Dog got into a fight. Should other owner pay towards vet bills

[GoldenMcOldie]

My whippet and next door's German Shepherd HATE each other. Lived next door to each other for years and they really dont like one another.

They both escaped today. I saw the dog, it menaced towards me, so I jumped into my car and closed the door. The dogs had a massive fight on our driveway.

This dog has jumped into our yard before and attacked our dog. Injuries that time, were thankfully minor.

This time my dog is really badly injured. Surgery is required and of course it happened on a Friday night (in Australia), so there are extra costs for out of hours treatment. All up we will be paying about $2k.

Neighbor is sympathetic and offered to pay some of the cost.

How much would you ask for?

[ArfArfBarf]

Was their dog on your property or both escaped onto the street?

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

When you say they both escaped - clearly the neighbour's dog was somewhere he shouldn't have been (your driveway) but was your dog ever somewhere he shouldn't have been?

Are either of you insured?

How did the dog escape (last time and this time) - has the fencing been fixed and did you want to make sorting the fencing out part of the deal?

[GoldenMcOldie]

The dog was on our property (but just)

[Greyhorses]

Being on your driveway I think you have more of a case as the other dog approached onto your property. I think it would be very difficult to prove but I do think it’s very irresponsible of them to allow the dog to escape after it’s proven to have done it once before.

If it was a case of both dogs off lead and loose and just happened to meet I would chalk it up to very bad luck and go halves.

[ArfArfBarf]

Sorry you’ve said it was on your driveway. I think they should pay it all then. Your dog didn’t “escape” it was on your property.

[GoldenMcOldie]

Their gate was accidentally left open. Our dog ran out of our garage.

We share a driveway but the fight happened just inside our boundary (not that it really matters).

[Girliefriendlikesflowers]

I would think at least half if not the whole bill tbh, it was their dogs fault and they should have made sure their aggressive dog can't escape.

[GoldenMcOldie]

My dog didn't help, he bowled in barking, just didnt bite the other dog.

This dog has form, it jumped the fence and attacked my dog a few years ago. Feel like they should pay at least half but I am not very assertive.

[GoldenMcOldie]

Ps, not insured.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

It sounds like your dog wasn't particularly angelic, but more fault lies with them.

I'd be thinking along the lines of half the vet bill plus they install / reinforce fences to prevent a repeat escape by their dog. If they don't sort the fences you'll go for the full costs.

[werideatdawn]

Why isn't the dog insured??

[tinstar]

It's not compulsory werideatdawn.

[adaline]

Why on earth isn't your dog insured? It might not be compulsory but unless you have access to thousands of pounds at a moment's notice, you're a bit foolish not to have it.

What if your dog had bolted into the road and been hit by a car?

[BiteyShark]

Whilst I understand you pursuing the vets costs I would be not focused on making sure they pay for proper boundaries so this can never happen again.

As you say both dogs escaped how about 50/50 vet costs and 50/50 boundary costs?

[GoldenMcOldie]

We were insured. I lost my job, in April so we made the decision to cut pet insurance.

Judge away. I wont defend a terrible year and choices made to ensure mortgage payments.

[GoldenMcOldie]

We have good boundaries. Yesterday was just a terrible conversion of unusual events.

The neighbours have been very good and offered to pay half of the costs.