What part of bill would you cover?

[Dog Daze]

Not related to grooming but a dog I was walking today stepped on something that must have been under the snow and sliced her pad. I never saw what it was she didn't cry or anything when it happened so I didn't notice it until we were going back into her house.

I needed to meet her owner at the vet as she has to be sedated to have a couple of stitches.

I called my pet sitting insurance carrier and it has a $100.00 deductible and wont renew your insurance after 3 claims in three years and the estimate for the visit is $330.00 would you offer to pay the whole bill or offer to pay half as it was an accident but happened while in my care?

[ferretlov]

seriously,I dont think Id offer anything.I dont think you did anything negligant to cause her to step on something its just one of those things.everything bad that happens doesnt require "compensation"

[Helly]

According to my understanding of how these things work, when you accept someone else's property into your care it's called an ordinary bailment, and you have the responsibility to return said property to the rightful owner in the same condition you recieved it in, barring normal wear & tear.

A sliced paw isn't normal wear & tear. So you're responsible because it happened when the dog was under your care. Pay the bill. If the owner happens to offer to split it, you can follow your own judgement, but if not, pay the bill. Turn it in to your insurance company. That's why you pay those premiums.

[A1Mobile]

I wouldn't offer to pay any part of the bill.

[windfall4]

To me, it would depend on how the owner takes it. If they are easy going, then don't worry about it. But if they are upset or angry then maybe offer to pay half. I wouldn't make an insurance claim though. IMO insurance is for the rare catastrophes. You shouldn't claim something this minor.

[odette]

I agree with ferret, do you not have a contract that covers accidents? doesn't matter how careful you are things happen. You didn't put what ever on the sidewalk, could've happened to the owner.

[Briarpatch]

I think I'd offer to pay it. If it happened in my care, I'd feel responsible. Also, I think the client would appreciate your professionalism of offering to pay, thus giving you more business and referrals in the long run.

[Dog Daze]

Well I talked to the owner who is also a neighbor of mine and told her I would pay the bill and she said no way it could have just as easily happened when she was walking her and I then offered free services until it reached at least half the value of the total bill and she said No that she was happy that it happened with me because I knew how to handle it correctly and wants me to take her out the rest of the week while she heals.

Poor Abby is coming home with a bubble foot and E collar.

My insurance does cover accidents it's just not necessarily worth it to file a $300.00 claim it's almost easier to just pay it.

[DogChic]

I had a similar situation recently ....

two springers in recently for groom - male is fine, female a bit nervous but fine for grooming. After grooming I let them out in the fenced yard to potty, as they would have to wait @ the shop for several hours for dad to pick up. male comes in fine, but female suddenly is terrified of me. I didn't make a big deal of it & went in to grab a lead. She was IMPOSSIBLE to catch. took 2 of us -we tried everything & finally got her, but it took a while & she ended up breaking a dewclaw off very short.

mom & dad were VERY understanding, didn't even seem suprised - & they ended up taking her to the vet. this was just $40, which I will HAPPILY pay for. She was in my care, and it was my responsibility to keep her safe that entire time. even in the case of a larger bill .... I would always opt to pay it

[fiveoclockdog]

I don't think you were responsible for any part of the bill. I'm glad the owner agrees. If the dog had been off lead, or if you had taken her to an inappropriate area, or if you had let her get away from you, that would have been a different story. You didn't do anything wrong. I don't think we should be in such a hurry to hand over our hard earned money.

[kwpgrooming]

I think you handled it right. You were walking in the snow. Probably cut it on ice. My WFT cut her foot on ice Friday. Bled all over the place!

[rapuzzled]

I think if I were in that situation I would offer to pay it as she got hurt in my care. However, that's great to hear that she won't let you pay, sounds like a very understanding woman. Also, I have to agree with you about the insurance, doesn't seem worth it to turn in for a 300 dollar bill.

[SwissNChow]

How much is your premium? (Don't really answer that, just consider.) That just seems like a very low deductable, and normally when you see that low a deductable, you are paying through the nose in premium. Many times you can drastically reduce your premium by offering to pay a bigger deductable. Really, $100 isn't worth submitting, as I think you realize since you were considering not submitting $300.

Great client by the way!

[4Sibes]

I'm glad it worked out the way it did DD.

In my signed agreement w/ pet owners...I have a section that (in short) says the owner will not hold me liable for any injury due to any unforeseen and/or unpreventable circumstance/accident.
I feel like your situation definitely falls into that category. I would not have been anxious to pay the bill either.

Granted...ultimately my pet agreement may not be worth the piece of signed paper it is on....but it gives me better peace of mind, and is something the owners can relate to, in print.

[Dog Daze]

I'm glad it worked out the way it did DD.

In my signed agreement w/ pet owners...I have a section that (in short) says the owner will not hold me liable for any injury due to any unforeseen and/or unpreventable circumstance/accident.
I feel like your situation definitely falls into that category. I would not have been anxious to pay the bill either.

Granted...ultimately my pet agreement may not be worth the piece of signed paper it is on....but it gives me better peace of mind, and is something the owners can relate to, in print.

I do have that wording in my agreement to help fight off the total nuts but thought I would make the offer anyway. I didn't want to seem like a smuck especially since were also neighbors and walk together on the weekends with our dogs and she did me a favor by giving me some days to walk her dog that she took away from the original dog walker .