Dog attack

Location: Denver, CO

Long post sorry.

For context on the 4th of July I was out walking a my cat. I was heading back to stairs leading up to my apt. I have older downstairs neighbor who watches peoples dogs. She was at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to my apt & hers. That day she had her dog + 3 others (4 total) at the bottom of the stairs. I was a few feet from her when 1 of the dogs was large, unknown breed, & black. The dog in question immediately lunged after my cat & yes I did try to pick up my cat. The dog was simply too fast for me. A chase ensued where I chased after my cat & the large black dog in question. I was finally able to catch my cat after he had jumped up on the 2nd floor railing at the apts across from me. I immediately put my arms around my cat while he was on the railing to protect my cat from the dog. My neighbor didn’t do anything to apprehend the dog or get it away from me and my cat. All she did was yell “bad dog” at the animal. I immediately took my cat upstairs. She came upstairs wanted to see & hold my cat why I don’t know. I let her know no ma’am you can not see or hold my cat. I got her name & ph # & let her know that I would reach out to her & let her know how much the bill was. I called the cops, my spouse, & the apt office for where I live. The cops did come out & deemed it a civil matter. When I called my apartment office I left a message & have not heard from them.

I took my cat to the only cat hospital I could find open on the 4th of July. They put him on oxygen, they soaked all his feet as he lost most of his nails. The did blood work on him to make sure there was no internal bleeding. They also held him for observation to make sure nothing else developed at that time. The prescribed him an NSAID for inflammation & a opiate for pain. He also has 2 marks on his right hip from the dog.

In my opinion she is 100% responsible for the entire vet bill which is $1,410.53 as she was watching someone else’s dog. She refuses to give me the dog owners information so I can talk to them & let them know from me, the pet owner what happened & that they need to get their dog properly trained. I know nothing about this dog at all. I have given her the invoice for the vet. She wants to dispute the vet bill with us. My husband & I have let her know that there is nothing to dispute as the unknown animal was in her care.

My question is, sorry for the long post, Do I have a case to take her to court for the cost of the vet bill as well as potential lawyer fees, & court costs & emotional damage? I only have 1 witness to the whole altercation between my cat & the aggressive dog she’s been watching it was one of the downstairs neighbors in my building. As of today the dog is still in her care.