My 4 yr old Yorkie, Peanut (never let off the lead, and just lays on his back when approached by another dog) was set upon by a Rottweiler (off the lead in a local park) today and bitten in 3 places. Peanut is very quiet and submissive, showed no aggression whatsoever, just laid on his back, as usual.
The vets bill is 82 quid for today's appointment, injections, painkillers and antibiotics. We've to go back Monday for a check up too, which will probably be another 35 quid.
The woman whose dog it is was upset and crying, saying I'm so sorry. I don't know her, but think someone I know does.
Is it reasonable of me to just go and knock on her door and expect her to reimburse me the vet bills?
will your insurance cover the bill? Would love to think that I would march up to the door and say 'Oi, gimme the money for what your awful animal did to my pup', but I wouldn't. You'd be ostrisized (excuse the spelling) by all pet owners for ever more, too worried to come near you.
I would go round and ask her very nicely. Explain what costs you have incurred and the injuries to your dog. Any normal human would be only too happy to pay for damages. My neice had this happen to her dog and the owners of the other dog did offer to pay.
ALwaysconfused - only last year, a little jack Russell was bitten to death by a staffie outside the local shop, I know most of the local dog owners and am sure they will support me.
Pea is such a little sweet heart, everyone loves him coz he's so soft, it must only be right for her to pay?
I'd claim if I were you - that's what your insurance is for - but then ask the dog owner to reimburse your excess. Insurance companies anyway always look to mitigate their losses so they'll probably need her details so they can claim from here.
Did you not get her details at the time, since she apologised weeping - that would be one of my first actions, give me your details!
I certainly wouldn't be civil in a situation like that - she was weeping, she knew she was in the wrong for not keeping her dog under control. You really ought to tell the police.
telling the police is ott in my opinion. It's not ott to expect her to pay though, although if it was me i'd ask you if you had insurance and expect to pay the excess. My dogs have 3rd party liability insurance so if they bit something my insurance would pay