so sorry to hear this, I am to familiar with your situation since it happened to two of my dogs about 20 years apart, very hard to belive it could happen twice, and both times almost in front of my home. You are very lucky, in both situations my outcome was not good. To your question about the bill, not that I felt lucky but my vet bills were taken care of, in the first instance the other dog was running wild and came on to my front lawn. Through another neighbor who was their insurance agent they stepped up and put a claim against their homeowners insurance policy that covered the medical costs as well as the replacement cost of a new yorkie and the first year health bills such as neutering and all the shots. The second time, it was my good friends dog and I have to admit that my dog was the aggressor, but just a lot smaller. She and I rushed my dog to the ER vet and she wound up paying for the bill, when I was in another room and I never had to ask or even see it. MI however is different from NY and one of the questions I have is does the person own their home, if so insurance might cover it, if not unless the person is willing you might have a fight on your hand. You could get vocal in the neigborhood and get others to enlist you in forcing payment, some people under the right type of pressure will do the right thing. You could probably enter a claim in small claims court, so like others said save all your receipts and make reports with every agency that will take one, also take photos of your dog now, get good graphic ones, in case you have to go to court. You could also take photos of their dog and post photos saying beware violent dog in neighborhood, i guess it depends how far and how safe you feel pushing it with the owner, some owners will step up and do the right things others have to be forced or shamed into to, good luck and give your baby a kiss for me. |