Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Virginia

I am in Virginia where there is a leash law. A neighbor routinely walks his two dogs off leash and lets them run through everyones yards and street at night. one night I was out walking my dog on leash and one of his dogs ran across the street and up to the nose of my leashed dog. the owner realized and ran over to apologize to which I said no problem as my dog didn't appear to be upset or bothered by it and the guy lives in my neighborhood. after completing my walk and heading home we ran into the guy and his offleash dog again and this time I dropped the leash so the dogs could socialize. the guys second dog sprinted up and startled my dog. my dog snapped at it and the dog pulled away. I asked the guy if his dog was ok and to check her and he said she was fine. next day he shows up at my door and shows me his dog in fact had a laceration. I told him to get her checked by a vet and give me a call. guy calls and says the vet says there are tow options the most expensive being up to 1300 dollars to which we agree to split it. 5 days later the guys dog apparently ripped her stitches and had to go back to the vet. a month later the guy sends me a bill for the first visit $588 (not 1300) and one for 5 days afterwards for $2400 and says lets split it. as a good neighbor and nothing else I agreed to split the initial bill to get his dog fixed up. no he wants me to pay for half of his dogs second procedure because he failed to follow vets orders and his dog tore the stitches 5 days later. He is from what I understand negligent for having his dogs off leash and contributed to the accident, however as a good neighbor I voluntarily offered assistance with the bill. am I now legally obligated to all bills for his dog because I am being nice? still willing to keep the original verbal agreement and my dog has no aggressive history and has never bitten another dog or person. the situation is still very civil however want to limit my generosity to the first vet bill.

Asked on 10/14/15, 7:27 am

Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

0 users found helpful

0 attorneys agreed

Are you "now legally obligated to all bills for his dog because (you are) being nice?", you inquire.

No, of course not, assuming your recitation of the facts in this case is accurate, and, I even have some

doubt about your agreed to responsibility to share in the first bill.

Answered on 10/20/15, 8:33 am

Keywords

Match Any Match All

Country

State

Area of Law