Should I pay vet bill?

[Bibbidybobbi]

Whilst at the park I was standing with my dog chatting to another dog walker, both dogs were on leash. Just as we were about to walk away the other dog got very excited and went on back legs jumping on my dog. He got quite a fright and bit the other dog on its neck. Just a small scratch and the dog was unphased whatsoever. I apologized to the other dog walker and told him to let me know how his dog is but he looked and was acting if fine. About an hour later said person came to my door with a vet bill. The dog didn’t require treatment but the vet prescribed pain killers and antibiotics just incase. My question is should I pay this bill? I personally don’t think there was any need to go to the vet and unsure what to do. Do I pay it all, half?

If you can afford it, as a gesture of goodwill, you can.

But, legally, because your dog was on lead, it is deemed to be under control so i don't think the owner can sue you or anything.

If it's not too expensive though, i would pay. It is kind of 50:50 blame from what you describe and, if you are going to be bumping into this owner again, you are going to feel better having paid.

I would, however, make clear that you won't be liable for any further costs.

And - if you can write something out and he will sign it, all the better.

Have him sign a receipt and also to say that is the matter concluded. Be sure to date it.

Maybe offer to go 50/50 as their dog prompted the bite by jumping on your dog

No I wouldn't pay it. It sounds like your dog just reacted to being jumped on - if the other dog hadn't have jumped on him, your dog wouldn't have bitten.

Unless you offered to pay at the time I wouldn't be bullied into paying now.

Suggest the other person arranges for their pet insurance company to liaise with yours.

I'd pay it as your dog did bite the other dog.

Your dog didn't just give the other dog a warning - which they can 100% do - it actually bit it. So yes, you should pay and you should go through insurance to do so.

Yes you should pay. Your dog bit the other dog, it doesn’t matter whether you think the dog needed to go to the vet, it’s owner did. This was caused by your dog, therefore your responsibility.

I'd probably offer to go halves, since the other dog provoked your dog, and your dog bit. But whatever you decide, it's useful information about your dog - try not to have him close to other dogs when he's on his lead and can't get away. Loads of dog walkers seem to want their dog to meet other dogs while they're both on lead and many dogs (including yours, it seems) don't really like this. Hopefully the other dog owner will be more careful too about letting their dog annoy other on-lead dogs.

If someone jumped on me from behind when I wasn’t expecting it, I’d react in a similar fashion!

Perhaps he’ll keep a closer eye on what his dog is up to in future. I wouldn’t pay in your shoes, nor would I expect you to pay if your dog bit mine under the same circumstances.

I'd say morally, if it's not going to skint you, then pay it. Especially as she unfortunately seems to know where you live. Tbh if my dog was bitten by another and the owner was someone I knew, I would ask them to pay. Of course if mine bit another then I'd pay.

Thank you everyone for you input. We were standing chatting for around 10 minutes so it’s not as if my dog is unsociable on leash with other dogs it’s just my dog has been sniffing the grass/tree’s and his dog jumped on him unexpectedly. His dog is young so still learning. It’s just frustrating as the vet said the dog didn’t require treatment and gave a prescription just incase he become sore or the scratch got infected. If it were me which it has been on many occasion previously I would have cleaned it myself and observed it for a day or two before rushing to the vet. The amount is £200 which this close to Christmas is a lot of money for me although I respect that it’s my dogs that has reacted and I will be more careful around young dogs in future.

£200 for some painkillers? No way would I pay that and nor are you liable to. Your dog was on a leash and the other dog jumped on it

No I wouldn’t pay. Both dogs were on lead and the other dog was the instigator. As you said, their dog wasn’t bothered, these things happens sometimes. It’s not as if your dog ran over and attacked a strange dog. It doesn’t sound like the dog even needed to see the vet, if the owner wanted to take them as a precaution then that’s up to them but they need to pay the costs for that. If you wanted to remain amicable then you could offer to pay half I guess.

My dog was injured by my neighbour’s dog when we were on a walk together before. They had a minor scuffle and my dog had a minor injury. I took him to the emergency vets and he had a small operation the next day (small wound next to eye, too hard to stitch awake). She offered to pay half but I wouldn’t have dreamed of taking any money from her - it was an accident, it’s not like she has a dangerous or aggressive dog or anything.

Oh, that is quite a lot. I was imagining a 'not worth claiming on insurance' type amount. In that case, I'd ask him to claim on his insurance, and if you are feeling generous you could offer to split the excess. When my dog was attacked (totally the owner's fault - he let his dog come up to mine even knowing that his dog didn't like lurchers) I asked the other owner to pay the £50 excess, and he did. I wouldn't have been expecting him to pay the whole thing. If the other owner doesn't have insurance that's not your problem.

I might have paid £50, I wouldn't be paying £200 "just in case".
Ask him to claim on insurance and offer to split the excess as pp said.

Both dogs on leash and your dog managed to do some visible damage I'd say is on you. Yes, the other dog was impolite but it sounds like your dog overreacted and id seriously think about managing future interactions.

One of my dogs would absolutely tell a dog off if they did this, there wouldn't be a mark to be seen however.

No, I wouldn't be paying - and certainly not for treatment that isn't even necessary. The other bloke's being a cheeky fucker.

I’d pay the bill because your dog has bitten and you don’t want that escalated to any authority. I know that your dog was provoked/startled.

basically I’d pay the bill because it ensures there is an end to this situation.

I do not think you should have to pay it and I would give the other owner a wide berth in future.

£200? My dog recently had a consultation, antibiotics and a blood test. It was £160 and I thought that was a lot!

I guess I’d pay it otherwise you could be looking at a drawn out, more expensive conflict.

That price sounds about right, unfortunately. I just checked my receipt as my dog has had a week's course of anti biotics only last week and it was £42.60 for 42 tablets.

Then a consult fee in normal hours is £25. And blood test is about 20 quid.

BUT i go to an independent vet - not a chain.

The owner needs to show the receipt, OP.

My dog was bitten, just a scratch, but got infected. So still needed treatment. Prevention is better for the health of the dog. Your dog bit, so out of courtesy, pay.

Tricky one.
I might offer to pay half, but I wouldn't have gone to the vet myself, and the other dog jumped on your dog so wasn't entirely innocent.

Wow the cheek of some people! If the dog caused your dog to nip then no, don’t pay

Again, thanks everyone for your input. Most people seem to be of the same thinking as myself. I think my dog reacted the way he did as he did get a fright and has been nipped countless times in the past by off leash dogs (never have I had to take him to the vet) I just manage the cuts at home. The last time actually just being last week when he got a cut on his face when sniffing next to an off leash dog. but he has never retaliated before and I think this is him basically pissed off with getting jumped on and wee fly nips from others. Again I’m not condoning it and I think will offer to pay half. Hopefully he accepts the offer.

No, I wouldn’t pay it.