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 buy the food, cool things a little and wait patiently for the prime moment to throw it in her face when she needs a favour.

"You must be joking, last time I petsat I got accused of pinching your dog food, not a chance I'm putting myself in that position again."

Haha fantastic response 👍🏻🫢

‘Her dog sitter let her down’ aka her dog sitter didn't want to deal with her really. Op I probably would buy her the food back but wouldn’t not be able to give a sarcastic’and you’re welcome’ at the end!

I’d be tying up an invoice for boarding subtract the cost of the food then deliver it to her

I'd give her 1 tin of food and say "that's the last favour I do you!"

You’re an idiot for doing something for free which people usually charge for. take note, the cf took the piss because you already let her know that you’re open to being treated like a slave.

Tbh when I’ve looked after my friends dog there’s always an element of food envy and they all want what the other has

And let people know what a cunt she is.

This!

Give her the tins. Act fine about it. When she wants a favour next tell her absolutely no way in hell.

Tell her straight I happily took your dog for free saving you £x I walked him, picked his shit up etc not wanting a thing but because my dog got to his bowl and vice versa you want me to pay you give your head a wobble and don't ask me again.

🤣🤣

What a cow. Definitely do not give her any money. I would make it very clear that you were doing her a favour which you will not be repeating. Maybe tell the mums at the school gate who seem quite good a relaying what you have said.

Yeah I agree - and it's even more funny when the dog prefers the cheaper brand when you've been paying loads for expensive, posh food for years!!

OP, this person is being absolutely batshit. Tell her to sod off, and remind her how much she would have had to pay if she'd paid a professional to take care of her dog.

Did you do this for free? If so there's no way I would compensate, sorry.

DO NOT buy her any tins OP, you would be a complete doormat if you did that.

I'd go with this response rather than telling her you'll give her an invoice for the dog sitting. You said you'd do it for free so it's silly to now say you expect payment

Yes!!!

I would say the dog is the one suffering…

But there’s many more things that could happen than vomiting/diarrhea.
Short term - stomach pain, itchy mouth, bloating, increased thirst, increased hunger, increased urination, constipation
Even if just for a few days it could cause longer term skin and digestive problems.

Well, now you (and loads of other people) know why she "couldn't find anyone" - line 6 of the opening post.

Send her an invoice for the cost of you looking after the dog, and subtract the cost of the food. she'll still owe you....

I wonder how it was worded to Mary to make her react this way. Someone has been stirring the pot.

The cheek of some people astounds me.

I'd be really tempted to go down the petty route and give her back a half tin of food. With a huge smile on my face.

How could she even bring herself to ask for the money.

If your dog is at risk of long term issues if he/she doesn’t eat her prescribed food, then you’d make that extremely clear to whoever is taking care of him/her. OP is not at fault for dogs being dogs.

Did she give you exactly the correct amount of food for the dogs stay or did she provide extra that was or was not returned?
I would message and say just so you are clear in case you got the wrong end of the stick I gave your dog his food and my dog my food at no point did I use your supplies instead of my own. They sometimes swopped and it is hard to estimate how much was munched. If given this information you still feel I owe you compensation I will estimate how often this happened and what percentage of the tin was consumed and give you the difference between the cheaper and more expensive food.