The dog had the surgery,
and now, she wants the money
back for the vet.
Okay. How much was the vet?
>> The vet bill, exactly,
was $3,103.82,
and before the surgery,
they required $2,000 of that
up-front as a deposit, and then
the balance of $1,103.82
was paid upon her discharge
the following day, on the 22nd.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Now, I want you to tell me your
version of how it came about
that Ms. Olson said that she
would pay you back for the vet
bill.
>> So, on Sunday, when we spoke
on the phone, she did say
that she didn't have the money.
I said, "Well, she definitely
needs to be seen."
And I figured that, you know --
>> Judge Judy: Don't tell me
what you figured.
Just tell me what you said, not
figured, just said.
>> I thought that --
>> Judge Judy: Not what you
thought.
Just tell me what you said.
She said,
"I don't have the money."
>> I said,
"We should go to the vet."
And she did agree that she --
>> Judge Judy: What did she say?
>> She got back to me
and told me that she had
contacted her new employer
and that he gave her
the morning off,
and I would meet her
at the first clinic
that was closed,
and then in the parking lot,
I called my vet and got her in
for a 12:30 appointment.
>> Judge Judy: Fine. Great.
I didn't hear anything
about paying you back.
>> So she said via text message
that,
you know, she would pay me back.
>> Judge Judy: Let me see it.
>> This was on the 20th,
at 2:27 p.m.
>> Judge Judy: And you have this
on your phone.
>> I do.
And there's a second one,
actually, of the same day.
>> Judge Judy: Shh.
Well, it's clear that you said
to her, "I promise,
if you help me pay the sum
of it, I will pay you back."
>> That was the initial.
>> Judge Judy: "I will pay you
back, and I get paid every week,
and I can give you some money."
>> That was for the initial
to find out
what was wrong with Missy.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
Did you pay her back the $249?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Why not?
>> Because at that point,
when I was getting ready to,
the harassment that kicked in
for her to ask --
>> Judge Judy: Just a second.
November, December...
>> She wasn't going to get
it after what she had thrown on
me and the way she acted after.
I figured it would be...
I wasn't even going to do that,
at that point.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
>> But when I initially was
going to, my agreement
was the first time, yes.
If she was going to be willing
to go to the vet, yeah,
when I had a chance to pay
over time, I'd pay that.
This $3,000, I was willing
to put my dog down.
I have two daughters
to take care of, so...
>> That's not true.
That is not true.
>> Judge Judy: I don't -- Shh!
I don't want you to tell me
what you were willing to do.
I want you to tell me
what you said to her.
Do you understand?
>> That I would initially pay
back
for the first visit to find
out what was wrong with my dog.
>> Judge Judy: That's not...
That's exactly not what you said
in your text message.
>> Your Honor, I have proof.
>> Judge Judy: That's not
what you said
in your text message.
>> I have proof, right her,
that her family member sent her
a text regarding
putting the dog down
because it was an extreme amount
of money, and right here,
she said, "Trust me.
I have family who thinks that
way, and they don't understand
a dog's love between between a
person and how much a dog person
loves their pet."
Right there.
This was a text message
sent to me on November 22nd,
after Missy was already
at the vet hospital.
>> Judge Judy: Who said to you,
"It's hard,
but what about putting her down?
That's so much money."
Who was that, your mother?
>> A family member.
No, it wasn't my mother.
>> Judge Judy: Who?
>> My sister-in-law.
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
And you answered her,
"I'm making more money
now at my job.
We love her so much."
>> Because I don't really let --
>> Judge Judy: Then you said,
"Trust me.
I have a family member
who thinks this way,
my sister-in-law.
Anyway, they don't understand
a dog's love between a person
and how much
a dog person loves their pet.
Course, they don't
even have a dog.
Anyway, thanks
for all your help.
We both get some sleep."
>> Because at that point, I
didn't want...
Can you give me a minute,
so I can set up the whole...
I mean...
>> Judge Judy: No.
It's not necessary.
It's your dog.
She was very nice to you.
You have to pay her
for the vet bill, $3,300.
Now, she didn't pay you
for the vet bill.
When did you take care
of her dog?
>> I took care of her dog
starting on midday visit
for November 23rd,
which is a Wednesday,
the day before Thanksgiving.
>> Judge Judy: Why?
>> Because Tara had already
made plans to go out of town,
and we discussed it,
and she said,
"Should I cancel it?"
I said, "If it were my dog,
I would cancel it."
And then she said, "Well..."
She spoke about her mother
already booking the hotel
reservations for Thanksgiving.
And I said, "Well, if you go,
we'll sequester the dog
in the bedroom with water,
and I'll come, you know,
to do pet-sitting visits."
>> Judge Judy: Okay.
All right.
Take this back.
Don't stretch -- don't stretch
it, madam.
>> Well, I am professional
pet sitter.
>> She never said anything.
I wouldn't have paid her $120.
>> Judge Judy: Listen to me.
When I need you,
I'll ask you a question.
I'm not considering her pet
sitting.
Do you understand?
>> Of course.
>> Judge Judy: You're going
to pay the vet bill, $3,300.
Judgment for the plaintiff.
>> Thank you, Your Honor.