Should i offer to pay vet bill

[fankino04]

I'm currently dog and house sitting for an ex client with 2 German Shepherds. Last night when I got up from the sofa and went to the kitchen to get a drink they both got up and followed me, younger dog then decided to try to jump up on the other one to play, older dog is not very playful so kind of shrugged him off, well he must have hit the ground a bit funny on one foot as he's hopping lame. I gave him some metacam and said I'd let her know how he is this morning. He's still very lame on it so I put him on the lead to go in the garden for his business then put him in his crate as he was still trying to run around and jump up etc. My question is if he needs the vet should I be paying as this happened when in my care but was one of those things that could happen anytime to anyone?

 

[PapaverFollis]

No, definitely not!

 

[twiggy2]

No, it's not down to negligence, unless of course the dogs dont usually have access to each other in case this sort of thing happens.

 

[fankino04]

Thanks guys, sometimes I get a bit carried away with "being responsible etc". This is typical behaviour from him, I've spent a huge chunk of the weekend telling him to leave B in peace and try to keep them on each side of me as she really does look unhappy when he's around her but the owners only crate him when they are out as he destroys the house, they are quite happy for the pair of them to be together.

 

[limestonelil]

No. Not at all. Unless the dogs had to be kept separately. Like Twiggy2 said.

 

[limestonelil]

Slow typing!! Pleased to see you've realised it's just one of those things.

 

[AmyMay]

As above, this is not down to negligence, so no.

 

[fankino04]

Thanks, finally got owner to answer phone, she's fine about it and just asked me to see if vets can see him today. Now I just feel bad charging for the dog sit when she also has a vet bill.

 

[ArklePig]

No way this is just dogs will be dogs! Sorry it happened though it's worse when they're not your own.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Thanks, finally got owner to answer phone, she's fine about it and just asked me to see if vets can see him today. Now I just feel bad charging for the dog sit when she also has a vet bill.

If I remember rightly, you earn your living as a dog-walker, of course you should charge for your weekend services. If a dog hurt itself while out on a walk with you, would you waive your charge? You certainly shouldn't!

 

[Hobo2]

Over the years I have left my dog or horses in the care of others I would never expect them to pay for vet or not charge unless they were negligent. I always leave all vets numbers and say if in doubt call the vet do not worry about cost even if false alarm.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Is this the people with the older dog with soundness issues who thought it would be a good idea to get a puppy ??‍

 

[skinnydipper]

Do you have non-negligent cover on your dog walker's insurance? This would cover vet bills and compensation to the owners should an animal in your care suffer an injury that was not your fault.

 

[fankino04]

Is this the people with the older dog with soundness issues who thought it would be a good idea to get a puppy ??‍

Yes it is, I really thought she would have told him in no uncertain terms to bugger off by now but she just walks off when he approaches her or turns her head to blatantly ignore him, it's very sad to see and I've spent most of the weekend telling him to leave her alone and sitting between them on the sofa so she can chill but apparently this is just how they always are. I don't walk them anymore as her hours at work changed so this was just a one off.

 

[fankino04]

Do you have non-negligent cover on your dog walker's insurance? This would cover vet bills and compensation to the owners should an animal in your care suffer an injury that was not your fault.

Yes I do but would rather not claim if not really necessary as don't want the premiums jumping up next year.

 

[skinnydipper]

Yes it is, I really thought she would have told him in no uncertain terms to bugger off by now but she just walks off when he approaches her or turns her head to blatantly ignore him, it's very sad to see

Poor old dog, I feel very sorry for her. Not only is she in pain she has to tolerate being harassed by the youngster. It shouldn't be up to her to tell him to stop. She should never have been in that position in the first place. She should be able to enjoy her senior years in peace.

 

[fankino04]

Poor old dog, I feel very sorry for her. Not only is she in pain she has to tolerate being harassed by the youngster. It shouldn't be up to her to tell him to stop. She should never have been in that position in the first place. She should be able to enjoy her senior years in peace.

Honestly I just wanted to bring her home with me today she's so lovely, she's not even that old yet but already got bad hips. I did express my concern to them before they got the puppy although I did think it was more likely to end up with big fights, then when he arrived I said she seemed very shut down and unhappy but it all fell on deaf ears. I used to walk them separately just so she got some one on one time without him butting in and she was so much brighter.

 

[fankino04]

Puppy is waiting on an x Ray apparently

 

[fankino04]

Well nothing broken but he does have an infection in his paw, vet says maybe from chewing at it which could have been firework stress or boredom??

 

[Squeak]

Just something that popped in to my head when I was reading through the thread but if you waiver your fees or offer to pay the bill are you potentially seen as accepting liability?

Glad he's not broken anything and I'm with the others who don't think it's your responsibility to pay the vets fees I've sadly lost a horse while a holiday cover groom was looking after him and also had to have an emergency vet visit another time they were looking after a different horse. I trust the person implicitly and know neither of them was their fault but I had absolutely no expectation that they should contribute to the bills. I was just relieved they'd noticed the vet was needed and acted quickly.

 

[skinnydipper]

Well nothing broken but he does have an infection in his paw, vet says maybe from chewing at it which could have been firework stress or boredom??

As you are asking for an opinion, here is mine.

I feel very sorry for the bitch having to deal with the youngster jumping all over her, that should never be allowed to happen.

I also feel sorry for the young dog. From what you have said it does not seem as if his needs are being met. He is entertaining himself by jumping on and pestering the bitch, he is destroying the house and now he could be chewing his paw due to stress or boredom.

People complain that rescues are picky who they rehome to, this is why. This situation is unfair to both dog and bitch.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I couldn't work with dogs professionally, I'd last all of five minutes before I became very unprofessional.

 

[Goldenstar]

Do not pay the bill it’s not your fault and you handled it correctly .