This is straying into the territory of the Pizza Hut employee who was stealing and posters were like, "Don't report her! She might be a struggling single mom of 17 kids!"
Or something like that.
RIGHT?!?!
I'm calling BS on everyone in this thread who has said "not your fault, but if I could afford it I'd pay the whole thing because he's an old man".
I totally would. I've done similar things in the past. It's just money. If I have it and won't miss it much why wouldn't I help the guy if it's hard for him?
As someone who's dog has been attacked on a leash by a dog off-leash and who has a doxie who is an asshole... I don't think your dog is to blame. My doxie sticks his nose everywhere. It's in their nature. I would never walk him close to a fence with a dog in it. The dog is contained via the fence. The neighbor dog was likely was too close to your fence and was poking around being a grade-A asshole that doxies are. This is like an owner who has a dog on a leash walking too close to my dogs on leash and then being shocked when my barking dogs attack their animals. I would have a frank conversation with the neighbor about what he wants to happen and discuss your vet bills accrued as well. The last thing you want is a pissed off neighbor and to be sued in small claims court. I am shocked he showed you the vet bill days later. I would be knocking on your door the same day letting you know what happened.
I heard he spent years undercover in Germany fighting Nazis and the dachshund reminds him of the German dog breeder he fell in love with before Hitler personally murdered her.
At this point I would start to wonder about his mental health
That's a huge reach. Have you never met a stubborn old person who doesn't want to stop doing something they love, even though maybe they should? By your definition millions of senior citizens are mentally ill. Oh hey maybe that explains the 2016 election....
Post by followyourarrow on Aug 2, 2019 13:38:05 GMT -5
I think you were both responsible. Your dog shouldn't have been outside alone because you know he has fence territory issues, mine does too and I know it sucks, and your fence needs fixed. His dog wasn't under control and by looking at the pic I'm guess she put her head under the fence. I think it's would be fair for each person to pay their own bills and for you to fix your fence. Hopefully talk about a way to prevent this in the future with your neighbor and what steps you plan to take.
At this point I would start to wonder about his mental health
That's a huge reach. Have you never met a stubborn old person who doesn't want to stop doing something they love, even though maybe they should? By your definition millions of senior citizens are mentally ill. Oh hey maybe that explains the 2016 election....
I don't think it's a reach. I get being stubborn, truly, but how many times does one person have to get hurt before common sense and self preservation kicks in? It's not absurd to think maybe his ability to rationalize isn't what it used to be.
My impression is that this man seems thinks it's fun to take his crazy dogs out for a walk, and doesn't care that bad things have happened to them in the past. And recently, because of this "stubbornness", his small dog got it's face chewed. It could've been killed. I don't think that's rational thinking at all.
IMO this is in no way your fault. That hole doesn't seem very big (in fact it seems similar to the gaps in my new picket fence). I'd honestly be really upset if someone walked their dogs by my fence and allowed them to interact with my fenced dogs if they're known to not get along.
Also, my yard isn't very large and it would still be possible for my dogs to interact with dogs walking by before I could get to them, so I don't know that being unattended vs. me being out there with them in the yard would even change the outcome.
I'm struggling to see how that dog got it's face so far out of that hole that it could open it's jaws to bite the face of another dog. It does, however, look like the size a dachshund could stick its face into.
It is possible the dachshund ran over to the fence and put his head through the hole and chomped down on my dogs foot.
That's my guess too, after seeing the photo of your dog's normal sized head and a much smaller fence hole than I was expecting. In this case rather than paying all or even most of the bill, I would go talk to him, ask for another account of what exactly happened, ask questions if the story still isn't clear, then offer to pay half of the total that includes your vet bills. And get your fence fixed and keep on top of any future fence holes better.
I'm truly struggling to understand how the old man isn't at fault completely. He was walking his dog on a leash. His dog stuck his face into someone's fence and got bit.
Normally when I take my dog on a walk on a leash and he sticks his snout where it doesn't belong I pull back on the leash and say "No".
It's not like OP's yard is fenced in adjacent to another neighbor's fenced in yard. In that case yes---it's the responsibility of both owners to make sure the fence separating them is sufficient to keep them separate.
ETA: And I'm rolling my eyes at comments that the dog shouldn't have been in his own fenced yard alone. How was she supposed to predict that some random dog would walk over and stick his snout into a hole that small? Come on.
I'm truly struggling to understand how the old man isn't at fault completely. He was walking his dog on a leash. His dog stuck his face into someone's fence and got bit.
Normally when I take my dog on a walk on a leash and he sticks his snout where it doesn't belong I pull back on the leash and say "No".
It's not like OP's yard is fenced in adjacent to another neighbor's fenced in yard. In that case yes---it's the responsibility of both owners to make sure the fence separating them is sufficient to keep them separate.
ETA: And I'm rolling my eyes at comments that the dog shouldn't have been in his own fenced yard alone. How was she supposed to predict that some random dog would walk over and stick his snout into a hole that small? Come on.
