Friend asking for dog food 'compensation'

[dogbiscuitsareforlife]

What do you make of this.

One of my school mum friends, (I'll call her Mary) has a dog and we often bump into each other out for dog walks and walk along together. Not super close, but chatty and friendly

Last week Mary told me she had been let down by a dog sitter for a holiday. She couldn't find anyone so I offered to help. Our dogs get on well and I'm used to having more than one, although at the moment only have one. She asked how much I'd charge but I said no bother just provide his usual food and treats, which she did. Her dogs food is a superior top end brand to the food I give mine.

All was great whilst we had him, but when feeding, the dogs seemed to favour each others food and swapped between bowls. I didn't think too much of it but did mention it to one of the other mums at the school gates in a jokey way, saying my dog obviously preferred the more expensive brand to the supermarket stuff I provided. Whereas her dog really liked the cheaper stuff.

Mary has obviously been told and today asked me if I fed my dog her dogs food. I was a bit taken aback but explained the above and of course I did give her dog its own food but sometimes dogs want what the other dog has.

She was very cold and told me to compensate her for any tins I gave my dog as she wasn't there to provide for my animal! I'm totally bemused, I saved her £100's in dog sitting fees and although I'm not now going to charge her she must see she is totally unfair.

Or am I wrong and should I buy a pack of 4 tins to give her. My DH says ignore but I don't want bad feeling.

I’d give her the tins back but I’d make it clear how petty I thought it was considering how much it would have cost her for a sitter, which I’d done for free. I would have thought she’d be glad OP got a little something out of it if she hadn’t charged her and had stepped up at short notice. I’d also make it clear not to ask again.

Honestly cannot understand all the people saying they'd give her the tins as some kind of courtesy!

The most courtesy I'd show her would be not telling her where she could shove her tins!

No way would I buy her the tins, she's a CF for asking after you doing her a favour like that and not asking for anything in return, tell her you won't be buying any food or doing her any more favours either

@dogbiscuitsareforlife - The fact that she hasn't tried to reach out to you so far after her demands to be reimbursed for the dog food speaks volumes to me at least. I think she still wants to be reimbursed. She could have shouted out to you, called your name today and asked you to stop to discuss the situation. She didn't.

When you see her tomorrow, at the very least be prepared for one of two situations - she either doubles down on the demand to be compensated for the dog food (and you have your reply ready for that) or she apologises and realises what a cheeky fucker she was to suggest it (and you have your reply ready for that scenario too).

If she still wants compensation, you have the reply of actually wanting to talk to her about how much she owes you for dog sitting and you can provide her with with your details so that she can transfer the money to you as you are standing there. If she realises what an eejit she has been, then you can say "Well, Mary, I did wonder. It seems like such a simple thing for us to be falling out over. I'm glad that we can put this behind us now", plus you can always refuse to look after her dog in the future saying "I'd rather not Mary - you know how you were the last time looking for compensation for dog food so you'll have to find someone else to do it or pay a kennel to do it, but the boarding house of "Dog Biscuits Are For Life" is fully booked!" or something like that.

Totally agree, some things you just keep to yourself. It's obviously wound her up but she's a CF wanting any money.

She should tell her to take it off the £40 a night fee she would have paid.

She owes you £40 a night and a bottle of wine for the favour, why would you do that.

To be honest I doubt there was a dog sitter who “let her down” in the first place. She just sounds like a cheeky fucker who likes to use guilt to get people to cover her costs.

Wow. If I got free dog sitting for the sake of a few cans of expensive dog food, I’d think I got a great deal! Tell her you won’t be replacing the cans, but remind her the amount she’s saved in free dog sitting and calculate how many replacement dog food tins she could buy with the money she’s saved through your kindness. The woman is taking the piss.

DO NOT GIVE HER ANY FUCKING DOG FOOD!

What a cheeky cunt.

I've had a text. Not sure if anyone has said something to her although I've not spoken to any other mum about it. But she just says on reflection let's forget about the dog food and 'call it quits'. A bizarre take on my dog sitting for 4 nights.

She isn't a close friend just a mum at the school gates so I'm not concerned about losing a friendship although of course it's always nice to get on with everyone. So I'm going to leave it and not do or say anything more.

Are you going to reply 'Apology accepted, and you're welcome' ?

I give you credit for restraint.

Personally I'd not be able to resist replying "Oh, no problem, I've already removed the cost of the dog food from the invoice. So your balance due to me for four nights of pet sitting is only £150. Here are my bank details.."

I’d be so tempted to reply with 👍

If you haven't told anyone, I wonder if she's on MN?!

Call it quits! She’s insane 😂
good on you op, keeping it civil.
She’s definitely a prat though!

Call it quits. 😂 Probably already planning her next holiday to Mauritius and has suddenly realised that she's bitten off the hand that feeds her. Or her dog, that is.

Well done you and thanks for updating us. Personally I would avoid making eye contact with the dreadful woman again and please please do let us know if she ever has the nerve to request your dog sitting services in the future!

I wouldn't reply anything at all to that text. That woman has more front than Brighton.

Although 'Yes four nights of free dog sitting vs two cans of dog food is totally 'quits'' has a certain, savage, appeal.

I bet she's on mumsnet

"definitely not quits, but I'd like to just move on from this very unpleasant experience now." And ignore her forever.

Send her the bill for dog sitting. No good deed goes unpunished.
I bet she never had a dog sitter in the first place and chanced her arm at asking around and getting the ‘sympathy vote’.

Well it's certainly a MN non apology & point well missed!

Call it quits? Fuck right off!

I'd ignore her text and just avoid her in future like you did today.

But she just says on reflection let's forget about the dog food and 'call it quits'.

Wow! That's the equivalent of tucking in and single-handedly polishing off a four course meal with lobster and several bottles of expensive fine wine; and then saying to your dining companion, who has only had a veggie pasta salad and a Coke, "Let's just split the bill 50/50 and call it quits!"