Q: Are there any legal recourses against pet care-giver who gets your pet high, allows it to swallow pot almost killing pet
We dropped off our very small dog to a care-giver supposedly vetted by a larger company (like an air bnb - you find a care-giver in your area with ratings or close by). When we went to pick him up he was extremely lethargic. Care-giver said he was just tired. It didn't make sense. Our dog was acting extremely sick, then threw up an entire blunt. We took him to the vet and they took pictures and said he would have died if left unattended, and that he was possibly poisoned by the smoke (obviously high) and cigar-wrappings around the pot in the blunt, as well as the pot. Wondering if there is anything we can sue or do to the care-giver or the larger company providing the care-giver as a trustworthy provider.
A: With respect to the criminal side of things, you just need to call the police in the jurisdiction where the abuse took place. They will take the information you have and investigate further, as needed. As to the civil side, this case would probably come down to the value of the claim. Assuming the vet bill is not exorbitant, and there aren't long-term or permanent health issues, this probably doesn't rise to the level where it would make financial sense to hire an attorney. Your best bet would probably be to get on the website for the small claims court in the jurisdiction where this occurred, download their forms, and seek whatever compensation you can support with vet bills, the vet's estimation of cost associated with necessary future care, and possibly some level of compensation for the distress and inconvenience this caused. Depending on how things go with the police, there is also a possibility of restitution in a criminal case without you having to do anything other than cooperate and possibly testify.
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