The more I look at the picture, the more I come down on this side. I might offer to pay a small amount to be neighborly because getting in a protracted fight with a next door neighbor is no fun.
Obviously OP needs to get her fence fixed. But looking at that hole and at that dog, I am convinced the dachshund stuck its head in the hole. The neighbor should’ve had his dogs on a shorter leash so it couldn’t stick its head through the hole.
Don't leave dogs outside alone. I have perfectly well socialized, obedient, chill dogs (who are completely unfazed by the 15yo, super dog aggressive chihuahua next door who likes to stick her nose- and occasionally her entire body- under both our fences), and a securely fenced yard (though, apparently, not chihuahua proof)- and we still go out with them every single time. There's just a laundry list of reasons a fenced yard isn't a safe place for dogs to be without supervision. It's also illegal here (my "here") to have dogs outside unless they're under the control of their owner, via leash or voice commands- no exclusions for yards/fences/property.
I hope both dogs are okay, I would offer to pay half of the sum of the vet bills and find a safer place for him to spend time when you aren't home/can't be around. Be aware that dogs who are reactionary to other dogs tend to get worse after incidents like this, be prepared and try to stay a few steps ahead of him (mentally) when he may be exposed to dogs.
I changed my mind. You are both still at fault but I think you should pay 1/4 of his bill, let him know the amount of your bill to show you had to go to the vet too, and fix the hole.
This is straying into the territory of the Pizza Hut employee who was stealing and posters were like, "Don't report her! She might be a struggling single mom of 17 kids!"
Or something like that.
That was me! I filed a report as did a handful of other customers they found she did it to. It’s been a while so I don’t remember the specifics, but she had a criminal history and had to pay fines and community service.
I'm truly struggling to understand how the old man isn't at fault completely. He was walking his dog on a leash. His dog stuck his face into someone's fence and got bit.
Normally when I take my dog on a walk on a leash and he sticks his snout where it doesn't belong I pull back on the leash and say "No".
It's not like OP's yard is fenced in adjacent to another neighbor's fenced in yard. In that case yes---it's the responsibility of both owners to make sure the fence separating them is sufficient to keep them separate.
ETA: And I'm rolling my eyes at comments that the dog shouldn't have been in his own fenced yard alone. How was she supposed to predict that some random dog would walk over and stick his snout into a hole that small? Come on.
She would have had no way of knowing that another dog was going to come and cause problems. That’s why you don’t leave them unattended and unleashed- because you never know what could happen?
This is straying into the territory of the Pizza Hut employee who was stealing and posters were like, "Don't report her! She might be a struggling single mom of 17 kids!"
Or something like that.
That was me! I filed a report as did a handful of other customers they found she did it to. It’s been a while so I don’t remember the specifics, but she had a criminal history and had to pay fines and community service.
I can't believe you did that to those poor 17 children.
This is straying into the territory of the Pizza Hut employee who was stealing and posters were like, "Don't report her! She might be a struggling single mom of 17 kids!"
Or something like that.
That was me! I filed a report as did a handful of other customers they found she did it to. It’s been a while so I don’t remember the specifics, but she had a criminal history and had to pay fines and community service.
I would very much like to revisit this thread but I can’t find it.
That's a huge reach. Have you never met a stubborn old person who doesn't want to stop doing something they love, even though maybe they should? By your definition millions of senior citizens are mentally ill. Oh hey maybe that explains the 2016 election....
I don't think it's a reach. I get being stubborn, truly, but how many times does one person have to get hurt before common sense and self preservation kicks in? It's not absurd to think maybe his ability to rationalize isn't what it used to be.
My impression is that this man seems thinks it's fun to take his crazy dogs out for a walk, and doesn't care that bad things have happened to them in the past. And recently, because of this "stubbornness", his small dog got it's face chewed. It could've been killed. I don't think that's rational thinking at all.
Did someone say he was injured while walking his dogs?
That was me! I filed a report as did a handful of other customers they found she did it to. It’s been a while so I don’t remember the specifics, but she had a criminal history and had to pay fines and community service.
I would very much like to revisit this thread but I can’t find it.
That was me! I filed a report as did a handful of other customers they found she did it to. It’s been a while so I don’t remember the specifics, but she had a criminal history and had to pay fines and community service.
I would very much like to revisit this thread but I can’t find it.
I've clearly given up on work today. There are some DDs, but it looks like the main thread is there:
ETA: And I'm rolling my eyes at comments that the dog shouldn't have been in his own fenced yard alone. How was she supposed to predict that some random dog would walk over and stick his snout into a hole that small? Come on.
It's actually illegal in my town to leave your dog unattended, even in a fenced yard. My dog is a jerk when something/someone else in on the other side of the fence. She can't hop a baby gate, but I don't trust she won't figure out how to get over a fence if she wanted to. She will bark and disturb the neighborhood, which is not legal here. Plus I need to be there so I can be working with her and correcting behavior when it comes to fences.
