What do you think? Do I have a case?

[Jethro Bodine]

A couple of weeks ago I attended a Grey Cup Party hosted by some friends of a friend. I've met this couple socially a couple of times over the past few years but don't really know them.
Anyway when I arrive at the party, I remove my new, leather, winter boots (very $$) and leave them in the doorway with everyone else's.
Fast forward 4 hours. As I'm leaving I can only find one boot. After searching the immediate area for a few minutes the lady host asks what I'm looking for. When I tell her one of my boots, she gets a "look" on her face and says something like "Oh no, I hope the dog didn't get it." A few minutes later she returns with my boot which has been totally destroyed by their dog. I assume, despite not saying anything, my body language must have indicated I was a bit pissed. She apologizes and says she thought the dog was locked up but he must have gotten out. I did make a comment that they were new, expensive boots, hoping she might offer some kind of compensation but she didn't.
Anyway I'm still kind of upset about this. Sure I'm out $350.00 as I have to go buy some new boots but its not the money as much as what I feel is the owner not taking responsibility for the dog's actions. I would understand if I had ignored their warning to make sure my boots were put away but there was no mention made of a dog (I didn't even know they had a dog). My friend said he'd talk to them for me if I wanted but I told him to hold off. I figure, they shouldn't need to be told that the right thing to do would be to compensate me.
Do I have a right to be pissed off aobut this?
Should I take my friend up on his offer to speak to them for me?
or
Should I just chalk this up to life experiences with inconsiderate people and move on?

 

[jetsam]

You do have the right to be pissed off but if you weren't offered compensation when it happened it likely won't happen unless you push for it. Myself, I would just let it go and feel better about yourself because you know you are the kind of person who would have offered restitution had you been in her position.

If you bought the boots with the right type of Visa there is usually a 30 or 90 day insurance for this type of thing.

 

[Restless]

I don't know about you, but I would have told the hosts that I would not hold them responsible for the damage. I can certainly afford to buy a new pair of boots, but I would absolutely expect the woman to offer to replace them.

Since no offer has been forthcoming I would demand compensation.

Manners matter.

 

[PopUp]

Yes and yes. Yes, you have the right to be pissed! When you are a guest in their home, they should ensure that the welfare of both you and your possessions in safeguarded. If they invite you into their home, they are responsible for your wellbeing. It's not much different than if someone knowingly supplies a guest in their home with excess alcohol and then lets them drive home drunk. This has been proven in a court of law, people have been charged in cases where guests leave a house party while drunk and become involved in a vehicle accident.

I think that your friend could act as in intermediary. You are pissed off (justifiably so) and your friend could handle it in a more conciliatory manner.

If they don't get your point, maybe they are not the kind of friends that you want.

 

[mistressfreyja]

Are you in the right? Yes.

Should you be willing to invest any more emotional energy towards 'stuff?' Probably not.

My best advice is to let it go, and buy a new pair of boots. Oh, and perhaps don't hang out with those people anymore.

 

[hugedman]

I gotta say that dog has good taste - he picked the most expensive shoe among all. Sorry to hear that, you certainly have the right to be pissed. If I were you, I would just chalk it up and move on. If the host wanted to replace the boots, they already offered right at that moment; it would not be right to have your other friend to get involved.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I gotta say that dog has good taste - he picked the most expensive shoe among all.

You're damn right. I'm standing there rooting through a pile of beaten up old sneakers and worn out boots and MY boot has to be the one missing.
You are all right and I'm not going to waste a lot more thought on this one. Maybe next time I'm at their house I'll spill red wine on their carpet or plug their toilet, flush and leave.

 

[storm rider]

You have a right to be pissed off and you should be......you were a guest in their home and they are responsible for their dog....hands down end of story.....if your hosts had any shred of decency they would have offered to compensate you without any hesitation...to not do so is so low class and utterly rude.

SR

 

[bud68]

A responsible dog owner .. in the first place don't let their dog "tear" things up. And a responsible dog would have enough sense to leave "boots" alone! It almost sounds like these people wanted you to come over.. just so their dog could do some " chewing" ! I wouldnt doubt it that when you were visiting, that the dog was " waiting" in the shadows for the signal from its owners that the coast was clear and it could " dine" on them boots. If this dog lived on the farm... let me tell you....he would be lucky if all he had to do was " stick " his nose against the window in 40 below weather wondering how long his punishment was for. He would be a dog no more more then likely.

