!

StrangeCondition · 01/06/2022 15:06

Beachsidesunset · 01/06/2022 15:02

My dog pulled a radiator off a wall the first time she was in kennels. They apologised to me for any risk of injury and claimed it on their insurance!

Why was your dog tethered to a radiator?!

Ponderingwindow · 01/06/2022 15:08

I wouldn’t pay anything.
they set up the daycare space themselves and were responsible for supervising the dogs. The space should be able to handle boisterous dogs. If it can’t, it’s not fit for purpose.

Mariposista · 01/06/2022 15:17

Do not pay. I have a labrador and at 20 months your boy is still very much an excitable puppy. They should have noticed he was getting a bit over excited and taken him somewhere to calm down. Poor thing could have really hurt himself, or another dog/human. Their responsibility to have shatter proof glass