Are We Responsible??

Looks like I'm in the minority. I suggest it was the girl's responsibility to take care of her phone. She left it accessible to the dog. I wouldn't expect to pay for a replacement.

I does not matter how old the girl is....the dog tore up her phone. The owner is repsonsible. Case closed. Why is this even a question or discussion??

Well if my dog (or kid) wrecked something that belonged to someone else, then yes, I would replace it.

Yep.

Hopefully she has an upgrade or insurance that will help, but whether they do or not, your dog ate (in principle) her phone.

Now... If it happened a 2nd time ((because you'll now tell people to keep their phones on then or in a bag)), it would be on her / her parents. But not this time.

_______

I can't believe people are saying 'At your own risk' in inviting guests, or trying to say that if you don't agree with her having one, don't replace it. The 2nd half is like saying that you don't agree with luxury cars, do if you cause an accident and the other car is a BMW, you shouldn't have to pay. As to the first? Dogs are like toddlers. If you toddler broke someone's phone, would you replace it? Of course.

Your dog destroyed it at your house, of course you should offer to pay for it.

It would be polite for you to offer to replace it.

It would be polite for the girl's family to decline your offer and take care of it themselves.

Wow I can't believe how many people don't offer to pay. It is reasonable to expect that a dog is trained unless told otherwise. When my dogs were puppies they loved leather, I forgot to tell one girl and her Doc Martins were chewed up. Damn right I paid for them, it was my dog and it was reasonable that a dog is not going to eat her shoes.

Same thing for phones. It is reasonable to assume your phone is not going to be eaten by a dog when visiting friends regardless of where it is set.

I get it isn't cheap to replace some stuff but it is your responsibility. Seems to me like a lot of people are making excuses for bad behavior. Don't be surprised if no one wants to visit your kids in the future because of your pets. I mean that is what you are saying, sure my animal destroys things but I assume no responsibility, visit at your own risk. Most won't assume that risk.

Yes, you offer to replace it. That is the responsible thing to do as your dog ate her phone. It doesn't matter if the girl is 12 and other parents here feel she shouldn't have a phone or be ready to replace it herself. Maybe you will be lucky and she will have insurance on it.

I wouldn't expect you to be, my daughter would have to pay for it somehow. Responsibility.

Your dog destroyed her phone. How could you not be responsible? Offering to replace it is the right thing to do.

Yes, she was at your house, YOUR dog damaged the phone.

YOU replace the phone of equal value (no upgrades on the phone unless parents choose to foot that portion of the bill) The phone should be insured (I would hope) so that the replacement is not as costly as buying outright from the store.

Yes, it is partly her fault but she was at your house. Now would I expect a family to replace my daughter's phone (IPhone) if my daughter was not responsible..... no, but I would appreciate it if they had enough class to just talk about it.

Turn the situation around.... You would expect a replacement for your daughter if her phone was eaten by a dog where she was visiting.

Kids leave these things all over the place (just like hand held computer games and they often cost a lot more than a phone).
They break and lose them all the time.
It's part of learning to take care of your things.
If you are careless with something it shouldn't be replaced right away.
Deciding to help pay for a replacement would depend on a lot of things.
How close a friend is she?
How responsible is she?
Are her parents likely to demand an upgrade (there are all kinds of parents out there and some are jerks)?
I may or may not help pay for a replacement depending on a lot of factors.

I would offer to replace it if it were my house, my dog. Technically it was your dog that destroyed the phone, so you should offer to replace it.

That being said, if I was the friend's mother, I would probably place blame on my child for not being responsible for their own belongings and wouldn't take the offer of replacement from you.

YES.......we don't have dogs and wouldn't think twice about having to worry about a dog ruining any of our personal belongings at someone else's home. I'm sure if he ruined a shoe, or something *less* expensive you wouldn't hesitate on replacing it.

