See I knew it! He is a moron!
By fasttalker
@fasttalker (2796)
United States
December 6, 2008 9:32am CST
OK so if you've been following this story you can probably skip the next paragraph.If you haven't been here is the condensed version 
I let my dog loose (pictured) the other day and he got shot by a hunter while he was on my property. After I left the house with the injured dog someone left a note on my door leaving his number and saying he had shot the dog accidentally while deer hunting. So now everyone is up to snuff on the story here goes chapter 2 or 3 I forgot where I am in this dilema! LOL
I came home from visiting the dog last night, which he is doing good by the way, and I called the number. His wife answered the phone and I explained to her that this number was left on my door and so on. She was totally confused. She said her husband wasn't home and she would have him call back which he did. My first question was "Why were you hunting on posted "No Hunitng" property" He replied "I don't think I was". THINK??? Anyway to make a long story as short as I can he agreed to pay the vet bill and wanted to know if he could come to the house and talk to my husband? WHAT??? He acted very strange.
He did come to the house and get this!! It wasn't him at all! It was his 16 year old son! And he was hunting on the back of my property (which is posted plainly!)and he wanted to take care of everything so that his son wouldn't be in trouble?
The boy was with him and I asked the kid "Why didn't you come and help me?" He said "I was afraid I would be arrested". The boy went home and told the dad and the dad come back and left the note after I was gone!
He went this morning and paid the vet bill and offered to pay my hospital bill which I didn't take because I have insurance and I told him if there was anything the insurance didn't cover I would let him know. When me and my husband came back from the pet hospital there was a check in the door for $1,000.00 for all the trouble and a 50 pound bag of dog food with an apology note written by the boy.
Now I know I can't judge everyone's parenting skills but I just have to wonder if the kid has learned anything from this. Is it good for dad to bail him out. What will he shoot next? I'm satisfied with what he did but now guess who is saying "This needs to be reported to teach that kid a lesson" yep you guessed it...the one that told me to calm down! My husband! I told him if he was going to report it then we should have never made contact so now he can calm down! LOL
GEESH what a mess. My dog is doing much much better today and will probably come home this evening. So give me your opinions. It wouldn't be right to report it now after dad has made it right would it? Do we just accept the money and hope the kid learned something? What do you think?
I let my dog loose (pictured) the other day and he got shot by a hunter while he was on my property. After I left the house with the injured dog someone left a note on my door leaving his number and saying he had shot the dog accidentally while deer hunting. So now everyone is up to snuff on the story here goes chapter 2 or 3 I forgot where I am in this dilema! LOL
I came home from visiting the dog last night, which he is doing good by the way, and I called the number. His wife answered the phone and I explained to her that this number was left on my door and so on. She was totally confused. She said her husband wasn't home and she would have him call back which he did. My first question was "Why were you hunting on posted "No Hunitng" property" He replied "I don't think I was". THINK??? Anyway to make a long story as short as I can he agreed to pay the vet bill and wanted to know if he could come to the house and talk to my husband? WHAT??? He acted very strange.
He did come to the house and get this!! It wasn't him at all! It was his 16 year old son! And he was hunting on the back of my property (which is posted plainly!)and he wanted to take care of everything so that his son wouldn't be in trouble?
The boy was with him and I asked the kid "Why didn't you come and help me?" He said "I was afraid I would be arrested". The boy went home and told the dad and the dad come back and left the note after I was gone!
He went this morning and paid the vet bill and offered to pay my hospital bill which I didn't take because I have insurance and I told him if there was anything the insurance didn't cover I would let him know. When me and my husband came back from the pet hospital there was a check in the door for $1,000.00 for all the trouble and a 50 pound bag of dog food with an apology note written by the boy.
Now I know I can't judge everyone's parenting skills but I just have to wonder if the kid has learned anything from this. Is it good for dad to bail him out. What will he shoot next? I'm satisfied with what he did but now guess who is saying "This needs to be reported to teach that kid a lesson" yep you guessed it...the one that told me to calm down! My husband! I told him if he was going to report it then we should have never made contact so now he can calm down! LOL
GEESH what a mess. My dog is doing much much better today and will probably come home this evening. So give me your opinions. It wouldn't be right to report it now after dad has made it right would it? Do we just accept the money and hope the kid learned something? What do you think?16 people like this
33 responses
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
6 Dec 08
After reading all of the above, I'm rethinking my earlier stance for reorting to the police. I agree with part of what the father did. Coming to the house, with son in tow and paying for the vet bills (as well as offering to pay your medical expenses) was the correct thing to do. I don't agree with the $1,000 though. It puts the father totally in the position of paying for and covering up what the son did. Even if the son has a job & the money is from his own savings, I still don't agree with it. It teaches the son the OJ method of justice. If you have enough money, you can get away with anything. Now, here is what I'd suggest. You have a sizeable piece of property, and I'm sure you must have a pile of chores...especially with winter coming. How about trading the $1000 back and have the son do 40 (or more) hours worth of work for you? A private form of community service?
