Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Original poster

My dog has bitten my neighbours rabbit

215 replies

Brookerj · 28/06/2017 14:28

My 2 year old dog got into my neighbours garden and somehow got into the rabbit run and has bitten the rabbit. My neighbour has taken the rabbit to the vet and has presented me with a bill for £1275 as the rabbit has had 2 pins put into its leg. I have been very apologetic and took chocolates round to the owner of the rabbit but I do not have this sort of money to spare - what can I do - I feel awful.

OP posts:
DimplesToadfoot · 29/06/2017 11:36

Steppemum

it was based on the fact rabbits aren't considered pets in law or something stupid, you can't accuse an animal of criminal damage, but can do the owners under civil law for trespass and the dog wasn't considered dangerous as the rabbits weren't protected by law, it was quite a few years ago, which is why I said unless things have changed ..

I couldn't blame the dog at all, a poor little half starved boxer, had given birth in the neighbours outhouse, wasn't fed, wasn't looked after, so came to find her own food .. the RSPCA took the dog and pups in the end

barrygetamoveonplease · 29/06/2017 12:06

Buy another rabbit?! It's a living creature, not a tshirt you spilled coffee on!

'Buy another rabbit' doesn't work. Rabbits have real personality, Many people who keep them bond with them and love them, as individuals. No other rabbit could have replaced any of my four.

I agree that rabbits shouldn't be pets. Nor should dogs.

CheapAndCheerful100 · 29/06/2017 12:14

Dogs shouldn't be pets? I've heard it all now.
Let's ban all pets then eh?

steppemum · 29/06/2017 12:26

Dimples - I find that quite shocking. I think I have heard that for animals that aren't pets there is some law under livestock that you can use. I think farmers can get action on dogs worrying sheep for example.

I have a feeling though that rabbits wouldn't count as that either!

I can't work out why the pwners weren't liable for the loss of property, hutches rabbots etc have a financial value.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 29/06/2017 12:31

Rabbits are now seen as pets; I believe, there's case law around this now. But even before that, they are seen as property, so the rabbit owner could enforce this through the relevant laws.

dimple I have no idea why you were told otherwise but I'm really sorry you were, that sounds really traumatic.

GahBuggerit · 29/06/2017 12:38

op are you sure it was your dog?

Newmanwannabe · 29/06/2017 12:43

Of course you need to pay and you jokers to hope you're not reported to the council for having a dangerous dog.

Newmanwannabe · 29/06/2017 12:43

Sorry not jokers. "Need"

DearMrDilkington · 29/06/2017 12:44

This isn't really relevant to op, but if a cat got in someone's garden and attacked their rabbit, would the cat owner be responsible for the bill?

My cat is a little sod and I do worry about him doing something like this..

DimplesToadfoot · 29/06/2017 12:46

Steppemum

the dogs owners were liable for the loss of the hutches .. but only under civil law and the laws of tresspass, we would have had to pay to take them to court which A. we couldn't afford to do and B. the neighbours are arsewipes and wouldn't have cared or paid up.
We asked everyone, even the RSPCA couldn't help us with regard to the rabbits .. they weren't a protected species I really can't remember the correct terminology

Anchor

It was horrible, the noise, I'd never heard a rabbit scream, and then my daughter beat me out into the garden so saw it all first ..

and then when we found the poor dog and her pups and saw the state she was living in,

we were heartbroken for the rabbits and the dog .. at least good came of it when the dog went with the RSPCA

I do hope things have changed and rabbits are now seen as property

DearMrDilkington · 29/06/2017 12:46

The bunny was very lucky to survive your dog getting it, I'm really surprised it didn't die from shock and stress. Poor thing.

Auspiciouspanda · 29/06/2017 12:47

Rabbits are amazing pets and I would skint myself if they needed medical attention.

Pay up OP and control your dog better next time.

My dog has bitten my neighbours rabbit
Leviticus · 29/06/2017 13:12

Rabbits are not 'property' in U.K. Law. Neither are cats. Only dogs are considered property out of our standard domestic pets. This is why there's a legal duty to report if you run over a dog in your car but not a cat. I think it's down to the fact that dogs can be working animals and provide income - not relevant to most pet dogs, of course.

