Consider

[DanaC]

Split it is the most sensible advice.

Dogs are dogs. Sometimes they do stupid shit. Both dogs were involved. Impossible to start laying 'blame'. Both owners should share the cost of the situation.

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by jimhelm

Homeowners policy?

Originally Posted by jimhelm

Did this happen to you, sky!?

This happened at my sister's house. I suggested homeowners.

Originally Posted by DanaC

I gotta say: I don't really give a shit who started it. If my dog hurt another dog I'd want to help towards the cost of the vet.

This is my opinion, which has landed me into my first family feud ever.

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

As in Dog-sitting or as in observing?

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

IF the former then you are responsible for the dog you are watching. The smaller yippy dog, being your mother's and housemates dog also falls under your care unless you have a specific arrangement with your mother to the contrary.

Dog sitting. I came to this conclusion too, however the details are murky about how exactly a 10 year old barnacled poodle launched the attack.

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

How high of a vet bill are we talking about?

It’s not very high. $260. This is more about who is right and who is wrong, legally and according to me, ethically. It is very wrong to be treating an elderly woman the way they are, and her little poodle. You know how old ladies are about their poodles.

The vet said it was very close to the jugler. The poodle got huge staples to close it shut.



The owner of the dog paid half and my sister paid half. My sister wants her half back from my mother and lays the blame on the little dog. She has some infinite monkey going on, I think.

I take the stance that, if I had a large dog, I would pay because it's the right thing to do. I never imagined that THAT little comment would draw a battle line.

Bottom line. My mother isn't paying for the vet bill. I told my sis it was the big dogs owners responsibility and if she didn't want to make him pay, she could look into homeowners insurance.

She insists that my mother's dog is the instigator and should pay.

There is an inconsistency about what happened after my mother's poodle 'viciously' attacked the husky. My sister either pulled the little dog off ( not sure how you would pull a little dog out of the mouth of a large dog) or the big dog flung the poodle away after biting down on her neck, which implies no action was taken. That makes her negligent and responsible too.

[footfootfoot]

In the schoolyard we had a number of aphorisms regarding playing with the big dogs, or in those days we said "jumping bad" as in "You wanna jump bad with me motherfucker?" at which point there would be a beat-down or a back-down.

The other expression is something along the lines of if you want to run with the big dogs you've got to be able to piss in the tall grass (or if you don't want to run with the big dogs, stay on the porch)

Little dog is 100% at fault for being a knuckle head.

[DanaC]

Oh fuck. Sounds you like you done walked into a minefield.

I have zero advice to offer on this one. Families are weird.

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by classicman

The lil dog seems to have been the instigator. He started it and the big dog finished it.
I really don't see how you can blame the larger dog since you were "watching" the larger dog. Either way I think it goes back to you. I cannot see how the larger dog's owner would be responsible for something that happened while the dog was in your care.
No if this question is directed between you and your mom... split it.

Do most large dogs act violently against little yappers?

My brother has a pitbull and my sister has her own large chocolate lab who get along fine with the little barnacle.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by skysidhe

She has some infinite monkey going on, I think.

Is she taking anything for it?

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

In the schoolyard we had a number of aphorisms regarding playing with the big dogs, or in those days we said "jumping bad" as in "You wanna jump bad with me motherfucker?" at which point there would be a beat-down or a back-down.

The other expression is something along the lines of if you want to run with the big dogs you've got to be able to piss in the tall grass (or if you don't want to run with the big dogs, stay on the porch)

Little dog is 100% at fault for being a knuckle head.

So far it's big dog 2 to little dog 0.

Even if all of you said the little dog was responsible and my mother should pay, I don't think I would make her. I would just suck it up and pay it. If I were the one watching the animals. I would also feel horrible for my mother, regardless who was at fault. I can't change my feelings about the rightness and wrongness of it. Since I cannot, I have become the enemy. I am not taking sides, perse. I just would not question paying for it myself.

Originally Posted by DanaC

Oh fuck. Sounds you like you done walked into a minefield.

I have zero advice to offer on this one. Families are weird.

Weird is right. I am totally blown away.

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Is she taking anything for it?

She is in a very bad place phyisically. Yes.

[infinite monkey]

Wait. What the fuck did I do?

[infinite monkey]

Anyone?

[skysidhe]

You didn't do anything!!! It was your post. This is her, without the laughing. ( unfortunatley)

Right now I would trade you for my sister. They have in'jun blood too so you'd fit right in.

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

I think the poodle was asking for it. Unless the poodle has a job, it's the poodle's owner's responsibility.

Little doggehs, take heed: DO NOT mess with the big dogs. Yeah, you're scrappy and cute, but the big doggehs will eat your head!

.

[infinite monkey]

Ahhhh. Tongue in cheek, really.

(Yeah, I'm especially paranoid these days...pay me no never mind.)

I don't know either dog. I have seen small dogs go CWAZY around big dogs. I call it "short dog syndrome."

Hope it works out, regardless.

[skysidhe]

No problem. It will work out when my mom moves out. Thanks

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

Wait. What the fuck did I do?

Oh, the old "innocent bystander" routine. Tell it to the Undertoad.

[Clodfobble]

I'm trying to imagine it from the sister's perspective...

If my mom were living with me as an "only because you're my relative and you're in need" standpoint, and I particularly resented the in-residence of her dog (as I would, not being a dog or cat person)... yeah, I think I could be a little ticked if, on top of it all, I had to pay a vet bill for her stupid dog's antics. But, clearly your sister is okay with dogs, since she was voluntarily watching the neighbor's dog as well.

But you're right, for a bill that relatively low, this is clearly a righteous stand she's making, and not about the money. I'd stay as far away from the whole thing as I could.