A friend’s dog went for a hike with a dog walker. During the walk, another dog that was in the group bit my friend’s dog and she required vet care. The dog walker did not pay for the vet bill, stating that it was a risk that the dog owners take when allowing their dogs to be walked in a group. I thought, “Huh?” What say you??? Should the dog walker offered to pay the bill, some of the bill, none of the bill??
No, I would not think the dog walker should pay the bill.
If a horse – BO turns horses out in a group, they get rowdy and my horse gets injured, I would not expect the BO to pay for my horse’s vet care.
If a child – daycare has kids on playground, my another kid throws a toy at mine and my kid needs stitches, I would not expect the daycare to pay for my child’s medical treatment.
In both cases, and in the dog scenario - I think they need to carry insurance to protect themselves from a lawsuit.
Shit happens, so it’s unfair to expect the care worker to pay for it unless they were negligent (and even then, one would probably have to sue…or threaten to sue). Personally I doubt that someone who walks dogs for a living or for extra money can afford to cover the expenses for any accident that might occur while they are walking dogs.
Dogs, and dog walkers, are a luxury…and I totally agree that a risk to having your dog walked in a group is it being bitten.
I don’t know the answer to your question but can tell you had that happened to me I would have apologized and turned it into my insurance and let them sort it out. My job is not just to walk a dog from point a to point b and back, it is to insure their safety. That includes temperament testing any other client’s dogs they will encounter to reduce the risks.
Thanks for your opinions on this.
Yea, I was thinking that the walker should have offered to pay. The business is bonded, licensed and insured… the dogs were in their care, allowed to run off leash. Unfortunately, they have lost at least one customer.
I work at a dog daycare, and I know that the standard in that situation is that the owner pays the vet bill- unless you can prove that the handler was reckless. From working with groups of dogs, I can tell you that no matter how diligent the handlers are, there is always a risk of the dogs injuring eachother. If dog walkers/ daycares were required to pay every vet bill for the dogs in their care, the industry wouldn’t be profitable at all. If you think about it, it’s not much different from a horse getting a nasty bite from a pasture mate. You don’t expect the barn manager to pay for the vet bill, do you?
I do see your point, zaparaquah.
didn’t the dog walker make the owner sign a waiver? most dog day cares and dog walkers do that these days. If you don’t want your dog exposed to possible injury, you pay more for solo walks and don’t send the dog to dog day care.
If anyone should pay the bill, it is the other dog’s owner. The dog walker is not liable for what a dog that is not theirs did to another dog that is not theirs. But I agree with the dog walker- it is the risk you take when allowing your dog to be walked in a group.
Just checked and yes, she did sign a waiver that she was told yesterday that explained that dog bites were ‘natural’ and that the business was not responsible for any aggressive issues. Done deal.
At the doggy day care centre we used, any injury incurred while dog is in their care is carried by the day care centre. They don’t tolerate aggressive behaviour, if your dog doesn’t fit in it doesn’t get to go there.
And this is why my dog walker will only walk dogs solo 
This is broader than just dog walking but thought you might find this newsletter interesting where they discuss some examples of claims paid last year. Seems to me the scenario above is represented except both dogs were injured in their example.
http://petsittersassociates.cmail2.com/t/ViewEmail/r/EAED500647E58A482540EF23F30FEDED/BBC9C48A5E33EDE4A2432AF2E34A2A5F
[QUOTE=Laurierace;8020740]
I don’t know the answer to your question but can tell you had that happened to me I would have apologized and turned it into my insurance and let them sort it out. My job is not just to walk a dog from point a to point b and back, it is to insure their safety. That includes temperament testing any other client’s dogs they will encounter to reduce the risks.[/QUOTE]
I have to agree with Laurie. The dog was in the care, custody, or control of the dog walker at that time. Necessary precautions should have been taken to keep their client out of harm. Was that done in this case? Who knows, but the dog walker should have filed it on their insurance and let the insurance take it from there.
All dog walkers, sitters, etc. should have ccc insurance to cover such things.
[QUOTE=Laurierace;8023156]
This is broader than just dog walking but thought you might find this newsletter interesting where they discuss some examples of claims paid last year. Seems to me the scenario above is represented except both dogs were injured in their example.
http://petsittersassociates.cmail2.com/t/ViewEmail/r/EAED500647E58A482540EF23F30FEDED/BBC9C48A5E33EDE4A2432AF2E34A2A5F[/QUOTE]
Thank you for the link, I shall forward it.
I work at an insurance company. We issue medical policies for daycare. These can be big daycare centers or in-home daycare centers. Our policy is secondary to the child’s regular health insurance but would be primary if the child has no health insurance. Most daycares choose a fairly low limit of $10,000 or $20,000. If the parent does not have any out of pocket after their primary pays they tend to be less likely to sue or for the daycare owner to have to file with the liability carrier. It is NOT a liability policy.