I think you are responsible for replacing it...especially since they (both girls) say your dog took it off the grill...that means she had put it up somewhere high that she assumed was safe and she was being responsible for her property and not that she just had left it lying around on the ground or anything, ya know?!

Do the right thing and offer to replace it. How would you feel if the situation was reversed and it was your daughter's phone that got destroyed by their dog?

~I *always* ask myself to see things from the other perspective...like if it were my kids or my property and so on and so on...this usually gives me the correct answer about what to do.

If your dog got a hold of something or something happens to someone you have invited over you are responsible... just as if you invite someone into you home (which is rented) you are responsible for any damages that they do as well.

When my daughter was bite in the arm at a neighbors house... they paid to get her a new coat & shirt, all the scrip & medical co-pays. My insurance covered a lot of the bills, but they paid everything that I had to cover out of pocket. It wasn't even their dog... they were dog sitting.

Sorry, but having a dog can be an unexpected expense & responsibility... got to cover it. Not a fansy phone, but one that is the same as she had.

To answer your question honestly, I imagined what I would think/expect if I had my cellphone destroyed by a friend's dog...

There are slight variables... did you warn her that the dog may get to it? Did she place the cellphone in a place knowing that the dog eats cellphones? I'm assuming it isn't a case like that. I honestly would not expect a dog to get at a cell phone. So, I don't consider it negligence on her part... therefore, yes, you are responsible.

NOW, if you knew that it could happen, warned her and suggested a better place and she didn't do anything about it, then it would be less your fault, but I'd still offer to pay if I were you.

If she was playing "catch" with the dog and her cellphone, then wow- it is her fault totally. LOL!

I disagree with Sally in saying nothing and wait. That puts that girl (or her parents) in a really tough and awkward situation that they didn't cause (at least I'm assuming), it may even divide her friendship with your daughter if you waited until they said something. Asking someone money for something that was not only destroyed on your property, but BY your property (the dog), is something someone should not have to do. The right and polite thing to do is offer.

BTW, you sound nice, so I know you won't let it get THIS far, but in small claims court, your daughter's friend would be awarded 100% of the value of her phone. You know, YOUR dog destroyed it. That should answer your question:)

How big is your dog? How old is your dog? Has it done something like this before? Does it have a chewing problem?

To me, it almost sounds like the phone got damaged another way & the convenient scapegoat was the dog - a la "the dog age my homework".

Personally, if my DD CHOSE to bring an expensive electronic over to a friend's house, I would consider HER solely responsible for knowing where it was at all times, and in a safe place I would make sure my DD learned her lesson & bought or earned the replacement phone. It's about personal responsibility, IMO. She chose to leave it in an unsafe place & it supposedly got damaged.

Now, if you feel obligated to replace it, then find a used on on Ebay or craigslist. I don't think you should have to buy a new phone when the phone was used to begin with & not very well cared for.

When I used to get my kids cell phones I always bought the insurance. It would only cost MAYBE 50 to replace. Call the parents and find out. But if its a IPHONE....well good luck they are expensive!! Also I would never make someone pay for my kids phone. She should of had it in a better place, I say it was her responsibility.

I have a 12 year old. She has a cell phone. It has a cracked screen because she has dropped it so many times. I've seen her leave hers in the yard. She often doesn't know where it is. I would assume many 12 year olds are somewhat careless as well. If this happened to my DD, I would not expect the friend's family to replace the phone. My dog can be a stinker too, but I think it pretty unusual that a dog would go after a cell phone on the bbq. A hot dog yep, a cell phone not so much.

What I would do is call the parents and tell them what the girls say happened and ask them what they think. Let that be your guide. If they know their DD to be ultra responsible and very careful with her things, and your impression of her is this as well, I would give her the benefit of the doubt and definitely offer to replace it. If the parents seem like they have a hard time believing the story, ask them if they would like you to replace it, tell them you are willing, but wanted to get their opinion first. They may not want you to replace it even if you offer. I think you have to work with the parents on this one and let them be your guide, not the 12 year olds. It could go either way based on the parents opinion, and I would be fine either way.

