Something TERRIBLE has happened.

[Runner]

I don't how this happened, but I am devestated.Yesterday, I went and did an estimate for a very nice lady in a neighborhood where I do some work. I stopped in, she wasn't home, so I walked through the yard. In the backyard area, I was met by a little grey Terrier...friendly little thing, and I remember saying to him that "I'll have to remember to bring you some snacks."
Well, anyway, I called her later in the day, gav her the prices, and she accepted. I told her I can cut it right now (in close neighborhood). She said fine, she's leaving, and she'll put her dog in. I went over and cut, and all went well. I just got a call from her, she was crying. She said that when she let her dog out, the gate had been left open, and her little dog must have gotten out (unknown to her). Well, they looked all day for it, and just found it. It had been hit by a car and killed. I feel so terrible. I don't know what to do, as nothing like this has ever happened to me - I don't even leave gates open, but I DO think I left this one open. What do I do?

[MudslinginFX4]

Joe, I'm sorry about your bad experience. I really don't know what I would do if I were in your shoes (i've never had this happen). I think the best you can do is say your sorry and go on. If they accept your apology fine, if not thats fine too. If it makes you feel any better it's not totally your fought. Yes, you were the one who left the gate open, but the lady knew you had been there and should have checked the gate before letting the dog out (I know I would have). I'm a big animal person (especially dogs) but you've got to move on and not let this bring you down too much, if the lady would have checked the gate it would have never happened.

[fel]

Sorry to hear about your sad experience, I can only imagine how you feel, unfortunately things like this happen, we are all human and make those kinds of mistakes. It sounds like from what you describe this lady is a really nice person and she understands that it was unintentional on your part, maybe after a while you could take her a puppy?? I don't know what is the right way to handle this is, just don't be too hard on yourself, it could have happened to any of us..

[Tider6972]

Get her a puppy, and offer your most sincere condolences.Tell her you know nothing you can do will replace her pet, but you want her to know how truly regretful you are.

[Tn Lawn Man]

Be Honest!

[BCSteel]

Do not get her a new dog. It will never replace the one she lost. Picking a pet is usually a very personal thing for most people.

Dont really have any ideas how to smooth things over with her though.

[The C Man]

Do not get her a new dog. It will never replace the one she lost. Picking a pet is usually a very personal thing for most people.
That's my opinion as well.

[Toy2]

Are you sure you left it open????Between the time you left and she got home alot could have happened.....neighbor ball in her yard/little kids trying to get it back, city workers, cops, her friends......I have two gates, custom made drive way gate , and side gate, someone has left my side gate open and i was home when it happened, I happened to let the dog out and walked that direction....now everytime I let the dog out, someone makes sure they are both closed....I carry my pink wire ties, if a customer calls and asks why I did that...its to cover my a$$.......don't blame yourself, unless you can 100 percent sure you did it....even then $hit happens....keep moving forward.......gook luck....

[Sweetwater]

AM-

I really like the pink wire tie idea...Joe, I feel your pain and am not sure what to tell ya. The fellas here have all had good advice. Dittos to the honesty factor and if she is really sore at you then pack up your stuff, give here a referral for another service and move on. At least she will hold you in an honorable light.

[turfmann]

Yeah, you gotta clear your conscience on this one. Fess up or it will eat you up. I think the self-firing idea is a good one. You can equivocate all you want but *&% happens. Confess, penance, move on.

[Toy2]

I bought them at Harbor freight, 8 bucks for hundreds......It has come back to bite me......walk up to a gate and the tie is still there....have to walk back to the truck to get the wire cutters.....Oh well....it makes me feel better knowing I left it secure... :)

[pagefault]

I'd be very honest and apologetic. I'd also offer to cover the cremation and burial and to pay for a new dog if she wants one.

I've got dogs and cats. My favorite cat "Cross-eyed Larry" got hit by a car earlier this year. The worst part, for me, was digging the hole in the back yard. It was really depressing and it took a long time because our soil is so rocky. I know it may sound stupid, but people do get very attached and she might appreciate a nice, simple lansdcape job where the dog is buried. I planted an agave and some wildflowers where Larry was buried. I'd offer to do that stuff for her too, if she wants to bury the dog in her yard.

