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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

My dog was attacked - WWYD re other owner + vet bills?

50 replies

MissBetseyTrotwood · 09/03/2013 18:43

My poor, lovely dog got attacked today. He was on the lead, minding his own business when another dog ran up and went for him. It happened so fast.

The other owner had no control over his dog. As his dog was biting mine, he couldn't get hold of her; she kept running off and coming back for more. We both ended up on the ground as my dog, trying to get away from his had tangled us all up in the lead.

We managed to swap numbers and he said he'd pay vet's bills.

My dog has a large chunk out of his shoulder and has needed internal and external stitching. He has a large area of deep bruising where, if the worst case scenario happens, he'll need a skin graft. He's still at the vet; we might not be able to pick him up today. He'll need to return to the local vet on Monday and Friday and to the hospital in 10 days time, most of which we'll have to take time off work for and arrange childcare.

The first vet bill comes to £470. It will cost us more in checkups etc, never mind the potential skin graft. I called the other dog's owner with this figure. He is saying we should get the insurance to pay and he'll pay the excess which is about £150.

I want him to pay the full £470. I'm furious; our dog's a rescue, who had a hard life before he came to us and was just starting to be socialised with other dogs. This will set him back no end, as well as being horribly traumatic for him and us. I thank God the DCs weren't with me when it happened.

I'm feeling quite emotional and still teary about it all. Is this clouding my judgement? AIBU to expect him to pay?

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HDEE · 09/03/2013 20:51

So what do you suggest I do with my dog who we could well afford when we bought him?

Original poster

MissBetseyTrotwood · 09/03/2013 20:53

Our local dog warden is a total legend. He does his absolute best for the dogs unlucky enough to end up in the pound. We know him from walking the dog - he's out in all weathers with about 5 dogs (normally staffies and staffie x s) taking them for a good walk. I'm going to call him Monday and see what he can do for us.

We're going to pay up front tonight but then, if the other owner slips off the radar, we can still claim from our insurer.

Anyway, best go now and get the poor hound. He's getting some serious pampering tomorrow. Even chicken livers.

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Original poster

MissBetseyTrotwood · 09/03/2013 20:54

And in the meantime, I'll call my insurer tomorrow so when I speak to his I've got my facts straight.

Thanks again Doghouse.

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kitsmummy · 10/03/2013 11:50

I'd speak to your insurers as I actually wouldn't expect your premiums to go up because of an attack claim (it would obviously be a different matter if it were an illness claim).

I would just claim on my own insurance and get the excess from him - it's a bit shit for you if your premiums do go up but hopefully they won't. It's the same when you have a car accident - I was driven in to, the other party accepted liability and we claimed on their insurance but my premiums will still go up for the next 5 years just because i've been involved in an accident.

It's crap but if he won't/can't claim on his insurance just claim on yours and tell yourself that it could have been worse - eg you may not have had insurance/he may have refused to give you his details/your dog may have died - it could have been worse.

Goldmandra · 10/03/2013 14:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DeepRedBetty · 10/03/2013 14:49

How is Poor Hound today?

twirlyagogo · 10/03/2013 14:58

I hope your poor dog is much better today and back home with you.

I have to admit I have no insurance. My dog was attacked at the end of last year and I did wonder about it then as the owner of other dogs never made any offer to pay vet bills and I was a bit and thought about the fact that I would automatically have done so if the position had been reversed.

Anyway, I would really appreciate advice on where is best for insurance - there seem so many options. I'm only looking for 3rd party and public liability as the ones for vet's bills seems to exclude most things, but I really do think I should be covered 'just in case.' Thank you!

Floralnomad · 10/03/2013 16:30

twirly I have a basic direct line policy and it only costs about £11 a month .

twirlyagogo · 10/03/2013 16:50

Do you mind me asking you what that covers you for Floralnomad?

Picturesinthefirelight · 10/03/2013 16:52

A similar incident happened in our street. A beautiful lhaso attavked by an out of control off the lead rottie opened by a man too frail to control him

He was taken to court and made to pay a bets bill of £1,800 plus fined nearly £300 by the court so its worth pursuing even if at first the council/police claim they can't do anything.

He should claim off his insurance if he has any, not yours.

Picturesinthefirelight · 10/03/2013 16:55

He was prosecuted under the dangerous dogs act and sn order was made about who was allowed to walk the dog and muzzling.

Picturesinthefirelight · 10/03/2013 16:56

Bailiffs can usually find sone blood somewhere on the stone though done people do declare themselves bankrupt to Vpud paying court judgments.

Original poster

MissBetseyTrotwood · 10/03/2013 17:01

He's home now thanks Betty - we picked him up about 9 last night. He's been in in the warm all day, with a couple of very short walks. He's been miserable on the walks. We bumped into a family he's met before and been friendly with - the father went to stroke him and he flinched and jumped away as though he'd been hit.