Yes, unfortunately, you are responsible. You can probably replace it with a remanufactured one of the same model.

The right thing to do is to offer. The right thing for her parents to do is to not hose you for the cost of a brand new phone. Ask them where they stand on their update as far as their contract is concerned.

You've learned a real value lesson now about allowing a child to carry around a cell phone in your house. Next time a kid with a cell phone comes over, put it on top of the frig.

So sorry,
Dawn

Hmmm, this is a very thought provoking question.

If my daughter at 12 took her cell to a friends house and while she was there her phone got lost/boken, etc, I would be annoyed with my daughter. It would never occur to me that the friend's parents should be in anyway responsible.

However, if my DOG broke the cell phone of one of my kid's friends while they were HERE, I WOULD feel responsible. I would offer to replace it.

Interesting!

:)

I consider my son (13) fully responsible for his phone and where he puts it. If he goes outside it's best to leave it inside the house. She should have made sure it was safe. I would not feel responsible!

Good luck and God Bless!

If they wont accept your offer of a new phone, buy her a case with a belt attachment.

Yes, you should absolutely offer to pay to replace her phone. For a comparable phone, of course (don't let them try to use this incident to get an upgrade at your expense).

Same thing happened to us but the 12 year old boy laid his cell phone on the ground. We decided that we are not going to ffer to pay for it as this was oblviously NOT a prudent place to put a cell phone and so it was all his fault. So I think that the culpability lies with where the phone was placed. I would try to figure this out a little better....like can your dog get to the grill? Put a treat there and test it.

When I was a teen, a friend's dog chewed up one of my shoes, which I'd left by the front door. She thought it was hilarious. I, on the other hand, was devastated. My family didn't have money. It was my first pair of new shoes in years...I'd had to buy them myself...and her dog....ate...them.

I could not afford to replace the shoes. I was a teen so my Mom held me responsible (nevermind that I'd been told to remove my shoes). The girl and her family offered nothing. I didn't make a fuss but I never went back to her house either.

If you think the girl is lying that's one thing, but if you think your dog maybe just maybe chewed up her phone, please....replace it, not out of "kindness" but because it's your dog, so your responsibility.

ETA: I am unclear on how putting a phone down on a BBQ not in use is irresponsible. It wasn't in use, correct? I am assuming it had one of those little shelfs BBQs have. Yes? If you are in your yard and need to put down your phone, where is a better choice? As for keeping it in the house - it seems she was trying to keep it nearby, as many people do. Am I missing something?

If your kid or your dog broke my phone, I would expect you to replace it. I wouldn't expect a new phone though, you should look for a used one of comparable value.

First, it was the girls responsibility to take care of the phone. I tell my girls that regarding their ipods. She should have left it in the house in her bag, if she was going to play outside. People need to think, why would a 12 year old need to keep her phone with her as she played. Hello! Her parents can call your house phone if they need to reach her. If you offer to replace it, they will probably take you up on it, so be careful and don't let them take advantage of you. If you feel compelled to offer, ask what is your insurance replacement cost (usually $25/$50) and offer to pay that. If it's an Iphone, tell them how much you're willing to give for the replacement, if you feel partially responsible because of the dog. Then again if she hadn't taken it outside, the dog couldn't have gotten it. Don't let them take you for a new one. They are not cheap.

If you do end up replacing the phone, go to Walmart and see if they have the same phone or a comparable one in the "prepaid" section. (Make sure it's the same cell phone provider. Like if she uses Verizon, get a Verizon phone.) Those phones are the same as the ones in the provider stores, but they are way cheaper. I had to do this when my husband accidentally dropped his brand new phone in the water. There are instructions online that show how to add the new phone to their existing plan. Good luck!

I would say no. We are all responsible for our own belongings.

I wouldn't replace it Some of this depends how old she is...where did she have the phone? Was she irresponsible with it? Did the dog grab it from her? Was she waving it at the dog?