I'm not sure how this would be viewed by a civil court. A PP seems to suggest they might rule in your neighbour's favour.

I'm a bit divided. It is your responsibility but it's also a bit ridiculous to spend £1200 on a rabbit.

poppym12 · 29/06/2017 13:18

Yes. You should pay. You are responsible for keeping your dog under control. If you can't do that, you shouldn't have a dog. Be grateful that your dog didn't kill her pet. Rabbits are no less important to their owners than dogs, cats and horses are to theirs. They are certainly not disposable so you can just 'get another one' ffs Hmm

megletthesecond · 29/06/2017 13:21

Who was responsible for the boundary? If it was a low fence or in disrepair then I think that affects who should take responsibility.

barrygetamoveonplease · 29/06/2017 13:23

Dogs shouldn't be pets? I've heard it all now. Let's ban all pets then eh?

Certainly. There should be no unlicensed animal ownership, and a licence should only be issued to an adult after the completion of an in-depth animal welfare course specific to the animal they intended to own. Animal keepers should be subject to spot inspections, that is, without notice.

This is about animal welfare taking priority over the selfishness of human beings who want to keep pets. An in-depth training course and costly licence would have prevented me from keeping animals and would prevent others without deep commitment. Perfect solution.

Branleuse · 29/06/2017 13:25

Actually If the dog had killed the rabbit, she would have been liable for the cost of replacing the rabbit, not a 1.2k vet bill.

DimplesToadfoot · 29/06/2017 13:28

Branleuse

Actually If the dog had killed the rabbit, she would have been liable for the cost of replacing the rabbit, not a 1.2k vet bill.

even that is not entirely true
when my rabbits were killed I wouldn't have been able to claim the cost of replacing them

and as Leviticus suggests the law hasn't changed since then, so they wouldn't have to pay now

Notreallyarsed · 29/06/2017 13:33

I'm quite surprised that this has turned into a bunfight debating whether or not it's worth spending £1200 to save a rabbit's life. That is absolutely not the point. Legally OP, I'm afraid that since your dog left your garden and caused the injuries to the rabbit I think that you are liable for the money.
As a dog owner it's your responsibility to have insurance or if not, pay up for necessary vet treatment for any animal harmed by your dog. It's a harsh lesson you've learned, but a valid one. Always, always insure pets.

poppym12 · 29/06/2017 13:42

Spot on arsed ^^

TheFairyCaravan · 29/06/2017 13:47

Christ! The attitude of some posters is disgusting. A rabbit is still as much loved to its owner as a dog is. We had a rabbit that lived 15 years when we were kids.

The OP needs to pay up. Yes the rabbit's owner should have had insurance but so should she. We put money away every month for our pets (guinea Pigs and a hamster) because they can't be insured. We don't treat them as a disposable commodity because they are small and have a short life span. If they need medical attention they get it. We spent over £100 keeping a hamster alive and I'd do it again and again and again.

Floralnomad · 29/06/2017 13:48

You need to pay up , if necessary call the vet and arrange a payment plan with them , or perhaps your neighbour will take instalments . This is entirely your responsibility and your cost to cover.

Floralnomad · 29/06/2017 13:50

Fwiw , we spent about £800 on a guinea pig with a recurrent access on his neck , small pets are not disposable . Even if the rabbit owner did have insurance why should she claim when it is entirely the fault of the OP .

DimplesToadfoot · 29/06/2017 13:56

TheFairyCaravan

you can insure guinea pigs, check out Gocompare x

I spent over £100 on a hamster too, and I would have spent more, and would do it again and again if need be, its part and parcel of being a pet owner

Nancy91 · 29/06/2017 13:56

I think you should pay up and get your dog insured, however that amount is questionable and I hope your neighbour's rabbit isn't being kept alive when being PTS could be kinder.

However if you don't have the cash, morals aside, I don't know if you'd legally have to pay for this. It shouldn't be easy for your dog to get to her rabbit, as cats and foxes roam around naturally and could easily harm it too. Her rabbit should be insured, as these things sadly do happen.

To summarise, I would pay your neighbour's vet directly after speaking to them directly about this, possibly via instalments. But I don't know if you legally have to do that.