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Dog dilemma

  • 15-11-2013 11:39am
    #1
    oppenheimer1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,084 ✭✭✭


    About a week ago, my brother who is a plumber, was working on an elderly couples home. The was replacing a radiator in their back kitchen that was leaking. Anyway he was attacked by the pet dog in the house a big black and white thing. The attack was unprovoked, done while he was on the ground opening up some pipes. The dog bite to his leg broke the skin and he's had to get a few stitches. During the attack he fought the dog off with a solid boot in self defence.


    Anyway afterwards as he was hobbling out the door of the house to get treatment, the dog owner said not to worry that he was taking him to the vet. My brother assumed to be put down. This week a bill from the auld fella lands in his door looking for him to pay the vet bills. The dog had a fractured rib and wasn't put down.


    I told him there is no way he should pay this. He had to miss a day of work, and pay for a doctor to treat him due to this dog. I don't believe in second chances for dogs, but I thought I would get another opinion to see if anyone could see this as reasonable?


Comments

  • #2
    ShaShaBear
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,528 ✭✭✭ShaShaBear


    oppenheimer1 wrote: »
    About a week ago, my brother who is a plumber, was working on an elderly couples home. The was replacing a radiator in their back kitchen that was leaking. Anyway he was attacked by the pet dog in the house a big black and white thing. The attack was unprovoked, done while he was on the ground opening up some pipes. The dog bite to his leg broke the skin and he's had to get a few stitches. During the attack he fought the dog off with a solid boot in self defence.


    Anyway afterwards as he was hobbling out the door of the house to get treatment, the dog owner said not to worry that he was taking him to the vet. My brother assumed to be put down. This week a bill from the auld fella lands in his door looking for him to pay the vet bills. The dog had a fractured rib and wasn't put down.


    I told him there is no way he should pay this. He had to miss a day of work, and pay for a doctor to treat him due to this dog. I don't believe in second chances for dogs, but I thought I would get another opinion to see if anyone could see this as reasonable?

    Well I would not believe there would be any reason to put the dog to sleep because of what happened, because it was entirely the owners' faults. Chances are the dog assumed your brother was stealing a radiator and rushed in to defend his territory. Your brother was also right to defend himself.

    He should not have to pay any vets bills, because had the owners either properly socialised their dog, or safely removed him from the situation when they noticed he was uncomfortable (which they should have, I always watch my dog when there is a stranger in the house) the dog, and your brother, would have come to no harm.

    Have your brother issue them with his medical bills and note that he does not expect the dog to be euthanised, as it was their own lack of care to the dog that resulted in the bite. They'll not be long shutting up when they realise they are to blame.


  • #3
    CallMeACab
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16 ✭CallMeACab


    oppenheimer1 wrote: »
    About a week ago, my brother who is a plumber, was working on an elderly couples home. The was replacing a radiator in their back kitchen that was leaking. Anyway he was attacked by the pet dog in the house a big black and white thing. The attack was unprovoked, done while he was on the ground opening up some pipes. The dog bite to his leg broke the skin and he's had to get a few stitches. During the attack he fought the dog off with a solid boot in self defence.


    Anyway afterwards as he was hobbling out the door of the house to get treatment, the dog owner said not to worry that he was taking him to the vet. My brother assumed to be put down. This week a bill from the auld fella lands in his door looking for him to pay the vet bills. The dog had a fractured rib and wasn't put down.


    I told him there is no way he should pay this. He had to miss a day of work, and pay for a doctor to treat him due to this dog. I don't believe in second chances for dogs, but I thought I would get another opinion to see if anyone could see this as reasonable?

    I agree 100% with the reply you received from the previous poster. What a breath of fresh air to read intelligent, informed and practical comments on the emotive topic of dogs. I hope your brother is better and that the dog has recovered too. Both innocent parties. The simple rule is that humans are responsible for their dog's behaviour - whether they understand that or not is another day's work. All the best, CMAC


  • #4
    ferretone
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 638 ✭✭✭ferretone


    Just a hint, my OH works in a small sparky firm, and a fellow-employee is genuinely frightened of dogs. He's in the other van, but OH has noticed he always tells the owners of his fear when the van goes to a place with dogs, so they put them away.

    OH is considering pretending he's cynophobic himself, as he's noticed it prevents your tools getting wee'd on and/or dragged off to some puppy's stash :rolleyes:

    On your brother's particular, recent case, of course he must send all cost bills to the client/defendant. The very idea of trying to send him a vet bill is just mind-boggling!

    ShaShaBear's approach sounds good to me :)


  • #5
    oppenheimer1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,084 ✭✭✭oppenheimer1


    Thanks all for your replies. There was some developments in this today. My brother called over to the couple today to discuss. Anyway they came to the agreement that he wouldn't pay the vet bill, and that he could put the price of the GP visit on the bill. In the interests of good business sense my brother decided to leave it at that. He did tell them that they should take the dog to a trainer and never leave him unattended with strangers or children.


  • #6
    CallMeACab
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16 ✭CallMeACab


    Well done. Good result all round. I'm especially glad your brother didn't make an official complaint against the dog. I think most would agree that the owners are at fault for their dog's bad behaviour.

    Well done again.


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  • #7
    ZiabR
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,575 ✭✭✭ZiabR


    oppenheimer1 wrote: »
    Thanks all for your replies. There was some developments in this today. My brother called over to the couple today to discuss. Anyway they came to the agreement that he wouldn't pay the vet bill, and that he could put the price of the GP visit on the bill. In the interests of good business sense my brother decided to leave it at that. He did tell them that they should take the dog to a trainer and never leave him unattended with strangers or children.

    Thats a great result. Hats off to your brother for handling it the way he did.


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