Dog sitters sued $1M - Is this ridiculous or reasonable?

Yes, in that case I agree with it. I have known dog sitters and none of them would ever have pets out in a vehicle that was too hot for them to be in. They would make sure they were OK if that did happen. Since there is someone who noticed that the dog didn't seem ok, the 1 million suits the case. The dog sitters should have noticed that something was wrong with the dog and not just dropped the dog off but got the dog help

I agree!!!

First of all, just because the man said "sometimes, dog just die." ... based on an article (above) we don't know what context he said that in. He could have been being sympathetic in tone of voice in response to a question, or he could have been acting mean. But, most likely it's the 1 million dollar law suit which triggered his emotional response. Whatever the case, this statement must be disregarded by us on this website, as it will be disregarded in a court room too. I am 100% sure of that.


According to the owners there is a witness who offered to help with the dog while the sitter was taking it home. If this witness testifies to that, then it makes the case. (not necessarily 1$M) However, if there is no witness testimony, it breaks the case. Without this witness, nothing matters in regards to the dog: because 1. no one knows if the van was too hot. and 2. no one besides the owners know rather or not the dog died in front of the air conditioner.

This witness is key.

All and all... the dog is worth roughly $500.00 US and the owners are suing for $1,000,000.00 US The dog is worth what? 0.1% of 1,000,000?

In terms of math, to say 1M is ridiculous, is an understatement. It's more like... juggernaut (lol)

I mean, really? I can understand the love aspect. This leads to "emotional trauma" suffered following the death of the pet: in the court room.

If I wasn't in a court room, i would simply ask the owners one question

Did you dog take anything out of this life when it died? Answer: No

my reply: Neither will you



Now, it makes more sense to me, that the owner's of the dog are fabricating the story a slight bit - reason being - they want $1,000,000.
-van was too hot
-witness "noticed the dog

brandon....I have to agree with others you really are a moron. I have an idea for you. Why don't you put on a fur coat and go sit in a hot van....and then when someone drops you off and you crawl to the a/c to try to fight off heat dehydration then let's hear what you have to say.
i

-sitter declined help (as if you need help with a tiny little dog)
-died in front of the air conditioner. (right)

Why am i like this? Because it's a dog. It craps on the floor. It barks when your asleep. It costs money just like a baby... for it's entire life.
And, these people want 1,000,000

RIDICULOUS

Brandon, you are a nasty and hateful individual. It's apparent you don't know anything about dogs or animals for that matter! In case you've conveniently don't know how to read, pets do die in intense heat! Or have you just skipped those stories on the news hm? Do us a favor find another planet to live on and spare the world your nastiness and hatefulness. And from your comments, maybe you have a vested interest in the company that killed the dog...You are nasty, you are hateful, you are pathetic.

Do YOU really think, because of a freak accident, these people should become millionaires?

I ask you all that question.


And, let me just say, I have been a bit sarcastic. But, I'm only using logic. $1,000,000 for a dog??????????????

Next case

actually Brandon..yes I do. And you only figured up the cost of the animal. Not the cost of having to feed the animal, obedience classes, vet appointments, and the fee that the dog sitter recieved from them. Dog's die from heat. Even if the dog had a preexisting condition Brandon, if the heat aggrevated it then the dog sitter is still liable. Because if the sitter had let the van run a few minutes to get the air cirulating the dog wouldn't have been exposed to the heat. So the sitter's carelessness led to the dog's death in that scenario too. I mean come on would you give a diabetic a case of snickers?
Absolutly I would do all in my power to put this business out of business. Business owners need to make sure employees are trained properly, and to take a vested interest in the handeling of their clients. It is not enough to be a business owner. Manage it as well. Secondly bulldogs are known for being unable to withstand heat. They are recommended to be walked at the coolest part of the day simply because they can't take the heat. Its like someone making you run five miles at top speed in the heat of the day and with holding water.
I absolutly agree with "You reap what You sow". And in this case due to ignorance, or a lake of caring the business owners are getting exactly what they sowed. Furethermore your "facts" are simply statements about your own personal experiences that can't be verified. So they aren't really facts. Maybe you should webster some meanings. Also no matter how many times you say "Next case" in caps we can continue to talk about this one. And I suppose people who win the lottery won it by hard work as well? You really should think before you access the internet...its a shame this dog died because of an idiot like you. If you had half the brains this dog did then maybe someone would validate you as a human being..but personally I don't believe you are more valuable than this dog.

joleen,

do the dog sitters control the sun?

