The cat ate the dog’s medication while I was pet-sitting.

Question

I was pet sitting this weekend and the cat may have eaten the dog's medication that I briefly left on the counter. It is also possible that the dog ate it. It was 75mg Carprofen. The owner said to not take the cat to the vet, so I gave her 3% hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. When the cat did not vomit, I took her to the vet. The cat was forced to vomit and had elevated kidney levels. Now the owner wants me to pay ongoing medical bills for a 16-year-old cat. I feel horrible for the cat, but future medical bills can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Am I liable for all bills? They could admit the cat to the vet for months at $2,000 a night. What do I do?

Colorado, USA

Answer

When people cannot amicably resolve a dispute, sometimes the person who believes he/she is owed money will sue. The court will consider the evidence and determine rights. Courts will first determine liability (who was at fault) and then damages to be awarded, if any. Many courts will award money for reasonable veterinary expenses to treat an animal who was negligently harmed, although some courts will consider the market value of the animal and not award much more. It may be difficult to prove that ongoing veterinary bills are all connected to the ingestion of the pill, particularly given the age of the cat. I hope the cat makes a full recovery and that you and the cat’s “parent” can agree on a fair settlement. The agreement should be in writing, signed and dated by the parties, and be clear that it releases you from any further responsibility arising out of the incident. An attorney can draft a release for you.