5 people like this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
7 Dec 08
Yes that bothers me as well. The belief that money will protect you from the law. You do not want children growing up thinking that the law does not apply to them because they can just pay people to keep quiet and escape justice.
It is a bad precedence to set.
5 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
6 Dec 08
I gaurantee I could keep him busy for a long while! LOL Thanks for responding
4 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
7 Dec 08
Very well said. Thanks for responding
3 people like this
@onlydia (2808)
• United States
6 Dec 08
$1000.00 paid all of the vet bill? That is cheap. Well, you could alway's have the boy come and help around the place with the dogs and let him see how hurt you were. But no I wouldn't report him. That would be like putting your dog in a animal shelter or ten day's for biting you.The father did what was right. He took the blaime for it as he should of been with his son. I think the young man feels bad and was really scared. Don't ruin his hunting for however long they do that. He is after all a kid. I know sometimes you just want to choke them well, joke is on us we can't. But we can help them learn even if they are not our kids. Maybe you will make new friends out of this. Or not. Your friend onlydia. Hug the dog for me and kiss his head. And yes let the kid work off your Dr. bill. working with the dogs or something like taking down Santa after Christmas.
5 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
6 Dec 08
No he paid the vet bill which totaled out to about $2,500.00 and then left the $1,000.00 check for the trouble. I'm not going to reprot him but I find it amusing that my husband being all about telling me to settle down at first is now in the hot seat, He is a hunter and a very cautious one at that and that is why he is stirred up now. Funny how things come back around to you huh? Thanks for responding!
4 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
6 Dec 08
Well you may be right on it because hubby says he is definately going to make sure it is reported now. I understand the fact that the kid got scared but like you said what if he had shot a person particualrly me? Would he have got scared and offered no help and let them die. I was there to get the dog but if I had been out there I doubt I would have barked so loudly and it is very likely that no one would have been home to help anyway. I bet dad wouldn't have left a note then huh?
Thanks for responding. As it stands now my husband is taking off from work Monday and going to see what can be done about getting it reported. He doesn't want the kid to go to jail or anything but he is determined that this could be saving the kid and maybe someone elses life.
4 people like this
@aprilsue00 (1991)
• United States
7 Dec 08
I think that what the man did was very kind. He didn't have to take responsibility at all. ou would have never nown who shot your dog. It sounds like the son is remorseful. Accidnets happen and sometimes it is just easier to forgive. Your dog is doing fine I assume. You have been compinsated for all the trouble. I do agree that the son should have taken more responsibility. But he is still a minor and I am sure he has learned from this awful mistake.
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
7 Dec 08
Well I wouldn't say the dog is fine but he is doing good considering all. We brought him home this evening and we have to keep him inside until th staples are removed to try to dter any infection. He is still not back on his feet but a few minutes here and there but hopefully he will continue to imporve. Thanks for responding
4 people like this
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
6 Dec 08
I am so glad your dog is doing better, he/she is such a beautiful dog. My heart fell when I read the second line of your discussion saying your dog got shot.
I think the kid has learned his lesson, and it was good that the father stepped up to the plate and took care of all the medical bills. It may be a little late to report it now, since the dog is doing well, and the father has taken care of everything. Did the vet ask how the dog got shot?
I am just so glad your dog is okay.
5 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
6 Dec 08
Yes when I first took him he did and at that time I had no idea although I suspected a hunter. The vet raked the dad over the coals pretty good today when he went to pay the bill. I have him home this evening and he is doing better.