No as none of us do. However, they are as capable as anyone else to read the temperature. I doubt they sat in a hot van and didn't turn on the a/c. So the fact that they left a dog in there is gross negligence. Its common sense. Radio stations advise you off the temp, and to keep your animals inside during the hottest portions of the days, when the heat index is above ninety. I know the town this person lived in had to do the same as the FCC mandates that we do this. And most people have the radio on in the car. But some don't. So maybe the employee didn't. But if it was hot enough to kill a dog, then I am sure when the employee walked out the door there had to have been some thought to "It's Hot!!". Ya don't leave a dog in a closed car, why would a van be any different?

more facts: i've seen a lot of dogs in intense heat, never heard of one dying.

My guess is that this dog was already suffering a disorder. So, now, perhaps this hot van did lead to its death. Ok, so now your going to put this business out of business by asking for more than they're probably worth?

You reap what you sow

Dumbass...obviously you don't know much about dogs breeds, the dog was a french bulldog, bulldogs are know for NOT being able to stand the heat, which is why they are INSIDE pets...anything over 80 degrees and a bulldog can overheat!

brandon dean,
you certainly are an arrogant, ignorant SOB. Do your research before spouting off. Bulldogs, English or French are highly suseptable to overheating and can and do die due to just that.

YOu dear boy are seriously an bubmling idiot, dogs are very sensite to heat some breeds more so than others. French bulldogs are amongst those they have a very small "pushed" in nasal cavity making it hard for them to breathe under normal everyday cicumstances let alone in summer heat. It was the job of the company to train thier employees to know this about dogs and the job of the employee to follow up on instructions nad orders he was given, I am sure no one told him to just leave an ill dog alone, he could have contacted the owners and taken the dog to a animal hospital but he did not, there is your neglegance. One more thing I am a very proud dog owner and parent my dogs are like children to me as they are for many pet owners the fact that you seem to have belittled doggy parents and parents is insulting.

My negligence??? No.

Once again... FOR A DOG YOU DONT BECOME A MILLIONAIRE



YOU BECOME A MILLIONAIRE WITH HARD WORK


Next case!
lol

Brandon Dean, you sir are an idiot. People like you were the ones that kept slaves.

I really don't understand the whole situation with a sitter returning a dog to an empty home... has keys too? Anyway, can't see the dollar amount holding up myself, but what do I know.

It is summer time just in case you all forgot. I'm sorry, I missed the memo where human beings are to make sure bulldogs are in air conditioning at all times, but failure to do so results in a $1M fee

Brandon, you continue to show your stupidity. How about you go stick yourself in a house with no a/c! I've lived in such places and it's very easy to get overheated to the point where it can kill you. Tell us, are you being stupid and cruel/vicious for a particular reason or do you just feel that pets are simply pieces of trash you throw away? In case you feel like continuing to ignore the facts (which obviously you are) these people lost a family member and the company was careless, negligent and as cold-blooded as you continue to show yourself. Maybe we should just stick you in a hot van and let you suffer like the dog suffered. Then again, from your comments, you may not even care.

The point is, if these statements can be cooborated, then the pet's owners have every right to sue for that amount of money. The employee would be proven negligent and the company should be hit in the pocket enough to either be more mindful of who they hire to represent their business or to close shop because they weren't fit to take care of other people's loved ones. And yes, a pet is a loved one. It's not a matter of whether or not the pet was 'worth' 1 million or whether the owners suffered 1 million dollars worth, but about whether or not this business should be allowed to continue caring for animals, which is a huge responsibility. A million dollar whole in my pocket would make me think twice. By the way, animals can and DO die of heat exhaustion just like a human being. If an animal is showing these signs, the responsible thing to do is to take it to the vet to be checked out.

A 1 Million dollar whole in my pocket would make me think twice?

No... terminating the dog sitter who acted irresponsibly is the first step.
Then paying the prosecutors a reasonable amount after doing that, would be the 2nd step. And finally, maybe put the business on a probation period.

But for all you know, the owner's of the company are dog lovers as well. To bankrupt the company for something they didn't do directly, ALL THE WHILE giving their money to some random family who happened to suffer a loss, is not Just... in the least

Yeah right, put the company on a 'probation period.' Seriously here??? Yeah, they'll behave while on probation but go back to their behaviour once they're done. Some random family, right. Yeah the company owners are dog lovers as they bring a pet home in an overheated vechicle and don't bother to take care of it. Brandon, you're an idiot. I really hope you don't have pets.

I don't believe in a civil suit there are any "prosecutors". Though I believe in this case there should be prosecution for cruelty and neglect...

