In reply to Jeremy.

So it's our dog too, Jeremy, is it? But only so long as we feed it only in the way you tell us to?

Doesn't work, does it?

Some years ago, my wife's parked car was badly damaged by a truck driver. While we got the car repaired, I wrote to the trucking company, explaining what had happened and asking politely that they pay the bill, for which I supplied the garage's estimate. After some delay, they wrote back and declined.

So then I wrote them a much more confrontational letter, detailing the full cost that we had, by then, paid. They replied almost immediately, complaining about my unpleasant tone ... and enclosing a check for the full amount.

When politeness has been tried and doesn't work, sometimes confrontation is necessary. Those complaining about the confrontational tone are then hardly in a position to complain (though it's sometimes amusing when they do).