[tjgray]

Last week the same thing almost happened to us but luckily the neighbor found the dog before any harm happened to him. I was still shaken and called our customer to offer my apologies and to tell him how thankful I was that his dog was ok. He was cool about it and said his kids should have checked the gate before they let the dog out but still I assured him that we would be extra careful *I like the pink tie idea too*

Not too long ago there was a thread from someone that the exact same thing happened to. Not sure how it worked out for them but I will say that pretty much all you can do is offer her your sincerest apologies. I wouldn't buy a puppy either because like it was already said picking a new puppy is a special time *I might would offer to cover the cost of a new pet when she was ready*

Most of you know I just lost my hound about a month or so ago and it truly is a very painful experience. My children let him out and it was hard not to be angry as they are old enough to know better but you really can't blame anyone it was just a horrible unfortunate accident.

I am real sorry it happened Joe :(...I know you must feel horrible but try not to beat yourself up to bad.

[Runner]

Thank you, everyone, who has replied. As far as the being honest and/or fessing up, there is no question on that. I point blank told her right out that I had probably did it. I stopped what I was doing and went right over to her house after she called and told me what happened. It was after that, that I came back home and posted this thread. I agree with the not buying a new dog theory. There is just no way to replace this little guy. There is no actual price you can put on it, either. It's not like a damaged downspout, or something. She had this dog for 11 years....so there is no question that he was a close part of the family. I just feel like such a jerk for the neglect in this incident. It is not like me to leave a gate open with or without pets. Like I say, I just don't know what happened, but I DO know that I just don't remember closing the gate. She said she will call me when she needs me, but if she never calls, then I fully understand. The irony?...next weekend is Memorial Day. Thanks again to everyone.

[Toy2]

It sounds like your not even sure.....I'm sure the mind is going a 100miles a second...don't beat yourself up over it...tomorrow is another day....some might never see.....good luck...

[Up North]

Hey Joe,
Everyone makes mistakes Joe. You certainly didn't intentionally do it, if you did it at all. You did the right thing by going straight over there and talking with her. And knowing you I'm sure you offered to do anything possible to help out the situation. No doubt you feel awful but dang, nobody's perfect, I just hope the lady will soon understand that, although it may take her a while. Maybe call her before the next cut and ask her if she wants to continue the service and if she says yes, then maybe send her the invoice with a big NO CHARGE and say it's the least you could do.

I don't know, tough deal for sure. But you're a good operator Joe, I'm sure you'll work your way through this.

Buck

[stumper1620]

this could happen to anyone of us. don't let it tear you up, your a good honest man to head straight over and discusse it with her, I would make a follow up visit to see how she is doing in a couple days, if the dog is buried in her yard, I really like the idea of offering some special landscape as a gesture to show your feelings of the situation. then make it real special so she can see that you feel for her.
I hope I never have to deal with a situation like this, I can see where it is hard to know how to react.

[leadarrows]

Do you remember opining the gate? The reason I ask is when I go Thu a gate if it's shut it is just automatic to me to shut it. I probably wouldn't remember doing it ether but when you always do something you always do it. With out thinking and that would be why you don't remember doing it. If the gate was open you might have left it open but I would bet if it was closed you closed it back.

I have dogs and I'll tell you the truth. If you let one of my dogs out and it got killed I would hate you for it. Intellectually I would understand people make mistakes and I would forgive you....but emotionally I would hate you. That woman is probably feeling the same. That said you know in your heart you would never do something like that on purpose. It was an accident pure and simple. Beat yourself up over it one time real good and voe to never let it happen again. Then forgive yourself. That's all you can do when it comes right down to it.
I sure am sorry you had this happen.

I like the pink ties idea as well. Maybe sharing this story with us will save several other dogs with so many of us liking the pink ties idea.

Some days just Bite.

[stumper1620]

Do you remember opining the gate? The reason I ask is when I go Thu a gate if it's shut it is just automatic to me to shut it. I probably wouldn't remember doing it ether but when you always do something you always do it. With out thinking and that would be why you don't remember doing it. If the gate was open you might have left it open but I would bet if it was closed you closed it back.
I have dogs and I'll tell you the truth. If you let one of my dogs out and it got killed I would hate you for it. Intellectually I would understand people make mistakes and I would forgive you....but emotionally I would hate you. That woman is probably feeling the same. That said you know in your heart you would never do something like that on purpose. It was an accident pure and simple. Beat yourself up over it one time real good and voe to never let it happen again. Then forgive yourself. That's all you can do when it comes right down to it.
I sure am sorry you had this happen.

I like the pink ties idea as well. Maybe sharing this story with us will save several other dogs with so many of us liking the pink ties idea.

Some days just Bite.
I agree with this I have dogs fenced in my back yard and gates are just a normal habit to close, I even give a pull to be sure it latched just because I do it to my own gate, never give it a thought.