4 people like this
@ganderlot (351)
• United States
6 Dec 08
I agree with you in regards to the kid learning a lesson, but I am POSITIVE the kid was chewed out by his father. I think the father showed a good example and made good. If you now report the kid, the kid might now think he never should have said anything to his father in the first place and that's not a good lesson. Regards
@sndgr3 (3)
• United States
7 Dec 08
I think this kid should be reported. First off he was on posted land and as you said he could have shot a person.Then what would he have done. RUN TO DADDY?Have daddy take care of it then and that really would be teaching the kid resonability. I love my kids with all my heart but when they get that age they need to start accepting the responsonability for their actions and not fall back on mom and dad. We won't always be there for them as much as we would like to be.
5 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
7 Dec 08
True. They need to learn responsibility and it's not like the kid will go to the slammer for life or anythng as a matter of fact I doubt that he would even go to jail. He would be fined and restricted from hunting until he was 18 years old.
Thanks for responding
4 people like this
@getnbuy (1312)
• United States
7 Dec 08
I guess you are stuck with it the way it is, now. It does sort of seem like bribery, though. I think you should have just called the police in the first place.
That Dad may have some tough times with that boy. I learned the hard way that bailing kids out of every situation just makes them expect it all the time. Even when they are grown up!! One of my adult children is always coming to us to bail him out-mostly with money. We are still trying to teach him to be responsible for himself, but it is a lot harder if you don't start when they are kids. I think this Dad will be sorry someday. If you talk to him again, you can tell him that!
2 people like this
@getnbuy (1312)
• United States
7 Dec 08
IF the boy payed for the dog food out of his own money, that might teach him something. Fasttalker did not say that. IF the boy has to pay his father back for the $1000 that would be a big factor in his learning his lesson.We don't know that for sure, either. The boy did the right thing in telling his father, though. Hopefully, the father treated the situation right so that the son realized that he has to be responsible for his mistakes. If he did not , then the boy will look to his parents forever to bail him out. (Believe me, I know. I have one that is 28 years old and thinks we can fund him every time he runs out of money)
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
7 Dec 08
Getnbuy, calling the police would only have taught the boy that the law is impersonal and to be feared and avoided. The significant thing is that he didn't just run (which would have made him a criminal), he told his dad and the dad didn't just bail him out. He made him accept responsibility, write a note of apology and send a bag of dog food (which I suspect was from the boy's own money). That kid will learn much more from his mistake and the way that it was handled than he ever would have from appearing in court.
2 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
7 Dec 08
If the kid did not tell his dad what he'd done, then the police would more than likely have never found the culprit! The kid had enough thought to tell his dad and ask for help in a fair way of handling this. poor kid was scared. let's give him credit for trying to do the right thing.
2 people like this
@StrawberryKisses (2833)
• Canada
7 Dec 08
I would not report it if they paid the vet bills and gave me $1000 blus dog food wow that is alot and for all you and your husband know that could be all the kids doing. You have no way of knowing if that boy has a fat bank account he may have a job and is responsible with his money. You will never know who it actually came from but it shouldn't matter where it came from all that matters is they did something about the situation it could have been worse. You could have had to report it and pay all the bills yourself. I would tell your hubby to be thankful for what you did get and let it go. If he was scared to help you because he thought he would be arrested then he KNOWS what he did was wrong and I am betting he will think twice before doing that again.
4 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
7 Dec 08
I agree with the fact that the boy knew it was wrong. Otherwise he wouldn't have eventold anyon and just not say anything. I think hubby is settling down a bit now. Thanks for the response!
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
7 Dec 08
Well, I'm not sure if I understand one thing - I barely skimmed the first discussion a while back.
Did you husband NOT want to report it when it was the father, but now wants to report it when it's the son? I think you should do the same thing you planned on doing anyways, regardless of who it is.
I mean, maybe this is what happened... The son was scared, it seems, and went home to tell his parents - that shows he's honest. His parents made him admit to you that he did it - that shows accepting responsibility. The parents may also be making the son pay the damages - they wrote the check but will make him work the money off doing chores or something. So he's really paying for it - restitution.
I think reporting it now may only show the kid that even if you do the right thing after you've done the wrong thing that you get bit in the behind anyways. If he's truely remorseful then there's not much reason to report it just to give him a court record.
Now, if he's done this kind of thing before then yeah, I'd report it. Or if you hear of it happening again, let the parents know that you aren't going to sit back and watch it happen. But, I feel the parents are trying to keep him in line and can handle it. Otherwise they would have never left the note in the first place.
I do hope your dog is healthy and home soon!!!