I would just wait and see if they say anything.

I would call the cell provider and offer to pay to have it refurbished. most cell companies offer insurance on a kids phone. so at most they should only have to pay the insurance copay. on ours with t mobile it is like $25 for the kids phones (flip phones not iphones) my phone is the tmobile version of an iphone. if we have to replace mine its $150 so depending on their plan and what they have it might just be a copay. i would ask them.

first have her mom call their cell phone carrier and let them know a dog ate it and see if they will replace it or at least discount a new one before you go buy one for the full price.
but, yes, it probably is your responsibility.
in some ways I think I would probably scold my child for leaving it somewhere unsafe and the penalty would be loosing the phone, but I think parents these days feel the phone is an important device for kids to have, so they will probably want it replaced.
if it was one of your adult friends that it happened to, what would you do then?

Did the dog really do it? If the dog put the phone in its mouth and damaged it you are responsible. You are responsible for what your animal does to other people and their property at all times. That's just how it works. However, if the dog bumped the grill and it fell and broke because of precarious placement by the girl, then it is her fault not yours. If it's a dispute over how it happened, you may just have to do the big thing and buy it or split it depending on the relationship you have with these parents and if they agree it's not evident whether the dog was at fault, i.e. teeth marks, etc.

Put yourself in your daughters friends shoes...If it were your phone that you placed on the grill would you expect the dog owner to replace it?

I am with Sally. How old is she? Did she leave it lying on the ground or some other irresponsible place? Does your dog routinely "steal" items and destroy them? Did she put it in a place she could "reasonably" expect that it would be safe/secure, or did she drop wherever was handy without any concerns for taking care of it?

Seems to me, that unless your dog really STOLE it from a secure location (or from her hands while she was just standing or seated with it, not waving it in the dog's face or anything) then the friend was irresponsible with her stuff and should face the consequences of her own behavior.
Sucks for her, but that is how I see it.

ETA: Not that this is helpful at all... but... she left it on the BBQ GRILL?!!
Maybe you have a super nice outdoor kitchen or something... but in my mind, that is a totally irresponsible place to put a delicate electronic item. Of course, I am a little OCD about certain things: My phone stays IN my purse. My keys stay IN my purse. My wallet stays IN my purse. My purse stays in one spot in the house at all times, until I walk out the door. I never lose my keys, my phone or my wallet, or my purse. Unless someone else "borrows" one of them and doesn't put it back.
To set a phone down outside on a grill? Never.

Sounds more likely to me, that it fell off the grill, and the resulting clatter attracted the dog. :/ Perhaps you can mention to the parents exactly what the girls said happened (word it that way---"the girls said") and ask about replacement options. Perhaps they have insurance on the phone, or are due for an "upgrade" or whatever. I would be willing to split the cost with them.

If I give my child a cell phone it is their responsibility to maintain it and keep it safe, so in my house - no you are not. This should also be covered by insurance - in addition what is a 12 yr old doing with a cell phone? I am sorry but if they can't pay they can't play.

For the record, my Fiance and I see this differently, he says you are responsible to pay for the phone.

I would call the insurance agent for your house insurance. My friends neighbors dog climbed the fence and came in their back door. The dog started chewing the carpet and tore a huge hole in it. Their house was up for sale too.

The neighbors insurance paid for their whole house to be replaced. Your homeowners might pay for the phone. If it's covered but the deductible not met then the replacement of her phone should count towards that at least.

I would not replace the phone, not would I expect somebody else to replace mine our one of my kids phone, unless.... Say for instance somebody else was using it, and they left it somewhere, or it broke quilted they were using it. She is just going to have to learn to take better care of her things.
Now, does your dog usually chew things, my mother had a dog who chewed everything, but I didn't know this at first, we were over there and my daughter put her shoes by the front door (where she was told to put them) and the dog chewed them up... She did replace them, but I only expected her to because shed knew her dog chewed up everything, and she told my baby to put her shoes there.