Like it or not, the owner/s of the company is responsible for anything that happens at their company including the actions of their employees. Fair or not, since this person was their employee, they might as well have done it themselves.

However, 1 Million Dollars in monopoly money is what they should be awarded.

And they say get rich quick schemes don't work...

Well, there's a new business now: Just let your dog ride around in a hot car so it dies. Then, try your luck on who wants to be a millionaire.


RIDICULOUS

THe only one who's ridiculous is YOU. If you really think these people are doing this to 'get rich quick', you are truly an idiot. How about you go spend some time in an animal shelter (assuming anyone would let YOU near one) and go see/hear how some of these pets were treated. From your comments you're just as nasty as people who harm their pets and family. Since you seem to hate pets so much and think people who sue companies for negligence are being greedy/wanting to be 'rich quick', why are you bothering to post so much on here Brandon??? How about you speak the truth for a change (assuming you're capable) and just admit that you are a coldblooded and extremely self-centered s.o.b.. Do the world a favor-don't get a pet (since you've shown you're not capable of caring for one) and get off this planet!

I'm not understanding you...

You're shouting at me because I don't get emotional over a pet.

I do however, look at this rationally:

Because there was a mistake, these people are seeking financial freedom at the expense of putting their victims (the business) out of business.

OVER A DOG


PLEASE COME BACK TO PLANET EARTH MRS HAMILTON

Let me also say this,

I do care for pets. Honestly, I do. They bring joy, comfort and friendship into our lives.

However, these emotions must be left out AS SOON as the red flag goes up! The red flag is the is the stack of benjamin's this pet's owners are now requesting. When this happens, when a human being requests this much money, they are not doing it to send the company a message, for there are many other ways to send a message. But how clever, to choose the way, which gives you an early retirement.

Are you kidding me?

NO!

Next case

Dogs die, people die, life and death are intertwined. That's life. No free lunch

But that's the kicker, the owners didn't do it...the company did. That company agreed to take on the responsiblity of providing proper care for that animal and they failed by employing a person who 'allegedly' allowed it do suffer heat exhastion. In my opinion, if found negligent, the employee should do some jail time as well as in other animal abuse cases (which I believe are too lenient in some cases). These people probably won't be awarded the entire 1 million, but if they are this company and others will tend to be more careful in who they hire.

Mrs. Heffner,

Thank you for agreeing that 1 million dollars in monopoly money would be more suitable.

I think it's reasonable I believe the pet caring company don't know much about how to treat dog correctly or even researched enough knowledge to handle all kinds of dogs.

I would gladly like to see the company go bankrupt and out of business.

Click advertisments and earn today - http://www.neobux.com/?r=sonicx2

Off this article considering it has not one single statement made by the pet company in it can you think its reasonable that the pet company doesn't know any thing about pets.

Its funny that A. the writer of this didnt attempt to contact the company. B. Didnt attempt to contact the witness. or C. Doesnt show a history of this companies past performances and records all of which would be avalible through such things as the BBB city hall or other license or permiting agencys.

So lets say this company has been in business for 20 years and this is the first time anything at all like this has happened. Do you still resonably think they known nothing about pets.

Basically this article is nothing more then an attempt to start flame wars thus making it a high hit article thus most likely giving the writer a bonus on his paycheck. if it wasnt the writer would have done his job and giving both sides of the story in his article.

Also as long as the van had ac it was more then enough room in the van for the dog Oh also the witness is a Judge if he was so concerned for these high powered bank excutives dog why didnt he ask building maintances to open up and provide water to the dog or contact animal control with his concerns.

I am a professional pet sitter and I have a client that breeds French Bulldogs. If this Pet Sitting Company was found to be grossly negligent there should certainly be compensation. With that said we are not veterinarians. My client that breeds French Bulldogs has gone out of town while the bitch is so close to delivery (and all French Bulldogs have to be born by cesarean) that I have been taking her temperature during my two visits a day to the home to see if she is in labor. These puppies are worth $3000.00 each she leaves them with me only pays & wants me for two visits a day and I should I be responsible if she loses all the pups and mom because noone was there to get her to the vet? Fortuneatly I am a vet tech and truly LOVE ALL my furry clients so I am VERY thorough knowledeable and observant. But what I am saying is each breed has its issues French Bulldogs have all sorts of breathing problems also...don't hang the caregiver just yet.

In this scenario, No you shouldn't be held responsible if something happens beyond your control. But as a business owner you have the right to insist that there is a contract releasing you from any and all responsiblity beyond what she has stated. And also you have the right to refuse service to anyone.