3 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
7 Dec 08
Mine would (has before) too! Things like broken windows from playing ball close to the house and that kind of stuff. But it shows them to be responsible for their actions.
3 people like this
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
7 Dec 08
reiny, I do agree with you. They ultamately did the right thing. Admonishing the boy now after finally doing the right thing may backfire and if and when he does something wrong agai...he may not say anything for fear of getting into way too much trouble.
I know if I forked out any money, or not...my child would pay for what he did.
4 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
7 Dec 08
You're right about my husband. He kind of flipped his decsion there. We had a long talk with the dad last night and the final decision is: We returned the check for $1,000.00 and the bot is going to work it off. Thanks for the response.
3 people like this
@grandpa_lash (5225)
• Australia
7 Dec 08
Well if my kid had just cost me $1000 plus for a stupid mistake I wouldn't be letting him forget it soon, so perhaps he will learn. To be honest, if the kid went home and told his dad straight away, instead of having to have it dragged out of him, perhaps there is some hope for him. He's made a stupid mistake and owned up to it, which is a little unusual in kids today - or perhaps even kids in my day. I'd accept the money without a second's hesitation, unles of course you have had serious problems with this kid before?
Lash
4 people like this
@PrincessKitten (790)
• United States
7 Dec 08
It's good to hear that your dog is doing so well!
The father did a wonderful thing by making his sone watch him take responsibility for this and handle it. The $1,000 is a bit much though and I agree with another poster who suggested trading the check for the boy's chores. That will teach him a better lesson.
Can you just immagien that conversation though? "Dad, I shot a dog." "You did WHAT?!? Where? Is it okay? Show me." I'm not even going to GUESS at how bad he tore into that kid...but see? What did I tell you. Young, inexperienced hunter. I hope his dad taught him what a deer looks like.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
Happy MyLotting! 
3 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
7 Dec 08
I'm glad your dog is home. That does sound a very good idea about paying the $1000 back in a roundabout way by hiring the boy to do stuff for you. That way, you surely will have a friend and can be sure that he will grow up as a steady guy - and some use out of it, into the bargain!
2 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
7 Dec 08
The dog is home now residing in my utility room. This is whole new territory for all of us. Believe me he is not a house dog! 
Yeah I've thought about that conversation. I bet the kid has a poster of a deer and a dog in his room now with big labels on it! 
Now that my dog is on the mend I can laugh about it. I almost blew a gasket over this one! I told my husband I am getting too old for so much drama!
Thanks for responding!
Yeah I've thought about that conversation. I bet the kid has a poster of a deer and a dog in his room now with big labels on it! Now that my dog is on the mend I can laugh about it. I almost blew a gasket over this one! I told my husband I am getting too old for so much drama!
Thanks for responding!2 people like this
@kkthom3 (279)
• United States
6 Dec 08
I think that since the dad was so cooperative and apologetic it would be wrong to press charges against them. Besides I think that the kid is young and any formal charges you press would be on his permanent recoed forever and that could be a bit harsh considering that he sort of took responsibility for his actions.
Although since the father seems to have a pretty good grasp of right and wrong, I can't imagine that he would let the kid off with nothing. I'm sure the kid probably didn't have enough money to pay for the vet bill but that doesn't mean that his father won't still punish him in other ways. I think if I were the dad and the kid was mine I would ban him from hunting anymore, ground him for at least a week, and make him pay me back for the money I paid on the vet bill.
Even though it doesn't seem like the kid was apologetic or taking responsibility I can't imagine him ever forgetting this incident and I feel confident that he must have learned something from it.
4 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
6 Dec 08
If I was his dad I would be concerned about his safety if he is not following the rules any better than that. But I realize he is a kid and doesn't think like an adult. But like I said at least he did tell someone about it. I'm satisfied and I am not pressing charges. Thanks for responding
3 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
6 Dec 08
Hey mentalward! Did my husband pay you to say this stuff??? LOL Thanks
1 person likes this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
6 Dec 08
Well after me and my husband discuss it over the weekend I'm sure we'll come up with something! Thanks for responding!
3 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
7 Dec 08
This sounds like 'good parenting' to me. My guess is that the kid learnt a valuable lesson. His dad sounds like a responsible and honest guy who was probably very embarrassed (and angry) with his son's behaviour, which is maybe why he acted somewhat strange.
