my son is accused of killing 2 dogs by feeding them chocolate

[giggles34f]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? washington state
My son was accused of feeding two large dogs chocolate and them dying from it. Keep in mind these dogs are allowed to run free. Could have gotten into anything. I doubt that there was any autopsy...should we subpoena the vet that cared for the dogs....and a outside vet?
I believe he should fight this. Dogs get into lots of things.
What do you think?

 

[cyjeff]

It depends.

Did your son feed the dogs chocolate?

 

[Mass_Shyster]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? washington state
My son was accused of feeding two large dogs chocolate and them dying from it. Keep in mind these dogs are allowed to run free. Could have gotten into anything. I doubt that there was any autopsy...should we subpoena the vet that cared for the dogs....and a outside vet?
I believe he should fight this. Dogs get into lots of things.
What do you think?

Accused by whom?

 

[giggles34f]

He says he did not feed them chocolate but did give one a lick off his plate of spicey chicken wings. No wings just the sauce
Seeing how 2 dogs died...and she was doing gardening work that weekend they got sick. I highly doubt that chocolate or spicey sauce would have done anything
He is being accused by the dog owner and has to go to court over it.
I have owned and bred dogs for many years. My dogs have gotten into more amounts of chocolate then id like to admit. All were fine. They have also eaten spicey foods. My opinion as a seasoned dog breeder is that her dogs got into something very bad for them. Something like slug bait or rat poisening.

 

[Mass_Shyster]

He is being accused by the dog owner and has to go to court over it.

civil or criminal court? Is he being sued? If so, for how much? Is this small claims court?

How old is your son?

 

[CdwJava]

Seems frivolous to me and without an autopsy or some kind of tox screen I cannot imagine this woman could convince a court that chocolate was responsible for the deaths. I do know that chocolate can be bad for dogs, but my dogs have gotten into chocolate now and again and other than the occasional and sometimes serious case of the squirts, all are still alive.

 

[cyjeff]

Seems frivolous to me and without an autopsy or some kind of tox screen I cannot imagine this woman could convince a court that chocolate was responsible for the deaths. I do know that chocolate can be bad for dogs, but my dogs have gotten into chocolate now and again and other than the occasional and sometimes serious case of the squirts, all are still alive.

Different dogs have different reactions to chocolate... Dogs just can't metabolize the caffeine in it.

Mutts seem to have a higher tolerance... but a friend just lost a boxer that ate a chocolate muffin....

My next question is why would her angelic child be feeding hot sauce to the dogs? Was that an attempt to hurt them?

 

[giggles34f]

Different dogs have different reactions to chocolate... Dogs just can't metabolize the caffeine in it.

Mutts seem to have a higher tolerance... but a friend just lost a boxer that ate a chocolate muffin....

My next question is why would her angelic child be feeding hot sauce to the dogs? Was that an attempt to hurt them?

He isnt angelic but he says he didnt feed the dogs chocolate. He did however say he let one of them lick the juices off his plate from buffalo wings.
He is 16...he also was working with her dogs teaching them hand signals. I do not believe he would do anything intentionally to hurt a dog.

 

[CdwJava]

Different dogs have different reactions to chocolate... Dogs just can't metabolize the caffeine in it.

Mutts seem to have a higher tolerance... but a friend just lost a boxer that ate a chocolate muffin....

My next question is why would her angelic child be feeding hot sauce to the dogs? Was that an attempt to hurt them?

You would still need some sort of proof beyond simple speculation. hence the need for some sort of medical exam and testimony. Aven then, it does not show where the dogs got the chocolate.

I have two purebred Bassetts and they have a disgusting reaction to chocolate, but they still manage to survive even when they down a pair of stolen chocolate muffins.

So, I cannot see a civil court judge awarding a judgment in the favor of the plaintiff merely for the claim. It just is not going to happen.

And if the dogs are indeed running at large, there is far too much reasonable doubt as to what and where they ate something bad for them to even reasonably speculate as to the source of the substance that might have doen them in

 

[giggles34f]

You would still need some sort of proof beyond simple speculation. hence the need for some sort of medical exam and testimony. Aven then, it does not show where the dogs got the chocolate.



And if the dogs are indeed running at large, there is far too much reasonable doubt as to what and where they ate something bad for them to even reasonably speculate as to the source of the substance that might have doen them in

Exactly what i was thinking. One of my dogs went in to seizures once ...vet didnt know why just said she must have gotten into something. Dogs that are allowed to run loose risk a chance of getting into things that could make them very ill.
The vet bills were paid for. She is being vindictive. I feel terribly bad that she lost her beloved dogs but she also isnt seeing the big picture. It could have been anything.
The dog I have now sleeps with my son. I know he would never do anything to intentionally hurt any dog.
Ah got to love the judicial system.

 

[cyjeff]

Don't get me wrong... I agree that there is just too much doubt as to the cause of the dog's death for anyone to be declared liable.

I will say that Bassets have a very robust digestive system... I think they could eat a Ford Fairlane without injury.

And it is true you can hear their bark three miles away....

 

[giggles34f]

Don't get me wrong... I agree that there is just too much doubt as to the cause of the dog's death for anyone to be declared liable.

I will say that Bassets have a very robust digestive system... I think they could eat a Ford Fairlane without injury.

And it is true you can hear their bark three miles away....

LOL bassets are very known for that! Great dogs though

 

[CdwJava]

A Bassett may be able to eat a Ford Fairlane (hey ... isn't he a rock and roll detective? ) and survive, but the intervening days will be ... uh ... eeeyeew!

Yeah, we love our Bassetts!

Giggles, you say that the other party's vet bills were paid for? Did YOU pay for those bills?

 

[Just Blue]

https://forum.freeadvice.com/child-custody-visitation-37/my-parents-trying-custody-my-kids-526768.html

 

[stealth2]

Carl - chocolate is known to be toxic to dogs. OP, as a "breeder" , should know this. As with any toxic substance, it's a matter of body weight and amount ingested.