I have legal considerations that EVERY client signs and a veterinary release agreement that allows me to take animal to any vet of my choosing if there vet doesnt respond. Plus information sheets that hopefully the client fills out completely so I am aware of animals quirks, health concerns stress triggers etc... I have liabilty insurance, we are an LLC and I pay all applicable business taxes advertising costs etc.. These were my clients for 2 years before breeding french bulldogs. The people and the critters become your family & friends you do not make even a meager living at pet sitting unless you have employees and it still is not a cash cow believe me. This is a labor of love and gets you some extras once in awhile if you have another form of income in the house. I am sure this company had these types of things in place. I am not letting the pet sitting business off the hook. But there are a few things in the article that don;t make sense. Plus this happened a year ago JULY 2009. If you do a websearch and read the other articles about this the date comes up. Why was this dog dropped off at home alone? Is that what the owners wanted? If so were the owners late in getting home? Did they tell the pet sitter to leave the air conditioner at a certain temp? How does anyone know the van was hot? Did the owners say there is water in a certain part of the house and they forgot to put it down and pet sitter was told they just had to drop off the dog? the french bulldogs I take care of sound stressed and rough snorting and blowing when they have to come across the house to the kennel to be fed, nevermind when they go out to potty. As a professional pet sitter there are alot of things I don't agree with that owners do. Not necessarily neglectful or dangerous (if it was I would make sure I spoke fordefully to them) I give them advice and my opinion but still it isnt wrong if they still feed ther dogs crappy food or give them fatty and salty things as a snack. Lots of reputable, loving owners crate there dogs for up to 9-10 hours a day while at work etc..I think that is bordering on cruel. My dogs have access to an outside kennel all day and a comfortable room in the house to rest when we are not at home. I have 4 large German Shepherds. I didnt sue my vet when I brought my 10 year old manx kitty to her at 4:00 PM on a Tuesday she did $250.00 worth of tests and found nothing even though me as the owner knew my Manx kitty sitting still & quiet in my lap was VERY WRONG and I told her over & over she sent us home with antibiotics and he died at 6:00 AM Wed. I did however switch vets and told her why I also said I wouldnt refer anyone to her. She still put my $250.00 check through also. It is not cut and dry nothing ever is. If they are liable then they have to be responsible for some form of compensation. But why did the owners wait a year to sue? and for a million dollars? it does seem excessive.

How do we know they waited a year to sue? Maybe it took this long for the court to take it to trail? Civil cases don't usual get alot of publicity until a trial. I have never stated anything about the pet sitting business being a "cash cow". I agree that the business owners should be held responsible. I think a just settlement should be offered. Is that a million dollars? I don't know. Its up to the court to decide. But what I am saying is would you leave a dog in a hot apartment without air running? or access to water ever? let alone when the animal was already in distress? Also why are you no addressing that the dog was left in an enclosed van? again without water in the heat? I have wonderful people who care for my pets when I can't take them with me. I know as a pet owner I fill out every piece of paper that is put in front of me. And I also know that my pet sitters ask me questions and fill out more papers so they know my animals' temperaments, and any health issues.

Looks like they could set an important legal precedent if they recover $1M in damages. The service is supposed to be about the dog's welfare, and was insensitive after the fact too.

Pet Sitting is caring for the animals the way the owners demand/request/desire. As a professional pet sitter with liability insurance I have come across things that arent necessarily dangerous or negligent (on the owners part) but I may not agree with. It is not my job to judge them. However it is my job to offer advice and to maybe offer alternatives that doesnt mean that the owner will take said advice or opinion nor does it mean if they dont they are wrong. Gross negligence will need to be ascertained here. I have "Legal Considerations" that ALL my clients sign and I take care of $500,000 stallions down to one little kitty that needs insulin twice a day. They all mean the same to me I love them ALL. But sometimes what seems cut and dry really isnt that clear.

It might be a little unreasonal but I would do the same myself. Those people was paid to take care of the dog, the neightbor saw the condition of the poor dog was in when it was delivered. those people couldn't care less about that poor little dog, they just wanted their money. they didn't care how much the owners felt about their pet. Mine are just like my kids. I would be heart broken if one was to die.

To a person who sees a pet as "just an animal", no, this wouldn't make sense. But for those of us who consider the creatures we live with to be family members, it's another story.

If you left your child or disabled family member with a sitting service, and they returned the child or other family member dead, you'd want way more than $1mil.

