Hello.
I would really like some advice regarding this issue.
My dog was involved in a skirmish yesterday. As we were returning from a walk, there was a dog owner with her dog outside our front door. My dog is large, hers was small (a whippet). As the dogs came close, the whippet surged forward and started barking. My dog lunged at the whippet, and unfortunately made contact before I could pull him off. Our dog was unhurt, and the owner initially thought her dog was fine. However, the owner called at our house a few minutes later to inform us our dog had bitten hers as he had a wound. She also suggested it might not have been a bite, but a swipe from his paw as I pulled him away, as whippets have very thin, easily-injured skin. We both agreed she should take him to the vets whatever the cause of the injury, as it could get infected and we asked her to call back later to let us know how he was? She seemed calm, but clearly annoyed, although she now had two other people with her who seemed intent on stirring things up, and were saying we should pay all the vet bills and they did not feel safe walking their dogs knowing how dangerous our dog was etc. These people were not involved in the incident in any way to my knowledge, not even as witnesses, but I presume they were other dog walkers who had offered to support her when she discovered her dog had been injured. We live along a busy dog-walking route, and there are always dog walkers around.
The owner returned later that evening to give us a progress report. She had to go to the emergency vets, who were going clean the wound, staple it and dress it. Emergency vets charge the Earth (they evidently quoted her £900), but she said she would simply claim it on her pet insurance if we agreed to pay her excess of £85 as the vets insisted this be paid before they would release the dog home. We agreed to this as a goodwill gesture, paid it immediately and she left apparently satisfied.
This morning she contacted us. She now demanded we cover all the vet bills, including all follow-up appointments. She has given us an ultimatum to to let her know before Tuesday whether we wish the vets to bill us directly for everything, or whether we want the insurance company to pursue us for the costs?
In my opinion, I am not liable for this as her dog initiated the interaction by barking at my dog on his doorstep (although she will probably deny this). Both dogs were on leads at the time. Unfortunately I suspect her asking us to cover the excess was simply a trick to make it look as though we were admitting liability. I am tempted to say put it through the insurance, and then dispute liability if/when they contact us - or have I shot myself in the foot by paying the excess? Will I end up paying even more if it goes through insurance, as they will clearly add a load of charges.
Any advice appreciated as this is really stressing us.
Kind regards
Mr. K
I would really like some advice regarding this issue.
My dog was involved in a skirmish yesterday. As we were returning from a walk, there was a dog owner with her dog outside our front door. My dog is large, hers was small (a whippet). As the dogs came close, the whippet surged forward and started barking. My dog lunged at the whippet, and unfortunately made contact before I could pull him off. Our dog was unhurt, and the owner initially thought her dog was fine. However, the owner called at our house a few minutes later to inform us our dog had bitten hers as he had a wound. She also suggested it might not have been a bite, but a swipe from his paw as I pulled him away, as whippets have very thin, easily-injured skin. We both agreed she should take him to the vets whatever the cause of the injury, as it could get infected and we asked her to call back later to let us know how he was? She seemed calm, but clearly annoyed, although she now had two other people with her who seemed intent on stirring things up, and were saying we should pay all the vet bills and they did not feel safe walking their dogs knowing how dangerous our dog was etc. These people were not involved in the incident in any way to my knowledge, not even as witnesses, but I presume they were other dog walkers who had offered to support her when she discovered her dog had been injured. We live along a busy dog-walking route, and there are always dog walkers around.
The owner returned later that evening to give us a progress report. She had to go to the emergency vets, who were going clean the wound, staple it and dress it. Emergency vets charge the Earth (they evidently quoted her £900), but she said she would simply claim it on her pet insurance if we agreed to pay her excess of £85 as the vets insisted this be paid before they would release the dog home. We agreed to this as a goodwill gesture, paid it immediately and she left apparently satisfied.
This morning she contacted us. She now demanded we cover all the vet bills, including all follow-up appointments. She has given us an ultimatum to to let her know before Tuesday whether we wish the vets to bill us directly for everything, or whether we want the insurance company to pursue us for the costs?
In my opinion, I am not liable for this as her dog initiated the interaction by barking at my dog on his doorstep (although she will probably deny this). Both dogs were on leads at the time. Unfortunately I suspect her asking us to cover the excess was simply a trick to make it look as though we were admitting liability. I am tempted to say put it through the insurance, and then dispute liability if/when they contact us - or have I shot myself in the foot by paying the excess? Will I end up paying even more if it goes through insurance, as they will clearly add a load of charges.
Any advice appreciated as this is really stressing us.
Kind regards
Mr. K