[Todd's lawncare]

Sorry to hear that lawn buddy .Your all right in your own way !! But i do this i don't know if any one else does it but i hook my dogs when i will not be out with them just to make sure if it was left open they don't get out . But this kind of thing will happen just gotta take it . And if you do any thing DO NOT GET A NEW DOG . My aunts dog past away while they were in Fl for the winter and they came all the way back to Pa to put him to rest . and he just died of age and she didn't get a new dog till just a while ago so.

[Gene $immons]

Thats a tough one for sure. I would insist on planting some trees or make her a new flowerbed free of charge. I would find out what their favorite restaurant is and get them a gift certificate and mail it to them with a greeting card as well.

Things like this can either go one way or the other, I would try to make them your new "best friend" and keep their business forever.

Sorry that it happened though.

[surfisher211]

yea that is tough especially elder people and there dogs are very close, if i were u i would get her a puppy of the same breed . Good luck with what happens.

[brinlee lawn]

About a month ago we were at an account, they have a big yellow lab. I told my helper to make sure he shut the gate, well he shut the gate but it did not latch and the dog jumped up on the gate it opened and he took off like a rocket. I was mowing in the front when I saw him, I could not get him to stop. I called the owner on his cell and told him he said he was on his way home but luckily before he got home the dog was back I put it in the fence, called the guy and he thanked me for letting him know what was going on.

[Bull]

Okay, I know this was a bad experience but there are two things that you need to do. First tell her that at 11 years old you probably just saved her hundreds of dollars in future vet bills and second, if you continue to service her lawn make sure any marker she places at the dogs grave is at ground level. One less thing to have to trim around.

[olderthandirt]

Bad luck but your only human Joe. My advise would be to put it behind you and DO NOT CONTACT the woman. If she calls then you need to make restitution of some kind and it will be up to her to decide what the animal was worth to her. This is where it could get troublesome. Thats why I would suggest letting it go and have no further contact with her unless she calls you. If your lucky you will have lost nothing but the 1 time mow and some sleep over the matter. Good Luck!

[MarcSmith]

First tell her that at 11 years old you probably just saved her hundreds of dollars in future vet bills ......make sure any marker she places at the dogs grave is at ground level. One less thing to have to trim around.

:realmad: :realmad: :realmad:

how this conversation might go from Bull

Bull: Well ma'am we left your gate open and your dog got out, by the way it got creamed downthe road. Here's the remains(while handing over a small garbage bag). Look at it this way, even though you lost your companion you have had for the past decade on the bright side, think of the money you are gonna save by not having to buy dog food and have vet bills in the future... payup Besides at 11 he only had a few more good years left...

Lady: :cry:

Bull: By the way, if you put a headstone in the yard can you put at ground level so me and the guys don't have to trim around it or worry about running over it with the lawn mower when we come back next week to cut your grass.... ;)


Joe you are handling this as best as you can, Nothing you can do will ever replace her companion. I might offer my continued services for a very deep discount for the rest of the season as some sort of offering....

good luck and let us know what happens

put down two dogs as a child and I have a dog and two cats now that I'd hate to loose.

[Gravely_Man]

Joe, Very sorry to hear this. Going over to the customers home as soon as you found out was the best thing you could have done. Please let us know what happens.



Gravely_Man

[Richard Martin]

I would send her a real nice (not one of those cheap K-mart things) condolence card and write in the card that if there is anything you can do just call and be sure to include your phone number. She has already said that she will call you if she wants you to cut again. Leave it at that.

People hate to loose their pets. Like has already been said, they become a part of the family. We have a 17 year old cat that is just as nasty as can be. My grandaughter is growing up calling the cat "Mean Kitty" and my wife is even afraid to try to touch the cat. Yet despite this every time my wife and I talk about taking the cat for the final trip to the vet neither one of us can pick up the phone to make the appointment.

Send the card and move on.

[ITL]

Joe

Very sorry to hear of this incident. From your posts and help to myself and others on this site I can tell you are a good person and a first class representative for this profession. This is a mistake that will be much overshadowed by your many good efforts. I will just offer a prayer to ease the womans pain as well as yours and ask that soon light will shine on the situation. Possibly send her a card and or flowers if you think she would not be offended.

Wayne

[Runner]

Thank you, Wayne. That is a very nice post and gesture. I would also like to greatly thank everyone on here for your words of wisdom, support, and all out consideration. It is a wonderful thing to have so many people who are so true and sincere. I want you all to know that it HAS helped, and it is very comforting to know all of you as friends in the sense.