I pet-sit for a couple friends. Been doing it on and off for 8 months. My friends dog started escaping from my yard because she likes to dig... and I had to go out of town to get the dogs chain so I could chain it in my yard when it was outside. Once Chained she dug all around my deck and made a real mess. Who's responsibility is this? Is this my responsibility because I agreed to watch the dog, or is it the owners? This dog also ate my feather bed. The owner says he is not responsible for any of the damages... What do you think, who is responsible? I told him he owes me the day rate ($10/day), plus $80 for my feather bed, $20 for my time and gas going to pick up the chain and $100 to cover the cost of the yard repair and the fact that I had to miss a day of work to look for a dog that got out of a hole she had dug.

Dog owner is not responsible for damages and only owes you the daily rate.  
 
All this couldve been avoided by going outside with the dog while they do their business. You would have been able to stop them from digging, would not have needed to go out of town to buy a chain, wouldn't have missed work.  
 
If you crated the dog while you weren't home he wouldn't have eaten your feather bed.  
 
The dog owner shouldn't have to pay for your mistakes.  
 
If you can't be bothered to go outside with the dog, don't dog sit.  
 
Edited by dueindecember, 2012-08-09 13:31:07

Were you not watching the dog as it escaped, made a mess around the deck or ate the feather bed?  
 
I think it depends on the personality of the dog. If the owners knew the dog likes to dig and escape, they should morally provide the stuff to keep the dog safe.  
 
It's really no different than taking on daycare and you turn your back for a minute and a kid has just shoved a sandwich into the toilet.  
 
It's part of the responsibility on both sides, but I'd think a dog destroying a feather bed would have had someone there to notice.  
 
Maybe a trial run with the poor animal in a strange surrounding would have been the best thing first. Animals get anxious in a new place until they're used to it, so maybe that should've been in place first.  
 
If you agree to watch the dog, then the dog has to be watched.  
 

For the feather bed-- IMO that is your problem; it is your house and your responsibility to dog proof your home and keep your possessions safe from visiting dogs.  
 
The chain--again I would say that is your problem--I assume you drive out of town to get the chain from the dog's own home? A chain is probably something that you should have anyway if you are keeping other people's dogs at your place. It is a handy thing to have just in case you do need it on occasion. If you don't want to buy a chain to have on hand in future require that the dog owner bring one with the dog.  
 
Don't know about yard damage...I can see your point but at the same time--it could be argued that the dog doesn't usually dig, the owner didn't know that he digs and so could not warn you that he digs ( or perhaps the owner did tell you that the dog digs if chained?) -- if owner refuses to pay the $100 for yard repairs you will have to decide if it is worth taking to small claims court. I don't know how the judge would rule.

i would think that the dog owner only owes you for the daily rate. unfortunately, the other stuff is sorta your fault for not dog proofing your home and watching them while they are outside. like another poster said, its like having a home daycare. i cant charge my parents if their child damages my walls,toys,yard etc. i have extra house insurance to cover all this though. is that something that you can get also?  
 
i would suggest that if you are going to continue the dog sitting business to write up a contract/agreement that both you and the dog owners sign. make sure you each have a copy of the signed contracts.

but they owe you nothing more than the daily rate. Your fault all that happened.

Good luck getting this sorted out. For the sake of your friendship you will probably have to let this go. I wouldn't agree to take care of this dog in the future though.

Dogs are not usually the problem. It's the owners or caregivers. If a dog is feeling comfortable with something to do and an owner or petsitter with them feeling calm, they generally seem to be ok.  
 
If they are anxious, nervous, plopped in with a new environment with nobody around, they can get antsy.  
 
Really, they are very much like children (please people don't go there, as you know what I mean).  
 
They do need some love and attention and if you are willing to petsit, then be sure you watch and play with the dog and not complain about the pet eating your featherbed, digging up around your deck, etc.  
 
The dog destroying the surroundings is questionable whether you were present, doing the job you were hired to do and discovered the surprise later.  
 
The pet may not be at fault here.  
 
And I noticed you called the dog an IT.  
I don't think you were meant to look after a dog.  
 
Edited by Eyerin, 2012-08-09 15:47:59

I would be very upset that my dog got loose while under your care. I have dogs and I also pet sit for a few friends. I charge them $20/day and in return I make sure their pet is safe and well cared for. (I believe that is what they pay me for.) Dogs will usually try to escape or damage things only if they are lonely or bored. These things wouldn't have happened if you were "watching" the dog.

if all they wanted to do was have their dog chained up outside, with nobody supervising it, I'm sure they could have done that themselves.  
 
You're being paid to watch their animal, sounds like you aren't very good at it. Hope you don't babysit as well.

This post is about me. She forgot to mention in her post that she is trying to hold my dog until I pay her what she's asking for. If that is the case I will have no choice but to let the cops know.. Unfortunately. I've tried my best to rectify this situation.

imo it depends on the agreement? are you a dog sitter or a friend doing a favor? if your a sitter charge enough to cover the occasional damage and pet proff your house and yard and if your a friend make sure you let your friend know whats expected and that he/she will be responsible for any damages, the thing is that you were in charge of the dog and its hard to say if you did everything possible to keep the dog and your property safe so its hard to make your friend solely responsible for the damages  
 
good luck, if you guys are truly good friends maybe split the bill for the sake of the friendship but don't exchange favors again, that why they say friends and business don't mix

ChaseC said "This post is about me. She forgot to mention in her post that she is trying to hold my dog until I pay her what she's asking for. If that is the case I will have no choice but to let the cops know.. Unfortunately. I've tried my best to rectify this situation. "

she can't hold your dog for ransom like that, she has no legal justification for doing so. If she wants money from you she would have to seek that through civil court. Good luck, with both your dog situation and your friendship!!

if my dog did that kind of damage. I am with traveller. Offer to split the bill. Both your responsibilities. Why she would want to keep a dog that causes so much damage is strange. I'd be sending her home A.S.A.P.

My friends would cough up for the damages...or at the very least come to a compromise that suits all involved.  
 
Poor dog in the middle of it all!