My Cousins Dog Chewed up My Shoes, What Should I Do?

Hi all,

Long story short, went to my family's house to visit them and at the front door my cousin told me to bring my shoes inside but I just put my shoes on the shoe rack with the other 20 pairs already there. Other relatives leave early and he noticed that his dog had chewed my shoes and put them higher after they were torn and carried on inside and didn't tell me about it. When I was leaving I noticed that my shoes were extremely wet and were curious why as it was dark. I look at my shoes under the light and they have been chewed and torn. They aren't expensive shoes but not cheap either (Converses).

Now I am in the dilemma of what to do? He didn't say anything to me but I am upset as I only purchased my shoes about two months ago and I am the type of person that likes to take care of their belongings. I don't know what to do as he did tell me to bring my shoes inside but since there were another 20 pairs already there I thought heck why am I the only one that has to bring my shoes inside.

Should I just cop it and disregard it as it will create an awkward tension between me and him or let him know that I am upset about it?

closed Comments

  • +5

    Tie the shoe together by the laces and throw them over the power lines in front of your cousins house

    • You'll make lots of new friends as everyone comes to pick up their next hit.

  • Either a new pair of shoes or a new relo……which is more important?

  • My Cousin's Dog Chewed Up my homework. What should I do?

  • +1

    Think how lucky you were not wearing them, when the dog chewed them up.

  • +1

    Why did he ask you to bring your shoes inside and not leave them in the rack outside?

    • +5

      Because the rack is where they store the dog's treats.

  • +5

    Its all part of life, kids and pets wreck your sh*t.

  • uggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • +6

    Lol @ troll threads… but I’ll bite…

    my cousin told me to bring my shoes inside but I just put my shoes on the shoe rack

    Your fault. They told you to bring them inside and you didn’t. Get over it, it’s a pair of shoes that you were told not to leave outside. Is the dogs name “Karma” by any chance?

    Thought about starting a “go fund me” page?

    let him know that I’m upset about it

    You have no right to be upset with anyone, especially the person that told you to bring your shoes inside.

  • Make your friend an enemy. How dare he not tell you and let the dog destroy your shoe. It is absolute betrayal and deserves not a shred of your friendship!

    • +1

      Frenemies.

    • +1

      OP should demand to be able to put the dog down himself.

      • +1

        Sell to Korean BBQ to recoup costs?

  • -1

    bikies

  • +1

    I'm sorry to tell you this but there's only one thing you can do. It might not be pleasant but it's the right thing to do.

    You need to put it down ASAP. Let it go to that "farm" upstate, at least that's what you'll tell the kids.

    I know that may sound cruel but it's the humane thing to do.

    As for the doggo, ask your cousin to train it not to chew your shoes.

  • I once went to help a relative with a garage sale.. took my converse off at the door to use the bathroom.. when i returned, they'd been sold… I took my $5 and bought a new pair.. just go buy a new pair and move on, not worth all the awkwardness at future visits.

    • I took my $5 and bought a new pair..

      Did you keep the change?

    • +1

      But the story remains forever and it is well worth a pair of shoes :).

  • @ILikeThis124: "the type of person that likes to take care of their belongings" It's a pain when u lose a new pair of shows but take a chill pill. You will need to stay at home and watch the methodone metronome (or continue to do so) to retain an attitude like that, life is about a whole lot more than the value of material things.

  • +5

    The only viable solution is to ask the doggo to pay for the shoes.

  • +1

    how the fudge did people become so narrow minded?

  • +4

    OP is a scrub. Such a ridiculous thing to post. There are more pressing issues (like where the hell are eneloops?) in the world. If you really took care of your things, you would have taken them inside as per the suggestion from your cousin.

    • +2

      Pressing issues?? FML. I have to choose between washing my car or having smashed avo on toast.

  • Just share you feelings/thoughts, call them out - ask why they didn't tell you. Put the ball in their court. Don't demand they pay you back, but if they offer, accept, if they don't, move on.

    If the damage was bad, I'd personally expect my relative to pay for new shoes, if it was reasonably small and the shoes are still wearable, I wouldn't care.

  • I came here to check whether this was my brother, mixing up the story a bit. My dog destroyed his fairly new RM Williams. I hadn't told him to bring them inside. But he knew I had a dog.
    He would have been furious, but didn't say much. Knew better than to ask me to replace them.

    I think if you wear nice shoes, take precautions before leaving them lying around. I wear cheap shoes and if it happens to me I'll shrug it off.

  • -2

    Take the shoes to myers or wherever you buy shoes and simply swap your used shoes for a new pair and walk out.

    But seriously why are you wearing American shoes, you should be wearing Italian, live it up you wont regret paying a bit more for real quality and a real good shoe.

    • -1

      Italian shoes? Try african shoes bro

      • availability of african shoes is a problem for a simple aussie like me.

        • dam. the gods must be crazy.

