The original post: /r/amitheasshole by /u/alana_r_dray on 2024-05-03 15:28:05.

My dogs got out. Freak thing, they busted through our front window screen because my old dog has separation anxiety.

Video footage shows they were just wandering the yard and street (not directed at anyone or anything, just smelling plants, etc). Within 15 minutes, good Samaritans found them and went door to door to find their home.

Good Samaritans knocked on the neighbor’s door, they answered, and here’s where the story splits.

Good Samaritans says the neighbor’s dog pushed past its owner, out of the house and attacked my old dog. We have video footage of the good Samaritans immediately after the incident stating the neighbor’s dog attacked my dog and that neighbor’s dog also went after one of the good Samaritans.

Neighbor says the opposite, once he said my dog pushed into his house and dragged their dog out. Once he said their dog came out first and mine just attacked unprovoked. So his story has varied. Neighbor has no front door camera so no footage of the incident exists.

Good Samaritan and neighbor got bit and required medical attention. Both dogs required ER visits. A month later, neighbor’s dog died. To be clear, I feel awful their dog died.

Neighbor feels we should pay 100% of the costs he sustained because he says my dog started it. We feel that because we have witnesses who say the opposite that would be unfair. And we offered to split the difference between our vet bills (we would end up owing them money if they accepted).

So AITA for not wanting to pay their full costs when we have mixed accounts of whether my dog was defending himself?

Other potential relevant facts: my dog has never attacked another dog or human before. He’s almost 12, and is old and slow. I’ve had him almost 9 years. But neighbors say the same about their dog, and that their dog has never had an incident before.

To be clear, I am not asking anything LEGAL. We have consulted attorneys and know the laws.

I want to know if I am being totally unreasonable and whether I am the AH?