It looks awful - stitched up about 3 inches and lots of bruising. 5 or 6 other puncture marks around his throat. It could have been much worse though, especially if it had gone through the jugular. He's by the fire watching Star Wars with the DSs. He seems to like the Ewoks.

Goldmandra how awful for you to have to go through all that, especially with your DD.

kitsmummy there are definitely elements of this I have to let go, you're right. I just feel vengeful at the moment, hence my OP. If this owner has to pay, he might think twice before letting his dog off the lead again. A dog that has gone, repeatedly, for another dog needs care taking over how it is exercised in public and I just feel that if he's had to part with £463 up front (even if he's reimbursed by his insurance). Ours was poorly socialised when we got him and we kept him on the lead and muzzled for a long time because we couldn't trust him. I don't trust this owner will take those precautions as his attitude has been 'well she's never done it before, I just can't believe she did it.' Sorry, that went a bit ranty. Didn't mean it to iykwim. And we might end up having to claim by our insurance if he disappears anyway.

twirly we're with PetPlan. We got a month of free insurance with them when we adopted him and they've always paid up (he ate a packet of Garibaldi biscuits last summer). They also have a relationship with our vet which makes things easy.

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Original poster

MissBetseyTrotwood · 10/03/2013 17:02

That all sounds very unpleasant Pictures - how horrible.

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QOD · 10/03/2013 17:02

When you ring your ins co, withhold your number by dialling 1471 first, name your plan TYPE ie silver dogs plan blah blah.

Some insurance companies hold incidences against you even if you don't claim .....

Little realised fact that.

Original poster

MissBetseyTrotwood · 10/03/2013 17:06

Thanks QOD - I had no idea!

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Merrylegs · 10/03/2013 17:08

My dog was pinned down and attacked when he was a puppy by an ex racing greyhound. Deep wounds in neck and the vet said he was lucky to have escaped alive.

The greyhound owner said 'oh sorry, I usually walk him with a muzzle but I forgot today.'

Anyway, we did it all through our insurance. The other owner paid our excess and our premiums didn't go up.

QOD · 10/03/2013 17:10

No worries, just while you're deciding what to do, then if you do claim, obviously do tell them!!

Just say you want to ask a general question about such and such plan and you don't want to give your details

Hullygully · 10/03/2013 17:10

The police will help. I went to them when mine was attacked and after I went back the second time (persistent) they visited the man. You can have him taken to court, but the only way to do that is to NOT sign the agreement form the poice produce which says it's all sorted. Choose to have him taken to court.

Merrylegs · 10/03/2013 17:17

(In fact it has happened twice to my dog. Both completely unprovoked attacks.

We paid the vets bills through our insurance the second time too but this time the owner didn't pay up so we had to stump up for the excess also.

But again our premiums stayed the same. We weren't penalised at all.)

Original poster

MissBetseyTrotwood · 10/03/2013 20:13

Merrylegs - your poor dog. It's good to hear your premiums didn't go up. I'm going to call my company from work tomorrow morning - thought I'd leave it until Monday when I can be sure the whole staff's in iykwim.

Hullygully I'm glad the police took it seriously and eventually visited the owner. I don't think I have the appetite to take things to court at the moment but I am going to report it to the dog warden too.

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Merrylegs · 10/03/2013 21:25

(I meant to add I wasn't putting a downer on rescue greys - just explaining the circumstances. My boy is also a pointy and unfortunately when they get bitten they do suffer as their skin is so delicate. They really bleed! Hope your dog feeling brighter today, Betsy)

QuietTiger · 11/03/2013 18:31

It would be worth explaining to your insurance what happened. At the very least, they may be able to chase him for the costs if they have to pay out.

Hangingoninthere · 11/03/2013 18:44

No personal experience but have heard from others that the police are more likely to do something if you stress your emotional distress not just your dogs injuries as attack / fear of attack on a person comes under dangerous dogs act whereas attacking another dog doesn't.

Original poster

MissBetseyTrotwood · 11/03/2013 19:25

Ha ha Merrylegs - yes, my chap is one! Mine has his ishoos and that's why we've been so cautious with him when out and about. He doesn't actually think he's a dog, that's the main problem! And yes, their skin is very delicate so they tear easily. He's much brighter today. He even tried to get into the bin this morning so things are getting back to normal.

We have the other owner's insurance details now QuietTiger so if he doesn't end up paying and we have to claim, they can chase him through his company.

I'm just so glad my DCs weren't there Hangingon - they'd have been so distressed and the thought that they might have tried to get involved and ended up being bitten themselves makes me feel very uneasy.

Our insurance company were pretty non committal about the whole thing - they said they'd only consider the case if we were to claim and couldn't guarantee our premium wouldn't go up but that it 'seemed unlikely'. I made sure they had no details of our case. They were quite unwilling to speak hypothetically though. I also left a message on the dog warden's phone.

He's back to the vet tomorrow for a check up. Got a very affectionate and energetic greeting when I got in from a spectacularly crappy day at work so that was lovely.

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