Don't leave dogs outside alone. I have perfectly well socialized, obedient, chill dogs (who are completely unfazed by the 15yo, super dog aggressive chihuahua next door who likes to stick her nose- and occasionally her entire body- under both our fences), and a securely fenced yard (though, apparently, not chihuahua proof)- and we still go out with them every single time. There's just a laundry list of reasons a fenced yard isn't a safe place for dogs to be without supervision. It's also illegal here (my "here") to have dogs outside unless they're under the control of their owner, via leash or voice commands- no exclusions for yards/fences/property.
I hope both dogs are okay, I would offer to pay half of the sum of the vet bills and find a safer place for him to spend time when you aren't home/can't be around. Be aware that dogs who are reactionary to other dogs tend to get worse after incidents like this, be prepared and try to stay a few steps ahead of him (mentally) when he may be exposed to dogs.
I can't fathom this. We never leave our dog outside if we're not home. But I work from home most days and during the summer I'd say at least one of our doors is open 90% of the time we're home. Our dog loves to sit outside in the sunshine, and walk in and out at will. If I went out with him every time he wanted to go out I wouldn't get anything else done.
OP, does the neighbor know your dog was injured too?
Sorry to hear your dog is injured. That does change my mind, and I’d be more likely to pay half of the combined vet bills. Neighbors $1500 + Your Vet Bill /2.
And kadams767 , I wasn’t implying that you were being unsympathetic to the neighbor, but answered your question as to “WTF is he walking 3 dogs?” Yes, there are daycare and dog walkers, but they’re super expensive to people who may be on a fixed income. Also, if it’s never been an issue until now, he’s probably never thought about it. The thing about aging is that you slowly lose the ability to do things you’ve always done...and often don’t know it until you suddenly have an issue. He may never walk all of the dogs together again. It was never a problem, until it was.
He has had mobility issues since we've lived here. The lab is very docile and easy to walk and the two dashunds are a handful but are tiny dogs. I know walking his dogs is one of the highlights of his day, as he has been injured on walks several times and shared he can't wait to heal and get back to walking every time.
I don't think it's a reach. I get being stubborn, truly, but how many times does one person have to get hurt before common sense and self preservation kicks in? It's not absurd to think maybe his ability to rationalize isn't what it used to be.
My impression is that this man seems thinks it's fun to take his crazy dogs out for a walk, and doesn't care that bad things have happened to them in the past. And recently, because of this "stubbornness", his small dog got it's face chewed. It could've been killed. I don't think that's rational thinking at all.
Did someone say he was injured while walking his dogs?
bittybomb the OP said her neighbor had been injured multiple times while walking his dogs (see bold above.)
Don't leave dogs outside alone. I have perfectly well socialized, obedient, chill dogs (who are completely unfazed by the 15yo, super dog aggressive chihuahua next door who likes to stick her nose- and occasionally her entire body- under both our fences), and a securely fenced yard (though, apparently, not chihuahua proof)- and we still go out with them every single time. There's just a laundry list of reasons a fenced yard isn't a safe place for dogs to be without supervision. It's also illegal here (my "here") to have dogs outside unless they're under the control of their owner, via leash or voice commands- no exclusions for yards/fences/property.
I hope both dogs are okay, I would offer to pay half of the sum of the vet bills and find a safer place for him to spend time when you aren't home/can't be around. Be aware that dogs who are reactionary to other dogs tend to get worse after incidents like this, be prepared and try to stay a few steps ahead of him (mentally) when he may be exposed to dogs.
I can't fathom this. We never leave our dog outside if we're not home. But I work from home most days and during the summer I'd say at least one of our doors is open 90% of the time we're home. Our dog loves to sit outside in the sunshine, and walk in and out at will. If I went out with him every time he wanted to go out I wouldn't get anything else done.
OP, does the neighbor know your dog was injured too?
We don't have "sit in the sunshine" weather or "sit in the sunshine" dogs, so it's really not a challenge for us- and we DO have dogs who thrive on fetch (and those balls don't throw themselves). The law is not well enforced (we run into totally loose dogs at least once a month), but, does come up in cases where dogs bite delivery people, cops, neighbors.
I would offer 1/2. You should have fixed the gap in the fence but if your neighbor is aware that both your and his dogs are territorial he should not have let his dog close enough to the fence for your dog to get his.
If the dachshund came and stuck his head through the hole into your yard/property then I don't think you are really responsible for that. Even if you had been outside watching the dog, the incident likely still would have happened the same way. I agree with PP that I would probably try to talk to the neighbor again to find out more details of exactly what happened, and then maybe offer to split both vet bills 50/50 to keep the peace. In addition to filing the fence, I would be tempted to get a survey done just to see where the property line is just in case you ever need to know for the future.