[gardeniyas]

I just need to rant about what happened yesterday.

I live in the U.P. in Michigan. I grew up around the whole deer/bear hunting, fishing, wheeling, ect.

My grandparents have nine bear hounds & we have people come up during season and we help them get set up at one of our baits and let them use our dogs.

One family came up to visit us and look at the dogs. They brought their APBT and let him loose around the other dogs. STUPID. They were trying to make a conversation with my grandpa, but I interrupted and asked them to please put their dog on a leash or leave it in their truck.
The guys response "Rover is good with other dogs, he'll be fine."
I said, "That very well may be, but we have other males here that can be protective over their food, house, ect. And as you can see, there's a horse here also.
He wouldn't listen.
ROVER went after my horse, Big Red. Big Red bolted through the fencing with Rover at his heals. My horse started bucking and kicking. He kicked Rover on his right side.
Now that family is trying to get me to pay for Rover's vet bills!
I don't know how to handle this situation. But I don't think its fair to make me pay for it when clearly I warned them to get their dog on a leash. Advice?

[adarmaSen]

I wouldn't pay,especially if it was on your property. When their wallet hurts they might think about the advantages of a lead.

[Enrobrorb]

The incident happened on your (families) property with a loose dog owned by someone who does not live on your property correct?

They cannot legally ask you to pay the bills...especially if you requested the dog be secured.

Go to court.

[T5qYkHWQ]

First off, your suggestion should not have been a suggestion, it should have been a demand... either put your dog up or leave...
next tell them to shove it....and ask for compensation for any damage to your fence and your horse....

[Enrobrorb]

Yep...I forgot to mention the dog chased your horse...he went after livestock...you would have been in your legal right to SHOOT the dog right then and there.

---------- Post added at 10:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 AM ----------

If you take this to court, the other party will be laughed right out of it...after paying YOU for court costs and any damages the dog may have caused.

"Your honor, my loose dog attacked this here fella's horse, after he asked me to please put it on a leash, then that gol'durned horse KICKED my poor dog! I demand the owner of the horse my dog attacked pay for my dog's vet nills!"

I don't think that's gonna hold up in court very well, lol.

[Xavier_Spinner_Wheels]

Yep...I forgot to mention the dog chased your horse...he went after livestock...you would have been in your legal right to SHOOT the dog right then and there.

---------- Post added at 10:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 AM ----------

If you take this to court, the other party will be laughed right out of it...after paying YOU for court costs and any damages the dog may have caused.

"Your honor, my loose dog attacked this here fella's horse, after he asked me to please put it on a leash, then that gol'durned horse KICKED my poor dog! I demand the owner of the horse my dog attacked pay for my dog's vet nills!"

I don't think that's gonna hold up in court very well, lol.

Agreed 100%. I would have demanded that the dog get a leash or get off the property. Time to go to court.

[eladiopsislab]

I would demand payment from the dog owner for damages as Obed said, and if need be take them to court for the damaged fence and horse, people like this need to be taught how to leash there dogs, some times hitting them where it hurts helps and I would not just leave it at them having to pay there own vet bills

[gardeniyas]

THEY are setting up for the court, they just left me a message on my cell saying so. They said that I better have a damn good representative.
His exact words, "Your god damn horse kicked my dog and hurt him badly. You should have had your horse in the barn where it SHOULD be. It's not my dogs fault, he was just going after prey. Now your going to pay. Oh, and maybe you should get better fencing for the horse."

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[eladiopsislab]

HAHA, yea I would get a lawyer to deal with paperwork, but your ganna win, and KEEP THAT MESSAGE your lawyer might want it

[PPActionnGuys]

sounds like theyre trying to scare some cash outta ya. they dont have a chance and im betting they know it

[gardeniyas]

sounds like theyre trying to scare some cash outta ya. they dont have a chance and im betting they know it

If they know they don't have a chance then WHY are they trying?! When I clearly have things THEY should be paying for.

[T5qYkHWQ]

they have admitted they knew their dog had a prey drive, and yet they did not control their dog... they are stupider than I could have imagined...

[eladiopsislab]

I WOULD make them pay, don't let them get away with it for sure

[9uWzBx4l]

I agree with everyone else, make them pay

[VotsUtegems]

I wouldn't even stress it. Don't call the guy back save that message for the judge and give the guy a nice big smile when the judge gives him a good laugh. Also print out any information about apbts being DA so that you can explain why you wanted his dog on a leash while he was on your property. Sadly most people are biased against the breed (idk about where youre located though) so im sure you'll have that going for you

[Xavier_Spinner_Wheels]

they have admitted they knew their dog had a prey drive, and yet they did not control their dog... they are stupider than I could have imagined...

^^ this 100%. they admitted they knew their dog had a prey drive, and still had him off leash. I suggest you get affidavits from people that witnessed what happened and what was said.

[Pippoles]

Yep...I forgot to mention the dog chased your horse...he went after livestock...you would have been in your legal right to SHOOT the dog right then and there.

---------- Post added at 10:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 AM ----------

If you take this to court, the other party will be laughed right out of it...after paying YOU for court costs and any damages the dog may have caused.

"Your honor, my loose dog attacked this here fella's horse, after he asked me to please put it on a leash, then that gol'durned horse KICKED my poor dog! I demand the owner of the horse my dog attacked pay for my dog's vet nills!"

I don't think that's gonna hold up in court very well, lol.

I agree.

[T5qYkHWQ]

If you are convinced it is going to court, then get a lawyer..
have him write them a letter telling them that all future contact on this matter be made with him...
if they call you again, give them his name an number...do not talk with them yourself....and document anything they say to you....

[dubballey]

His exact words, "Your god damn horse kicked my dog and hurt him badly. You should have had your horse in the barn where it SHOULD be. It's not my dogs fault, he was just going after prey. Now your going to pay. Oh, and maybe you should get better fencing for the horse."

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unbelievable is right! Well he's right about one thing...it certainly isn't the DOG'S fault....too bad the horse didn't kick Rover's owner instead.

[Kolokireo]

Ohhh my gosh!!!!!!!!! That is crazy!!! It really seems that they are trying to scare you. There is noooo way they can do anything. They SHOULD pay for your fence!!

Another "stupid idiot"!!!!