savaged dog in kennels

[chas2008]

a few months ago we put our 12 year old retriever in kennels for a week while we went on holiday, we came back to be told he had been savaged by another dog at the kennels resulting in his tail being amputated. We had to collect him from the vets where we were told they thought they had lost him a few times and never expected him to come through the operation. He really did look a sorry state, he managed to survive another 3 weeks then just went down hill fast and we ended up having him put to sleep. The kennels paid a majority of the vets bills on there insurance but this really did spoil our holiday , there was also time off work and the emotional distress this has caused any one give me any real suggestions wether its worth suing the kennels or put a figure on it, everyone advises me to sue but im really one of these people who dont like to make a fuss.

[bednobs]

i agree to be honest - suing them will be both expensive and probably ultimately futile. As long as you are not out of pocket, i can't really see what you would be suing for: would money make you feel any better that your dog died?
If you didn't know till you came back, i doubt you could claim you had loss of enjoyment of your holiday. There was no malign intent behind it on behalf of the kennels, and if your dog was so ill or old that having a relatively simple op made him nearly die, you couldn't really prove that his ultimate death was down to their negligence. Dogs meet other dogs when they are out for a walk, and it could quite easily have happened anywhere - i don't think you could say it was their "fault"
Im sorry that such an awful thing happened, and i would be very angry if it were me, but i really think you will just cause yourself more hassle

[cassa333]

What about duty of care? Does it still apply in cases of pet hotels or just people?

Anyway why not phone a no win no fee solicitors. They will be the best ones to advise if you have a lagitimate claim.