Oceanside, CA asked in Animal / Dog Law, Civil Rights and Small Claims for California

Q: Claimed her dogs were well trained, they weren't and destroyed my belongings. What can I do?

So a military spouse needed someone to watch her "very well trained" dogs for a month. I agreed. Claimed they don't chew, don't mark,& are well trained. I put them in my garage while I ran an errand with my dog, after her telling me they won't destroy anything. They ate a pair of my shoes, my purse,& my expensive computer that contained the LAST images of my deceased grandparents and me along with my dead fiance last texts messages & photos & all our memories before he died. She refused to pay & States its all my fault because it was under my supervision & keeps blaming my dog. I was told they are very well trained. They peed all over my house & furniture , were food/toy aggressive, ate my shoes, purse, & destroyed my computer. She claims it couldn't have been her dogs & refuses to even help with partially the cost of fixing my computer. My dog is trained & wasn't home at the time of destruction & I have witness who can back that up. What can I do?

1 Lawyer Answer
William John Light
William John Light
Answered
  • Animal & Dog Law Lawyer
  • Santa Ana, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: File suit in Small Claims and prove your case - i.e., which dogs did it, and the value to repair or replace the damaged property.

PS It's hard to believe that the dogs did all of that damage while you ran an errand. It's also unlikely that the hard drive to the computer is damaged and that your photos and texts are destroyed. You also have a responsibility to take reasonable cautions - like placing your shoes, purses, etc. someplace safe.

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