What's The Right Thing To Do...

[Steve]

Good Grief - thats the best fence in Australia! How on earth could you have done any better to protect your dog and any one else's?

Perhaps you should enclose your entire yard with over head bird wire just in case the neighbour's bird escapes from its cage and flies into your yard :p Maybe a couple of strings of barbed wire in case the neighbour down the back has a cat that wants to climb over You've already had great legal advice - Danois is one of the best in the business.If you're made of money and you can afford to give money away just because you're a nice person I can give you the links for MDBA Pacers. If you give them anything - and I cant imagine why you would - maybe a nice card and a hundred bucks worth of gift voucher from bunnings so they can put that toward what ever they need to secure the fence on their side to suit their dog's future security.

[juice]

if they thought you were liable they would have been round asking for the whole bill, they know its not your fault.

get something as a token jesture, or go direct to vet and offer a small amount....not $1000

[Tim'sMum]

$4,000.....seriously, even with a 3 night stay at the Vets and X-Rays, that is totally OTT!

It must be my suspicious nature.....but have you sighted the itemised Vet bill? To be EXACTLY $4,000 sounds a bit far fetched too.

I would suggest that you ask for a copy of the Vet bill before you pay anything.

[Dame Aussie]

I say you should pay the lot but I know I am alone here. (You asked )

Uhm, why do you think the OP should pay the entire bill?

If her dog had not been there, I doubt there would have been an injury.

I agree with lorraine, people get talking to rellies, around the water cooler at work, etc.

And can I add that situations and peoples attitudes can change. Currently going through a situation with a tenant which started out fantastic for about 5 years and has now turned sour.

Her dog LIVES there????!!!!!

Sorry but I don't think the OP is responsible at all. Yes maybe offer a bit to keep the relationship good, but honestly, THEIR puppy stuck ITS paw into THE OP'S yard....

Edited March 3, 2010 by Aussie3

[Skruffy n Flea]

I would buy them and the puppy a gift and not pay anything directly. Maybe a gift hamper for the people and a doggy one for the puppy?

this would be an excellent choice to make

I would do what a previous person said - buy something for puppy - a nice bed, some chew type toys to entertain it while its confined, some treats and a soft puppy toy etc. For the people - wine or a voucher for dinner somewhere or the like.

i wholeheartedly agree with this ... but maybe not wine cuz it can react adversely when peeps are vexed over something and they might construe differently when intoxicated - just sayin'

I wouldn't give them any cash towards the bill, as the incident occurred because THEIR dog put it's paw under a tiny gap in a fence that is inside YOUR fenceline, and that contains YOUR dogs more than adequately. Where is THEIR fence or barrier to stop their dog doing something silly like this? Honestly, some people can make a nasty legal battle out of your fronting any part of the cost, and making out that you did so because you felt at fault... it's NOT your fault, and you should NOT be responsible for any part of the vet bill incurred.

T.

maybe you feel a tad guilty for your dog's involvement ... you shouldn't cuz your dog was being a dog when the lil pup was being a lil pup when it put it's leg under your fence. contributing may put a whole new complexion on it for your neighbours and it may have them consider things differently...

I say you should pay the lot but I know I am alone here. (You asked :D )

Uhm, why do you think the OP should pay the entire bill?

If her dog had not been there, I doubt there would have been an injury.

I agree with lorraine, people get talking to rellies, around the water cooler at work, etc.

And can I add that situations and peoples attitudes can change. Currently going through a situation with a tenant which started out fantastic for about 5 years and has now turned sour.

The fact the the OP's dog was there is irrelevant, it is not illegal to own a dog and house it in your back yard. As I said in my previous post, it is the responsibility of each dogs owner to ensure that their dog is adequately contained, the pup was obviously not. If you read the relevant Dogs Act you'll also find that if another animal or person enters the property where a dog is usually kept and gets attacked as a result the owner of the attaking dog will not be held responsible and the dog can't be declared dangerous based on that incident.

The OP also mentioned in the update that the vet doing the consult was not convinced the the OP's dog had even attacked it - and I dare say given the size of an adult rotti, if he had grabbed the pup with enough force to break the bone there would have been injuries to prove it.

emphasis added

three years ago my full grown rotti mix was pulled under the tin fence by the two staffy dingoes next doors. My dog's body was litterally torn open, his bones were broken and his spine suffered a lot of sweeling. He had to have his front leg amputated and his entire body was covered in injuries needing to be flushed every 4 hours for weeks. He lived in my bedroom fulltime, was carried outside to pee etc and spoon fed. Eventually he lost the battle and died, but that was 1200 total.

wholly crap!

oop! i didn't know there was a limit on the number of quoted blocks of text good grief! stay tuned

[poodlemum]

$4,000.....seriously, even with a 3 night stay at the Vets and X-Rays, that is totally OTT!

It must be my suspicious nature.....but have you sighted the itemised Vet bill? To be EXACTLY $4,000 sounds a bit far fetched too.

I would suggest that you ask for a copy of the Vet bill before you pay anything.