It would be good, perhaps, if you contact them and have the son over to see the dog when he comes back from the vet. If nothing else, it would help reinforce and build a responsible attitude and, you never know, your tacit forgiveness might make you a friend for life!
Let's look at it analytically from the boy's point of view:
Mistake 1: He was out 'hunting' where he had no business to be
Mistake 2: When he realised what he had done he got scared and ran away.
Right action 1: He confessed to his dad
Right action 2: Someone (maybe the boy, maybe the dad) left a note on the door to call
Right action 3: The boy wrote a note of apology and left a bag of dog food, undoubtedly paid for out of his own money. We don't need to bother whether he was told to do this. He's more or less a kid and is learning.
I think it would be a positive (and very significant) action on your part to follow through with accepting the kid's apology (and the dad's money) gracefully in the spirit in which it was given. It sounds to me as if it was a highly embarrassing incident for everyone concerned and that it took not a little courage to own up and offer to pay the bills without question. I don't know how your insurance works but here, if you make a claim, you are liable to lose a 'no claims bonus' (which is usually a percentage reduction in cost year on year).
More important, though, is the lesson that expecting the law to deal with things like this is not always the right way to go. If the kid had been arrested it would have achieved very little. He would have gone to court and have been branded a 'criminal' for what was undoubtedly an irresponsible accident. It depends, of course, on how much blood gets into your eyes but if he were your son, would you have wanted that? I, personally, think he will have learnt much more about being responsible for his own actions this way than he ever would have done through the process of justice.
Please accept the 'strange' behaviour as someone struggling to do the right thing, even though it is embarrassing to them and offer a hand of friendship and forgiveness so that they can feel less embarrassed.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
7 Dec 08
I am very glad to hear your dos is doing better. IMO the parent of the "shooter" has behaved very responsibly. It is very refreshing to hear that the parent accepted responsibility for their minor son's actions. Normally one would have to sue to get costs back. The additional money and food was a very nice gesture. I would just be happy that my dog was recovering. Why report him when the parents have obviously done their best.
2 people like this
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
7 Dec 08
I'm not surprised it was some idiotic teenager! It was probably a teenager that shot my cat.
Does it seem like the father is going to punish him properly? If so I'd call it handled. Believe me if I caught my kids doing something like this I'd be far worse on them than the courts.
2 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
7 Dec 08
Yes we returned the $1,000.00 and asked dad to let him work the debt off and he agreed. I have plenty for him to do for a month or so after school and Saturdays. Thanks for responding
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
7 Dec 08
I am glad that your dog is doing better. I am also glad that your neighbor paid the vet bill and gave you the money. I would keep the money and I don't think I would report this. The reason I would not report it is that he has already made an arrangement with you, paying the vet bill and then giving you $1000 and the dog food.
I think if you reported it now the police would ask why you waited so long before doing so and why you are reporting now after the man has made financial retribution for his son's actions.
I would try to put it all behind you, but if it ever happens again then the first thing I would do is call 911 and then let it all play out.
Have a nice day and happy myLotting!!!
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
8 Dec 08
Thanks for responding. The boy is going to come over after school and on Saturdays and help out around here rather than us accepting the $1,000.00. I think everything will work out for the best that way! Although the dog says no I'm not returning the food! LOL
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
7 Dec 08
I am glad that your dog is doing better. I think it's a little too late to report it, it would be like going back on your word. The best thing for you to do is hope that the song learned his lesson, I would think the father would chew his son out for what he did!
2 people like this
@fran429 (502)
• United States
7 Dec 08
I agree, the kid needs to learn his lesson. But how do you know that the the father isn't making the son work off the $1000? Criminal records are tough for kids! A normally uppity-up kid makes 1 mistake and his world goes crashing down around him. Maybe that is who this kid is. You should have thought about that during the confrontation and asked the father what he was doing to the son to make sure the son learned his lesson and if it was nothing, you could have said that you wanted the son to come over a certain amount of times a week to do some sort of work for you to help (something with the dog or something) to pay off the $1000 that the FATHER paid or to show remorse.
I read chapter 1 of your story, I never read the part about the letter, just the initial shot. Glad to hear he is doing well! I don't know for sure, but I can only hope that the father punished the son for his actions and you just need to trust that too!
2 people like this
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
7 Dec 08
We talked to dad again last night and the boy is going to work it off here. Hubby is all settled down and I think everything is going to work out fine now. Thanks for th response!
2 people like this
