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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:
ShmooBooMoo · 30/06/2017 15:40

If nothing else, I think this thread shows the importance of insuring your pet. I honestly think pet insurance should be mandatory. People really have no business getting a pet if they can't or won't insure it. It's palin irresponsible.

ShmooBooMoo · 30/06/2017 15:40

*plain

JessicaEccles · 30/06/2017 15:59

^ This.

EvansOvalPies · 30/06/2017 16:00

If the OP does not have the money to pay or her dog isn't insured, she shouldn't have the dog. The rabbit owner may very well have insurance on her rabbit, but as has been pointed out ad nauseum, the dog owner is at fault for letting her dog run loose. The rabbit owner is not at fault for her rabbit having been bitten by the dog ('bitten' appears to have been used as a rather loose term here, by the way, as it has caused a fair amount of stress, trauma and injury to the rabbit than a mere bite would suggest). Had the rabbit been injured by a bird of prey, a fox or other wild animal, then her own insurance would, quite rightly, be expected to cover the cost of said injury. As it is, the injury was not caused by a wild animal, but by the OP's dog.
Ergo, the owner of the dog is responsible for the vet bills.

EvansOvalPies · 30/06/2017 16:05

If my rabbit were to be injured by a wild animal, I would naturally pay for the vet treatment myself.

If a neighbour's dog injured my rabbit, I would pursue that neighbour for payment for the vet treatment.

Yes, rabbits are reared as food. I eat rabbit. I would not eat a pet rabbit, so that comparison is irrelevant.

EvansOvalPies · 30/06/2017 16:07

(And still the OP cannot be bothered to come back to join in with her own dilemma). How disappointing. I hope she has done the right thing by her neighbour.

Nelly5678 · 30/06/2017 16:09

Uh well maybe instead of buying chocolates you pay the bill? How the hell would chocolate make up for that

EvansOvalPies · 30/06/2017 16:14

Our cat and the next door neighbour's cat had a fight several years ago. A nasty fight (blood, fur and teeth everywhere), resulting in both cats needing veterinary treatment.

As sensible pet owners and nice neighbours, we both accepted that this is what cats do, and we each paid for our own cat's treatment. And it was all perfectly amicable. We all shrugged our shoulders, and agreed that this is what happens when cats fight.

On the other hand, if my cat injured their rabbit or guinea pig that was sitting peacefully in it's run, minding it's own business - that would be my responsibility to put things right and pay for treatment. And vice versa. Insurance or not.

ProphetOfDoom · 30/06/2017 23:50

That's a matter of neighbourly conscience. If my cat could get into their rabbit run I would not be paying out, and I doubt my pet insurance would too. The owners of rabbits have a duty of care to keep their rodents safe from their natural predators - which aren't governed by the same laws as dogs - such as cats, foxes etc. In fact I'd be curious to know how you could prevent any/your cat from operating on natural instinct regarding an accessible rabbit. The OP's dog has also done something instinctive regarding a small furry however the laws pertaining to dogs are different - they have to be under control - & the dog shouldnt have been able to gain access to the neighbour's garden.

Anyway the Op has probably had to sell her pfb to fund BunnyWarbucks's recovery & isn't coming back.

applesauce1 · 01/07/2017 00:11

My dog spotted a cat in the garden today and raced out, barking and chasing in pursuit. It reminded me of this thread: If my dog did, one day, catch and injure one of the many cats that come into the garden, would I be liable for vet bills?

Floralnomad · 01/07/2017 01:11

I would imagine you would not be liable if the incident occurred in your garden , although I'm sure some cat owners would try it on with the cats right to roam argument . If the rabbit was in the OPs garden this discussion wouldn't be taking place as obviously the rabbit owner would then be at fault .

user1499524875 · 08/07/2017 23:10

Put your dog to sleep it could have been a child

Lovemusic33 · 09/07/2017 09:40

put your dog to sleep it could have been a child

Shock a rabbit is a bit different than a child, dogs natural instinct to kill small furry things, not natural instinct to kill a child. I live in the country side and my dogs forever chasing rabbits, should I put him to sleep too?

Lovemusic33 · 09/07/2017 09:41

apple no you wouldn't be liable as the cats are coming into your garden, it would be different if your dog got out and into their garden though.

Nancy91 · 09/07/2017 18:12

I killed a spider one time, but I guess that could have been a child and I should be PTS

Ah, mumsnet Grin

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