I think you got a score to settle with that dog!

 

[racinguy69]

give it up, its a pair of boots, big deal, go buy a new pair.

 

[MrBrown]

You are fully in your right to demand compensation for the mere fact that it wasn't offered to you, unless - it may backlash on the friend who got you there.

If you care about your friendship leave him out of it. $350 is not worth loosing a friend and potentially gaining an enemy.

This festivus thread made me think of how George Costanza would handle this one.

 

[chuckanut]

go through the intermediary.

-chuck

 

[Jethro Bodine]

This festivus thread made me think of how George Costanza would handle this one.

LOL!
You know when I posted this I thought, I will probably sound to some, like George. How he would obsess over the most minor or mundane things.
I just I'd see waht others might do if in my shoes....errr, boots.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

If I were in your shoes (or boots--sorry ), I would make dog food out of the owners and their dog. $350 is a fair amount of money for a pair of boots.

Let's put it this way . . . What do you think these people would do if they were your guests and they left their dog near the door during the party and their dog was savagely attacked by your dog? They'd raise goddamn motherfucking bloody hell and sue the goddamn motherfucking shit out of you.

I'd suggest you do the same.

Yup.

You're right.
No way these motherfuckers are gonna get away with this.
I'm gonna go over there right now, kick in their door, slap them around some, drink their booze, piss on their floor, fuck their dog in the ass and wipe my cock on the drapes when I'm done.

 

[Sonny]

The awkward part is that these folks with the dog are friends of your friend. But, actually, your friend should be able to distinguish that what you need to do with respect to your boots has nothing to do with him or his relationship with these folks.

Talk with your friend about it, and you should have understanding there. Then, go to a small claims court office and file a small claims action for your $350 plus your costs.

Folks are responsible for the actions of these pets, and they need to reimburse you for the boots. Too bad they chose not to offer payment immediately, as they should have.

 

[bcneil]

In the Sex and the City episode 'A Woman's Right To Shoes' (Season 6, Episode 9) Carrie unashamedly asks for reimbursement after her pair of $480 Manolo's are stolen when she is forced to remove them at a friend's party. Carrie notes the hypocrisy in the fact that the friend, who 'shoe shames' her and reimburses only $200 ("it was your choice to buy shoes that expensive") is rewarded over the years with thousands of dollars worth of gifts for her life choices (baby showers, engagement presents, wedding gifts etc.) whereas single women do not have their life choices celebrated ("Hallmark don't make a 'congratulations-you-didn't-marry-the-wrong-guy card'!") and so comes to the conclusion that it is okay to spend that much on oneself, specifically one's shoes, to make the single girl's walk through life a little more fun.

Similar thing happened to a buddy. He was in a friends driveway for a bbq in a new 911 porsche.
Their 16 year old son comes home in his truck and sideswipes the Porsche.
These people were all willing to pay, till they get the bill. Then say if he had a cheap car the repairs wouldn't be so much.
And wouldn't pay....till court of course

 

[FloridaGuy]

In the Sex and the City episode 'A Woman's Right To Shoes' (Season 6, Episode 9) Carrie unashamedly asks for reimbursement after her pair of $480 Manolo's are stolen when she is forced to remove them at a friend's party. Carrie notes the hypocrisy in the fact that the friend, who 'shoe shames' her and reimburses only $200 ("it was your choice to buy shoes that expensive") is rewarded over the years with thousands of dollars worth of gifts for her life choices (baby showers, engagement presents, wedding gifts etc.) whereas single women do not have their life choices celebrated ("Hallmark don't make a 'congratulations-you-didn't-marry-the-wrong-guy card'!") and so comes to the conclusion that it is okay to spend that much on oneself, specifically one's shoes, to make the single girl's walk through life a little more fun.

Are you a woman? Or a gay guy? Your name says "man" but your posting clearly indicates the opposite. Just a bit confused here.

 

[hugedman]

I would not blame the dog, it's the owner's responsibility to warn the guests, I am sure this was not the first time the dog got out and chewed on the shoes, and certainly it will not be the last time either...The owner should be responsible for his/her dog, including the dog's behavior and mis-behave. It's never the dog's false.

 

[vancity_cowboy]

i hope the boots were brown

 

[maroonedsailor]

i hope the boots were brown

now THAT'S funny