TM - I'm thinking this, as well, when our boy Lennon, had a abcess in his prostate which burst, spreading infection throughout his body, he was in the University Vet Clinic intensive care for a week with constant monitering and fluids. The cost was just under $4,000.00!

[Skruffy n Flea]

Currently we have gaps along a fence where a lawnmower contractor of a neighbour keeps continually hitting the fence. Our puffball and the neighours puffball continually have "words" through the gap. If our dog gets injured putting her face through a gap the neighbours indirectly have caused who is to blame? I am just saying that there are many sides to a story, that's all.

It doesn't matter who caused the gaps. If your fence does not contain your dog it is your problem. You know the gaps are there, you need to fix that problem.

emphasis added

Good Grief - thats the best fence in Australia! How on earth could you have done any better to protect your dog and any one else's?

Perhaps you should enclose your entire yard with over head bird wire just in case the neighbour's bird escapes from its cage and flies into your yard :D Maybe a couple of strings of barbed wire in case the neighbour down the back has a cat that wants to climb over You've already had great legal advice - Danois is one of the best in the business.If you're made of money and you can afford to give money away just because you're a nice person I can give you the links for MDBA Pacers. If you give them anything - and I cant imagine why you would - maybe a nice card and a hundred bucks worth of gift voucher from bunnings so they can put that toward what ever they need to secure the fence on their side to suit their dog's future security.

another excellent suggestion!

i've been quite vexed myself lately ... i'm fostering a very small 6-wk old kitten and even tho my two fluffies are quite good with him i doubt the boxer and british bulldog next door wouldn't be *yikes* - getting home from work tuesday nite and i greet the fluffies first as normal, giving back them access to the house when who should appear from under one of the kennels but BOB, the tiny wee kitty!!! HOOLEY frikken DOOLEY!!! the lil bugger had managed to get himself out thru what i thought to be the too high open window in the laundry!!!

well, you can tell that story ended well but you can also be sure as shit that the laundry window is now shut and you'll find me on my hands and knees in the back garden on the weekend seeking out all the wee crevices that a wee kitty can squirm itself thru so i can plug'em up!

the onus is on ME to ensure the safety of my animals and i know that if anything untoward were to occur with kitty in that regard then i would have to take full responsibility for being so irresponsible ... i have no basis to approach my neighbour

RL, i sincerely believe you will make the right choice for these circumstances you are in but there seems to be strong leaning toward a non-monetary contribution ... i reckon the bunnings gift voucher, and/or a puppy basket and/or even an offer to tend to the lil mite if they need to go out and leave the pup on its own would be a wonderful neighbourly and caring gesture on your part! with your experience too with dogs you might be able to impart some of your knowledge in helping these first-time dog owners on how to train and socialise their wee one

i wish you the very best of luck RL

[W Sibs]

WOW $4000!! Where did they take their pup?!

And, I thought Charlie's med bills was :D

Umm.. I would pay what you think it's comfortable to pay, although you're not obligated too.

want to add... that when Charlie first got sick, he was at the specialist hospital for 3 nights and 4 days, with bi-op (surgury), pain meds, xrays, cat scans, all the tests done on him, and it didn't cost us $4000. the total bill now is over that, but that's because of meds, going to consults and having xrays every 6 weeks, getting second and third opinions.. it all adds up.

[spoilt lab lives here]

Have you seen a reciept for the $4k vet bill? Id be slightly suspcious of a vet bill for that much! I personally wouldnt be paying anything as it wasnt your fault.

[~Anne~]

Wow, poor little pup. I would nominate you for the Best Neighbour of the Year Award Rottylover. The fact that you were concerned for the pup's wellbeing and that of the owners is commendable.

If it were me, I would offer to pay something. How much would depend on how much money you have. Regardless of the amount you contribute, be it $50 or $1000, I think you are a lovely thoughtful person.

[MolassesLass]

The total cost was over $4000.

I'm just unsure what i should contribute. Any thoughts ?

My dog had chest surgery by a specialist, ICU care and 6 days in hospital etc. etc and it was $4500. It sounds like this was an emergency vet and they charge like wounded bulls but that still sounds WAY WAY over the top for a broken leg and a few punctures.

Hard to judge without meeting the owners but $1000 is way over a gesture of goodwill IMO. I'd be offering a small amount like $200 and insisting I paid it to the vet directly too.

[Stolzseinrotts]

RL what an awful thing to have happen. However you did everything right to contain your dogs on your property. Sadly your next door neighbours did not contain their puppy on their property and now they have had huge vet bill. And that is a massive Vet bill, What do some of these vets charge for shares in the surgery....... . I would NOT contribute towards the neighbours Vet bill, it is not your fault. If you feel you need to do something then as suggested buy the puppy a small hamper of toys / treats and maybe a wine hamper for the neighbours. This is not your fault and you are not to blame for your neighbours failure to keep their puppy safe.

