Jessica, I don't think half the bill is acceptable. The rules state very clearly
that a dog's owner is responsible for any injuries that dog causes. Doesn't
matter if they're both bitten or what happens. If two dogs get in a scrap and
they both need to see the vet, each owner pays the other's bill.

Sticking to that rule is part of what keeps the dog run a safe place and a free
place to bring your dog. If your dog can't get along, it costs *you* money, not
you and someone else (dogs are dogs though - of course you can't guarantee your
dog won't hurt another one, perhaps accidentally, but this rule keeps things at
least close to sane).

Someone tried to fob me off with half the bill once at the run, but their dog's
walker intervened and cleared up the rules for them (and that's all it took -
they just didn't know the rules). Perhaps adrmannyc or Alex could help you have
that conversation. Things have gone pretty far in, what, less than three days
for you to be bringing up small claims... not everyone lives by their phone (it
may help to point out that when my dog was bitten we often didn't return calls
for a day or two).

I hope you can get the whole bill paid. I don't see why you shouldn't. It's
clearly the rules. I feel very sorry for Maria and Morgan - that's just wrong.

Nick
(*not* "example: Bob Jones", no matter what Yahoo says)

--- In firstrun-nyc@yahoogroups.com, "maria van dessel" <maria61254@...> wrote:
>
> jessica -- an offer by the other owner to pay half seems to me a perfectly
acceptable offer. one can go round and round eternally about whose dog did what,
but most dog fights are two way streets -- even between dogs of different sizes.
so an offer to pay half your bill, taking half responsibility for the situation,
sounds fair to me.
> i wish the owner of tyler, the dog who tore a chunk out of my dog last fall as
she was running past him, had offered to pay even half the vet bill -- it was
$600. she did not, however.
> good luck with the whole situation, and maybe consider accepting the offer of
half the cost.
> maria (and morgan, the loud mouth GSD)
>
> --- In firstrun-nyc@yahoogroups.com, "green.jessica81" <green.jessica81@>
wrote:
> >
> > Thank you so much for responding to my post.
> >
> > Although, the injury seemed minor at the park, when I got home I realized
that my dog's ears had 2 puncture wounds through the ear and that I would need
to take him to the vet.
> >
> > When I called the owner on Friday evening to notify her, she told me over
the phone that she would refuse to pay any vet bills because she thought they
were unnecessary. She then told me "You are on your own" and hung up on me.
Obviously I was shocked becuase all seemed so reasonable in the park.
> >
> > I had hoped that I would not have had to go to the vet as well, however,
these were not wounds that I could treat myself and in the end my dog needed
stitches.
> >
> > After the vet treated my dog, the owner wouldn't take any of my calls. I
persistently left voicemails but she ignored me. She placed one call on Saturday
morning that I missed and she didn't leave a message (although claims to have).
> >
> > All of the phone messages I left her consisted of me calmly asking her to
call me back so we could settle this issue. I told her that I wished to file a
smail claims suit, but needed her information.
> >
> > Luckily I found her email and information online. It was only when I sent
her an email that she responded and accused me of harassment. She phoned me up
then and screamed hysterically, still claiming I did not need to go to the vet.
Then again, hung on me.
> >
> > This issue of harassment is an obvious tactic by her to distract the issue
at hand. Since I discovered who she is (through my own investigation) I have
told her we should only correspond via email from now on so that everything is
on record.
> >
> > The vet wrote a letter explaining that my dog needed stitches and that a
topical treatment would be innapropriate for his injuries.
> >
> > I've sent her the vet bill, letter and photos of my dogs shaved ear with
visible wounds, so hopefully she will agree to pay it in full. The last email I
got from her stated that she was only willing to pay half.
> >
> > This has been nothing but a headache and I really hope we can settle this
soon. The park only fuctions when everybody follows the rules and takes
responsibility for their dogs.
> >
> > My dog loves coming to the park and just want to put this ordeal behind me!
> >
> > Thanks again for responding,
> > Jessica
> >
> >
> > --- In firstrun-nyc@yahoogroups.com, "adrmannyc" <adrmannyc@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In firstrun-nyc@yahoogroups.com, "green.jessica81"
> > > <green.jessica81@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Yesterday evening (around 5:20 pm Friday) my cocker spaniel was bitten
> > > on the ear by a black lab named either Wendy or Wednesday. I did get the
> > > owners name and phone number, but when I said I was going to the vet she
> > > refused to pay and stopped answering my calls. At the vet my dog had to
> > > have stiches for 2 wounds in his ear. I have a vet bill, vet letter, and
> > > photos to take to a small claims court.
> > > >
> > > > I'm told it would also be helpful if I had any testimonials from dog
> > > owners that were at the park during this incident. If anyone happened to
> > > be a witness to this crime, I would greatly appreciate them contacting
> > > me. Thank you!
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Jessica, I'm not quite sure what's going on here. I was the person who
> > > came to find you and introduce you the owner of the dog after yours was
> > > bitten. I was also present when yet another person at the run examined
> > > your dog and agreed that a visit to the vet probably wouldn't be
> > > necessary given the nature of the bite. However, it was within your
> > > rights to take your dog to the vet and you did so. At no time did the
> > > owner of the dog say that she wouldn't pay for expenses. Anyway, I
> > > contacted the owner of the other dog regarding this post and she claims
> > > that you have been harassing her. She has since emailed me phone
> > > records of her attempts to contact you (and your numerous calls to her)
> > > and also of an email from you with her response (it included these same
> > > phone records). I'll refrain from posting those here, as they contain
> > > both your and her phone numbers. At this point, I'd suggest emailing
> > > her a pdf of your vet bill with a detail of what was done, then maybe
> > > you two could have a conversation and work this out.
> > >
> >
>