  • -7

    It seems there is not a real lot of sympathy for you here, OP. Well, I feel your pain.

    But I would like to address one point: your cousin is one of those people who makes visitors take their shoes off when coming to their house.

    Does he live in a Buddhist temple? Or a ninja castle, with 400 year-old floorboards?

    Is the furniture, despite being 20 years-old, covered in plastic sheeting?

    Does your host quickly push a drink coaster under your glass as you place it on the priceless Florentine coffee table?

    Are there antiseptic hand lotion devices spread all around the house? And instructions on their use?

    • +1

      Taking shoes off when in a house is a thing in Asian households.

    • +2

      Your shoes have been stepped on shit, my house is carpet so please take them off. I work in nursing home, faecal matter is everyday occurrence so I insist taking my shoes off when coming home. My wife wanted to hug me immediately when I came home from work but the same story, need a change and shower first. Sorry to burst your bubble, there're millions of reasons for people do things including OP starting this questionable thread.

    • +3

      shoes in the house, with carpet

      u cray.

  • +2

    He told you to bring it inside for a reason! you didn't listen, lucky the dog didn't die from it.. imagine how that will go down if it did..

    • Sometime I think the owner ask the visitor to bring shoe inside because he think the visitor shoe was clean.

  • +3

    wait you spend $120 for a pair of Converse? WTH are you doing at ozbargain??

    • +1

      no offence to the OP, but there are a number of alarm bells here and that was one of them. The other was leaving the shoes outside when told to bring them in. The other 20 pairs may have been the dogs previous "trophies".

  • I suggest sneaking into your cousin's room and placing a horse head in his bed while he's asleep.

  • +1

    Is it…

    "Dear diary: I literally have no problems in my life."

    or…

    "Dear diary: I am a troll. The wet blanket version."

  • Getting kinda tired of these sorts of posts. Go back to WP forums.

  • Just keep wearing them

  • Get the dog to confess and get him transferred to a supermax.

  • Its not your cousins fault for sure as he knows that his dog love to chew shoes thats why he asked you to take it in.

    You cant blame the dog too as its a DOG.

    I really missed my dogs.

  • Threads like this, I tend only to read comments with high '+' or '-' votes. Is this just me?

    • +1

      didn't read this comment as not high '+' or '-' in votes, so its not just you.

  • +1

    Long story short……Can we have the long version?

  • Who the hell has a shoe rack with 20 pairs on it outside the front door? Do you live in the third world, like Adelaide.

    • I know someone who left the boots he used for mowing outside the front door- he was bitten by a redback spider.

      Plus, mud wasps love building their larvae nests in shoes.

    • in 2019…

      • fingers crossed

      • in may 2018

      • +1

        Make it more dramatical, "comming soon to ozbargain …. "

      • … Ozbargainers decide to buy the OP some new converses to be provided at ozbargain meet held at enclosed dog park
        … all Converse shoe loving dogs are invited to the meet including the OP's cousin's dog.
        … OP puts on his shoes
        … Ramsay Bolton appears and whistles

    • For these personal matter, I would just deal with myself. It is a simple as buying the shoe yourself and not make a fuss with cousin or tell your cousin to pay. Really don't see the point to write a thread and need people to give you a reason to ask your cousin for refund. Thread like this only invites people to make hilarious comments and make it more stressful for yourself when you read these comments even though you were actually a victim of the above event.

    • That really puts it into perspective. He can afford two cars in one year and is stressing over whether to possibly ruin a relationship over a used pair of $100 shoes.

  • +1

    Sorry, if you're just a kid then get some advice from your parents and you really shouldn't be using the internet anyway. If you're an adult, or even a teenager, you should really start thinking for yourself if you want to get on in life.

  • +1

    Ask for a duel with the dog

    • speed read that as asking your dog for fuel

      i personally only fill up with 98, hopefully doggo has it.

    • Ask for a Trial by Combat in the sight of gods and men!

  • +1

    If you were the kind to look after his things you'd have taken them inside as he requested…

    You said no and left them out. Cop the responsibility and buy new shoes…

  • So many people saying the OP is willing burn bridges over "just $120" and seemingly completely dismissing the fact the cousin didn't even have the courtesy to tell him what happened. I think you should be questioning the value of what he thinks of the family relationship just as much as the OP.

    • he noticed that his dog had chewed my shoes and put them higher…
      didn't tell me about it.

      How does OP know that cousin noticed the shoes?

  • +1

    I'm impressed you're able to function day to day if you get so worked up over an issue like this.