ETA: We have had a similar situation happen before. Our dogs were on our property, next door neighbours dog got under the fence. A couple of our guys caught the dog (SWF), severely slobbered on, nothing more. I got hold of the dog and returned it to neighbours and explained the situation. Neighbour started going on about if it needs vet care I will be held responsible. Neighbour was informed by myself, it is your dog and your and responsibility to keep it contained on your property as the law requires you to do. Never heard another thing and the small hole under the fence was quickly filled in.

Edited March 8, 2010 by Stolzseinrotts

[hilaryo]

I'd fix the gaps if my dogs were at risk.

I agree with the above - just as a gesture of good will not because it is your responsibility.

That is a huge bill and even though you are not obligated you have mentioned that you would like to pay something towards it but would feel embarrassed paying $100 or so.

Why not just put down some concrete or something along the fence line. Not a huge expense just a bit of hard work.

At least you will feel you have contributed something even though the situation it is not your fault.

[megan_]

$4,000.....seriously, even with a 3 night stay at the Vets and X-Rays, that is totally OTT!

It must be my suspicious nature.....but have you sighted the itemised Vet bill? To be EXACTLY $4,000 sounds a bit far fetched too.

I would suggest that you ask for a copy of the Vet bill before you pay anything.

When my boy had gastro it cost $3900. If you have to go to an emergency vet and have overnight stays there it racks up pretty quickly. Also, I think people tend to round when they say what something cost. My vet bill was really something like $3903.25, but I don't tell everyone down to the cent.

[Fordogs]

Just my 2 cents worth.

A couple of years ago we were just finishing off packing the last minute items, as we had sold our property and were leaving the very next day (we lived on rural property and our dogs were contained in their very secure long runs - as I thought). I was walking another within our well fenced outer yard when I saw a neighbors Foxie loose and it was in my yard heading towards the dogs in the long day runs. I still don't know how but I leapfrogged the 4 foot outer fence to chase it off but it took no notice and just as I landed on the other side my 2 dogs grabbed it , I was horrified, managed to pull them off but the dog was injured.

Later that day I paid them a visit to see how she was doing. Husband said that the wife had taken to letting the dogs out each day and that it was all their fault --- but the next day as we saw the removalist truck out of the gate the Ranger arrived, ------ they had made a complaint --- he inspected my property fences and dog runs etc. and he said that was aware that the dog was on my property and that the owners admitted to him that they let the dogs out for a wander each day, we had nothing to worry about as our fencing was more than adequate and he would take no action.

AND my fencing was nothing like yours

I feel you should not have to make any contribution at all - you have done all that you can to confine your dogs and the onus was on your neighbors to see that their puppy was safe before allowing it the freedom of the yard.

JMHO. If the Ranger saw your fencing he would be amazed. FORT KNOX I would say.

[Red Fox]

RL, just thinking...

Why dont you be flat honest with your neighbours?

Tell them that you feel embarrassed as you weren't expecting the bill to be so high and that you just can't afford to contribute a huge amount of money to it especially after you have already spent so much on fencing your property already and making sure that your dogs are safely contained.

Instead of giving them money offer to come over and help them patch up the fence from their side so that this can NEVER happen again. If it makes you feel better tell them that you will pay for the materials and do the work for them.

I know I'd much prefer a neighbour who was honest and wanted to be part of the solution rather than one who threw a bit of money over the fence and said "well now it's not my problem".

The crate is a nice idea but I wouldn't rush out and buy them something like that without asking what they think of the idea first. Crates can be expensive and for someone that just wont use it well I'm sure they would rather just have the $200.

As I said earlier, if you are desperately wanting to pay part of the vet bill I would ONLY be offereing to pay for the x-rays and ONLY pay it directly to the vet.

[BittyMooPeeb]

Hi Rottylover

I was wondering about you saying that the fence is within your property. If this is the case, what happened to the original fence, or wasn't there one?

I guess I'd be concerned if you had removed the existing boundary fence to build your fence, as your neighbours could argue that their pup was injured because you removed and didnt replace the boundary fence (regardless of how good the new fence within your property is!). If there was no existing boundary fence, then the pup's owners probably wouldnt have a case in saying that you were negligent, as they were making use of your enclosure, instead of creating one of their own.

A bit OT I know - I am just interested in the fence not-on-the boundary thing, as I have considered teh same thing and wondered about the legal implications.

[GeckoTree]

far out

[GeckoTree]

what ever you give if you are going to give make it so it has to go toward a fence on there boundary.

[Greytmate]

For those of you claiming that the $4000 is too high...

If the pup had broken bones, it is important that they are set properly so they heal properly. We don't know if the bones were shattered or split or whatever.

If the dog needed to stay in one of the really good Brisbane vet Hospitals (not vet clinics), and needed orthopaedic surgery, then the bill could easily be that high.

To hear people carry on about the bill is making me feel quite ill. If my dogs was that severely injured I wouldn't just take him to a clinic, I would take him to a vet hospital, and I would expect to pay thousands. I would expect more people here to be like that too.

If people are shocked by that figure, maybe they should get health insurance for their dog. Because the alternative might be to take your dog to a cheap unstaffed clinic where it could fade quickly and die in the middle of the night. But hey, they would only charge about $500, is that what people want for their dogs?