Legal row over pet sitter’s diverse menu for fussy dog: See full list of foods she tried to tempt Sooty

A pet sitter who was hauled through court for trying to get a fussy old dog to take its medicine with an ever desperate range of foods was in line with RSPCA advice in some of her choices.

Foods given to Sooty the labrador by a pet sitter outside her owner’s list have become the subject of a court row.

A pet sitter who was hauled through court for trying to get a fussy old dog to take its medicine with an ever desperate range of foods was in line with RSPCA advice in some of her choices.

The VCAT case against casual dog minder Ruth Buckland was dismissed this week, after it was ruled it could not be proven the wide range of foods she used to try and tempt Sooty the Labrador to eat later gave her gastro, as claimed by her owner, Melbourne businessman Robert Angel

Mr Angel, unsuccessfully tried to sue Ms Buckland for $13,444 for deviating from his strict list of foods to give Sooty while he was overseas.

Mr Angel had stipulated microwaved, cut up pork buns — possibly with a smear of ice cream on top — was the preferred method of getting the dog to take her medicine.

But when Sooty turned her nose up at the warm pork buns, an increasingly worried Ms Buckland tried to tempt her with more than 20 other foods, including skinless chicken breast and homemade lasagne, gluten free bread with casserole juices, meatballs and hummus dip.

She also tried yoghurt, peanut butter and cheese, among many other foods.

Ms Buckland tried peanut butter to tempt Sooty, which is in line with RSPCA advice. Pictures: Tim Carrafa

In advice to owners on trying to get fussy dogs to take medicine, expert vet and author Dr Catherine Tiplady says on the RSPCA’s website: “If your dog won’t happily eat medication hidden in their food then you could try hiding the tablet in a more desirable treat, such as a spoon of peanut butter, plain yoghurt or canned dog food. Some owners have also had success using a small piece of processed cheese slice wrapped around a tablet … or you could try another type of treat (like) warm roast chicken.”

The RSPCA guidance goes on to suggest owners firstly offer a treat without any tablet and then when their dog is enjoying that, quickly offer the next treat with the tablet hidden in it. “Then follow up with one more treat,” it advises. “Act happy and excited to be sharing treats and your dog may never know that there was a tablet in their treat.”

However, Dr Tiplady also cautions dogs should never be given chocolate or any food treat containing xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to dogs.

Fatty foods like ham — which was used to try and tempt Sooty — were also best avoided, she said.

Earlier

A Melbourne bag manufacturer is set to appeal a court dismissal of his case against a pet sitter who tried to tempt his dog to eat with more than 20 different foods, when she wouldn’t “gobble up” the microwaved pork buns he recommended, even when smeared with ice cream.

Sooty the labrador — who had a history of stomach upsets and arthritis and was on medication — became ill a few days after her owner Robert Angel returned from an overseas trip.

Sooty had been in the care of retired dog groomer and casual pet sitter, Ruth Buckland.

Mr Angel — who owns Envirabags, a company that has supplied tennis stars like Novak Djokovic — told the Herald Sun on Wednesday he was “extremely dissatisfied” with his “kangaroo court” VCAT hearing and “seriously aggrieved” about the outcome.

He was planning to make a formal complaint at the very least and likely appeal, he said.

In addition to compensation for the huge vet bills Sooty incurred when she developed gastro upon his return, Mr Angel had sought a refund of the money he paid to Ms Buckland for her services and compensation for his loss of earnings while he looked after his sick dog.

In total, he claimed he was owed $13,444 by Ms Buckland.

Robert Angel with his beloved dog, Sooty.

But the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal this week dismissed Mr Angel’s case against the woman he had paid $1150 to look after Sooty in her own home from July 26 to August 17 last year, with VCAT member Dr Philip Bender ruling he was not satisfied the dog’s gastro had been caused by Ms Buckland’s diverse menu.

The tribunal heard last month Ms Buckland attempted to give Sooty medication for her various health conditions as instructed by Mr Angel — in cut up, microwaved pork buns.

Mr Angel had also advised Ms Buckland that a small amount of ice-cream could be spread on the pork buns to try to tempt Sooty.

But getting Sooty to eat the foods with the medications hidden inside became increasingly challenging, and as result Ms Buckland tried everything from chicken and homemade lasagne to gluten free bread with casserole juices, meatballs and hummus dip, to tempt her.

She tried more than 20 different foods in all, some of which Sooty refused to touch.

Sooty — who died of old age two months ago — was taken to the vet by Mr Angel on August 21, when he noticed she was eating grass, had diarrhoea and had vomited.

Mr Angel argued the foods Sooty had been given outside his strict list, caused his dog’s illness.

“There were specific instructions on the meals to be administered (to Sooty) twice a day. Food and medications were provided to Ms Buckland to use. In addition, the notes had instructions for administering medication to Sooty via microwaved pork buns. Specifically, Ms Buckland was to follow a procedure by which she microwaved the bun, cut it up, and hid the medication in the bun,” Dr Bender noted.

“The notes assured Ms Buckland that Sooty would ‘gobble up’ the buns.

“That was an overestimation of Sooty’s fondness for pork buns, and did not turn out to be Ms Buckland’s experience of the ease with which Sooty could be fed medication.

“The notes in the meal plan state ‘no other food’, but do not mention that Sooty has any issues with pancreatitis or previous issues with gastroenteritis.

Mr Angel had left instructions for Sooty to be given her medication in pork buns.

“Ms Buckland’s evidence was that she stuck to the meal plan, in terms of the main meals, over the entire period of Sooty’s stay. I accept that evidence. A problem arose, though, with administering the medications to Sooty via the pork buns. Ms Buckland had various difficulties in getting Sooty to eat the buns. She was worried that she would not be able to get Sooty to take the medication, and so she tried to get Sooty to eat small amounts of other food with the medication hidden inside it. This was only for the purpose of Sooty taking the medication — it did not form her main meal.”

While Mr Angel had asserted Ms Buckland ran a form of commercial dog minding business, this did not appear to be the case, Dr Bender said.

“She used to run a dog grooming business. She is now retired. She has, at various times, minded dogs, usually for friends or others she knows. Sometimes she does this for free, sometimes people give her a gift (such as a pot plant) or buy her dinner for this service, and sometimes someone offers her money to do it. She only made about $2000 from these activities in 2022,” he noted.

The original time frame for care of Sooty had also been extended by five days part way through Mr Angel’s trip, taking the end date from August 12 to August 17.

Mr Angel told the Herald Sun he believed VCAT had made “a grave error” and he believed he could win the case on appeal.

Sooty had since died, aged a bit over 14 years and “of old age essentially”, Mr Angel said.

“We miss her terribly,” he said.

Ms Buckland’s lawyer has been contacted for comment.