  • +6

    This kind of remind me of that person that didn't want to share his gift voucher saving with his sister. That was a good laugh

  • +1

    Just leave it be. Sounds likei it s entirely your fault/mistake, since you made the choice to leave shoes there, instead or listening to the advice given.
    It seems you are annoyed an feel wronged because somebody did not tell you. But you dont know actually who ut was that put your shoes up higher, so dont assume it was someone, when it could have been any of the 20 people there, plus whomever out the shoes up higher was just trying to help. They might have seen them off rack and put them up, not noticing the damage (how would they know exactly how your shoes were previously) .
    Just let it go, move on, and use it as a life lesson and learning experience.
    You were stubborn and did not do as suggested, because other people did something (had their shoes) . Maybe the dog only chews certain colours or types of shoes . That could explain why you were told to bring your particular shoes inside.

  • You’re getting worked up over a pair of Converse?

    When I saw the post title, I was thinking for sure it’d be a pair of Yeezys or retro Jordans.

    If you’re prepared to jeopardize a family relationship over $120, you need to question your priorities in life.

    I don’t think what he did was right but blood is thicker than Converses.

  • Under the definition of first world problems they should have a link to this post.

  • I thought they must be some crazy ass expensive shoes after reading the title. But really? Converse?

  • +3

    Should have worn Hush Puppies®

  • +2

    Next Ozbargain thread: "I've fallen and I can't get up. I don't know what to do."

  • +2

    You should chew the dogs collar

    • lol

    • Another thing, I must say I visit this thread to find out what sort of hilarious comment people make. Great to see some really creative comment. I really like the one above which I upvoted. Great to see people no longer say "bikies" as it is losing its appeal and utter pointless as I don't think anyone in this site actually have ever or even know how to contact them.

  • +2

    I've just wasted 2 minutes of my life reading this crap. I did get about 30s of laughter though so that probably counts as about +5 minutes of life expectancy and am still doing so as I type this so it's free entertainment on a rainy evening….

  • Get them to buy you a new pair if you're so butthurt over some easily-replaced slightly damaged footwear?
    Talk about first world problems to the extreme. Sometimes I srsly dont know if the people asking these questions on these forums are secretly trolling or just plain moronic? At least the Westpac dude and the AMG guy unintentionally created some entertaining threads. But this: "WHY THO?" - Ryan Reynolds.

  • +1

    They probably look better torn anyway. It's the worn in look.

  • Your cousin has been feeding his dog a strict diet of Converses… waiting for you to come round with your new kicks. He's taunting you OP, shank him.

  • The lesson is to never socialise. Under no circumstances should you interact with another human being unless it is done via a moderated comments section on a forum on the internet. Thank me later. Your shoes will always remain perfect.

  • +1

    Actually, I missed the part your cousin asked you to bring the shoe in but you refused. So the responsibility should be on you and not on him. So you should just cop it and buy a new pair of shoes, and of course you should bring it inside the room next time. By the way, if your cousin offered you to bring your shoe in, he is actually being nice as usually owner prefer shoes outside the house.

  • If they dont look good chewed throw them out and get a new pair

  • Your cousin put the shoe higher up to prevent the dog to chew it further. As to why he didn't tell you about it. I think it is clear you didn't follow your cousin's advice to bring the shoes in. So he don't want to argue with you about it. So didn't mention to you. And you realising you should have listened to your cousin in the first place, didn't tell your cousin that your shoes got bitten by the dog when you first saw your shoes got chewed as you know it is partly your fault. But when you went home, you only muster up the courage to post in ozbargain, hoping people will give you good reason to get your cousin to pay for it. Anyway. Will be interesting to know what the final outcome of this event and whether you actually bought another pair yourself or got your cousin to pay for it.

  • +1

    Is this what the internet has come to

  • So you mean that he told you not to leave your shoes out, because his dog will chew them, but you left them out anyway and now want him to compensate you for his dog eating your shoes. Im speechless.

  • Options:
    1. Chew something from the dog. Two wrongs make a right.
    2. I'm sure if you ask the dog, he didn't target YOUR shoes, nor did he decide that chewing shoes was the most important thing he did that day. He probably took a satisfying dump that morning that was much more enjoyable and stress relieving.
    2. Search the many online retailers for better shoes at a better price than Converse
    3. Life, on, your, with, get. Re-arrange words as necessary.

  • It is the year of the Dog, give it a new pair of converses in tribute

  • Do some people on here simply not know how to exist?

    How do you get up in the morning and function as members of society?

    • I blame them 'you can be anything you want' movement.

      Drilling it into their heads they can be anything they want as a kid and when they grow up to find out that it's not true. It results in posts like these in ozb.

      What should be taught is that you can be a lot of things just not necessarily be everything. You can be good at something but not necessarily be the best at it. And that's ok. Simply put. It's ok to fail while you find out what you can be.

  • Post a link to the deal that you used to buy the shoes. If you haven't a link or haven't a + on the deal your username mustbe changed to 'disabled user 12345'

  • I like this

  • Will clipping him unring that bell?

  • -1

    Take your cousin and his dog to a chinese restaurant and hand the dog over to the chef and say you would like a number 56 with the skin extra crispy.

    Revenge is best served in a hot soup….

  • +1

    So much of discussion for a chewed shoe? :D

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