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A dog owner poses with her large white dog, highlighting the bond between pets and their families.
Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
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WIBTA for refusing to pay a massive vet bill for my sister's dog?
I am currently being hounded by my family and I need some perspective because I am starting to feel like a horrible person. My sister went on a trip to a music festival last weekend and asked if I could watch her four year old golden retriever. I have watched him before for short afternoons, so I agreed to keep him at my place for three days. She dropped him off on Friday morning with a bag of kibble, a leash, and his food bowls.
Everything was fine until Saturday night. The dog started throwing up, became completely lethargic, and refused to drink water. I panicked and took him to the nearest 24-hour emergency vet clinic. They did bloodwork and an ultrasound, and it turned out the dog had severe acute pancreatitis. The vet immediately asked if he had eaten anything greasy or high-fat. I told them no, he only ate the exact kibble my sister brought, plus a few standard dog treats that I always keep around for when he visits.
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That is when the vet told me that this kind of issue does not just happen from a handful of low-fat treats. They asked if he was on a prescription diet. I called my sister while she was at the festival, and after I pressed her, she finally admitted that the dog had been diagnosed with chronic digestive issues two months ago. He is supposed to be on a strict, low-fat prescription kibble and is absolutely forbidden from having any standard treats or human food.
She did not bring the prescription food because she ran out of it on Thursday and did not want to wait in line at the vet clinic to buy a new bag before her trip. She just bought a cheap bag of regular supermarket kibble on her way to my house and thought it would be fine for just three days.
The emergency vet bill came out to twenty-two hundred dollars for the overnight stay, IV fluids, and medication . I had to put it on my credit card right then just so they would treat him. When my sister came back on Monday to pick him up, I handed her the itemized receipt. She completely lost it.
She said she does not have that kind of money right now and that since the dog got sick under my watch, it is my responsibility to pay it. My mom called me an hour later, saying that while my sister was stupid for hiding the medical history, I am the one with a stable corporate job and I should just cover the bill to avoid breaking the family apart.
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I told them both that I am not paying a single cent of that bill. I feel like my sister essentially poisoned her own dog through gross negligence and then used me as a free boarding service to avoid dealing with the consequences. Now my sister is threatening to never let me see my nephew, and my mom is calling me heartless for putting money over family peace. WIBTA if I stand my ground and demand she pays me back?
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Many readers felt the answer became obvious the moment the dog's medical history was revealed. While opinions differed on family obligations and financial responsibility, most agreed that withholding critical health information from someone providing free pet care created a situation that was entirely avoidable, and one that never should have happened in the first place.
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A veterinarian examines a golden retriever during an emergency pet care visit at a veterinary clinic.
Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
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NTA, but your sister sure is. She should not even be allowed to have pets if she is going to do something that dangerous.
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Stand your ground. She KNOWINGLY and INTENTIONALLY made this decision. SHE put her dog at risk and had the Audacity to leave an animal in need of specific care without providing instructions or supplies for said specific care. This is in no way your mistake; don't let her blame you for her poor decision making. She should be apologizing, thanking you for saving her dog's life and paying you in full. She had music festival money to spend; this was a series of selfish decisions on Her part, not your burden or blame to bear.
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I’m going to agree with the other response. If she’s not paying you back, you keep the dog. The dog deserves better. Personally I’d take her to small claims court over that. That’s her responsibility, not yours.
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She isn’t going to pay you back.
I’m really sorry this is a difficult situation but she’s not gonna pay you back that money cos she’s looking for someone to blame.
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A golden retriever sits indoors.
Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
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Well, unfortunately you put it on your cc, so unless you want to tank your credit, you have to pay it. However, I definitely wouldn't be doing your sister any "favors" for quite some time.
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I had my cat at a border. She had to go to an emergency vet while with the border due to her age/medical condition. You bet I paid that bill. It's not your problem the dog had an emergency. If you had done something to it, or failed in your care, then yes, you should pay. But you knew nothing of the dog's medical issues (due to her withholding the info), and you didn't have the proper food (due to her being too lazy to get it). Her dog, her fault, her problem......Her Bill.
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The consensus among commenters was overwhelmingly in favor of the pet sitter. Many pointed out that owners are responsible for providing accurate medical information and proper care instructions, especially when leaving a pet with someone else. Others noted that paying for emergency treatment was already a generous act, and reimbursement should never have been in question.
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