My family members are as important to *me* as yours are to you, even if they look different.

We're talking about a DOG

Think ! !

When a hospital tells a man that he's sending home his 90 year old mother, and there's nothing else he can do for the old lady... and then the lady dies 3 hours later..... Do you sue the hospital for 1,000,000 dollars? NOPE

She was 90.

Guess what?

These dogs have trouble breathing in the sun...... and it's the middle of JULY!


NEXT CASE

No, we're talking about someone's family member, and your example is no where near a sensible comparison. No medical person examined it and said "there's nothing we can do for it. " This dog was healthy (for its breed). It wasn't old. It was in good health the day before, or the kennel wouldn't have accepted it to board.

Guess what? A child or an old person or even just someone with asthma can die from being overheated, too. It's not a special condition of this dog or even the dog breed. And, like the dog, people can recover from being overheated if they get the proper care.

This company, that was paid specifically to take proper care of this dog while the owners were away, DIDN'T.

The only reason this dog died was negligence, pure and simple.

This dog was healthy (for its breed.)
-what does that even mean?

It was in good health the day before, or the kennel wouldn't have accepted it to board.
-How do you know? Perhaps the kennel was a long time friend of the pet's owners (they did have a key to enter into the owner's home unaccompanied, right?)

Guess what? If I had a daughter or son with asthma, and went ahead and let him stay over at a friends house, then on the car ride home he died of an asthma attack due to the heat.... I'm going to understand that death is apart of life, for me as well as my son. I'm going to realize I didn't HAVE to let him go with his friend. AND IN NO CIRCUMSTANCE am I going to destroy the lives of my son's friends family, by suing them.

Stop looking for people to blame.


Oh and by the way, we're talking about a dog. Not a son

*we're talking about a dog and 1,000,000 dollars. Not a son

This happened a year ago (July 2009) and the owners did not request/demand a necropsy. It is irresponsible to make a judgement from one news article either way, @ R O Quinn's statement "The only reason this dog died was negligence, pure and simple" If a veterinarian claimed this dog was unfit to be alone and the petsitter then left dog at apartment alone and it passed that would be "Negligence pure and simple" some french bulldogs sound like a 80 year old with C.O.P.D with minimal physical activity and they are prone to overheat more easily and get into trouble with there breathing (then say a terrier of the same size and age) which may or may not be what the doorman and neighbors viewed. But this dog may have been sounding the same way the past 24 hours the petsitters had him in there custody and maybe the owners told them he sounds like that in the summer time because of the heat. We really dont' know and the owners are not taking immediate action with a necropsy and taking twelve months and deciding to sue for 1 Million dollars is questionable.

Weird! In America it’s socially acceptable to be a Zoophile! Dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, pigs, pigeons, chickens, rats, mice are nothing but property under the law. No animal is worth a million bucks unless it can win the Kentucky Derby. Dogs die! Some live longer than others. I’m sure a necropsy will show the dog died of something else. I’d be surprised these creeps don’t have the body stuffed.

I do agree that there should be some liability if the dog wasn't taken care of. I just have some questions...1. Who said the van was hot? 2. Did the pet sitter really just leave the dog in a home without the owners knowing about the drop-off? 3. Was there water in the home for the dog? 4. Why did the owners of this dog wait a year to sue? 5. How old is this dog?
I have had dogs my whole life. Some have been hit and died. It never occurred to me to sue the driver! Since when is a dog worth $1 million dollars. I do have to agree with some of these comments. I would have to hear the entire story and have all the facts to see if there was deliberate negligence. Unfortunately, the US have greedy lawyers and people who want to make a quick buck. One of the reasons our prices for health care and etc are expensive.

I agree with the owners for the lawsuit, I don't agree that they should be asking a million dollars, however the cost of suit could be around that much and they might be doing it as a matter of priciple.
I.E. you can't put a price on something you've loved and taken care of since it was little. Not everyone sees animals as just animals.

I don't see how the element of love has anything to do with the mindset of the owners. Actually, as you all put it: a pet is a family member, or equal to a family member. So, if one of you were to die in the same fashion as this dog, you would want your parents to sue for 1,000,000 to compensate for your life?
No you wouldn't. Because Money has no value compared to a human life. In fact, money is just paper. And it makes me sick that these people would bring money, into a death of a lost one. It's sick. Plain and simple.

Obviously Mr. Dean gets his jollies by pushing people's buttons. Ignore him and his askewed logic.

lol

Thanks to all who played my game!


Hey, give those ppl a million bucks, what do i care?