Ok, hit me with a reality check.
My 32-year-old sister is an addict with a history of not just animal abuse and neglect, but even her own children that are currently in the custody of my terminally ill mother.
6 months ago, I let her come and stay with me and within two weeks she brought in a large breed puppy without permission. For the next 3 months she was here, my husband and I were horrified at the way she did this dog. She would lock him in a cage all day and one time we caught her, tying him to a post with less than 2 feet of slack to move.
In November, she went on a bender and disappeared for four days and when she came back, she and her boyfriend had made a decision that she needed to move away to stay sober so upstate they went, and they manipulated my husband into saying that the dog could stay here for a couple of weeks if they provided his food and paid my husband to take care of him. I knew… this was going to be a disaster.
Long story short between November, and now she has stretched the timeline out numerous times and the only thing we have received from her is one bag of dog food, and one round of worming treatment despite my numerous request for her to provide high-quality dog food that he needed because we were struggling to keep weight on this baby. In January, when she pushed it out the last time I said a firm boundary she needed to have a permanent plan in place by February. Well, February is here and I get a call from my mom that my sister still can’t take the dog permanently so I’m gonna have to keep him for two more weeks until my mom moves into her new place at which point she will assume responsibility for the dog and he will be kept outside in a dog house when we’ve got 2 feet of snow on the ground.
My family has spent months caring for this dog and he’s not built for that yo. He’s a couch potato and he deserves a permanent home where he gets that and all the love that he deserves so I told my sister this wasn’t acceptable and I was going forward with a permanent solution for the dog because I wasn’t going to let him be neglected or get dumped off on my mother. She has enough on her plate, raising my sister’s kids and battling lupus.
So I took him to a home with some dear friends we’re not only is he gonna have the best life ever, but we’ll still get to be a part of his life because truth be told I hated having to get rid of him, but I have three dogs of my own and he needs more care than I can provide with his breed.
So anyways, now my sister’s gone nuclear calling me a dog thief & my entire family is also mad at me because now she’s taking it out on them as well and threatening to never come home again, not even to see her kids. Like…. What?
The harassment and abuse from my family has gotten unreal. I feel like I’m the only person that has some freaking sense about me. But I’m pretty sure they all think I’m satan in the flesh.
Is this real life???
NTA! Team dog.
FYI his new name is Moose. Very fitting. And he loves his new couch. So I’ll put down one vote for Team Moose!
NTA.
Don’t let her problems become your problems.
I suggest an arms length relationship; that is, go low contact with her and those relatives piling on you.
Thanks stranger. You sound like my therapist. She told me to keep reminding myself I did the right thing. Just 2 months later than I should have in her opinion. It’s just hard to not feel like I’m wrong when everyone is sending vitriol my way. I issued her a formal cease and desist and blocked all forms of communication for my own sanity. I’m 5 months pregnant with a high risk pregnancy, and trying to navigate my oldest going off to college after he graduates. My plate is full right now. And this is making me feel so heavy.
Thank you for giving that baby a lovely life 💜
NTA
It is a shame that it is not so easy to find a suitable home for the children.
NTA
Honestly this whole situation is rough but, one of the biggest things you did was recognize what that dog needed and you did the right thing in finding him a better home.
It might be tough but you at least get to be part of his life and see him.
You did the best you could and provided him a home where he can be loved and safe. NTA.
NTA: the dog is better off in a home where his life is better and it’s not ur problem or responsibility to take care of her things.
NTA you are absolutely doing the right thing. Your sister would not provide a safe and loving home, and it sounds like your mom means well but wouldn’t be able to take proper care of him anyway.
If your family are hassling you, give them a call and ask them when they want to come pick up the dog to take themselves, but warn them that they’ll have to buy all his food. Large breeds eat a lot, so hopefully they’re wealthy!
You just did those kids a favor. She’s more worried about a dog than her own kids and she’s not even really worried about the dog.
Obvious NTA
Your entire family is idiotic. Please give the dog to your friend so he can live his best life…. As for your family I would go nuclear on your sister. She sounds like a piece of sh*t and your family members defending her are delusional. Please don’t let your sister get another dog to abuse.
NTA.
I will tell you though, that you need to strengthen your spine. When your sister brought in the large breed puppy without permission, the right thing to do would have been demand that she take him back or re-home him right then and there.
You need to strike back at your family and call your sister an animal abuser for how she treated the dog while she was there, and an animal abandoner for leaving the dog for 3 months when they initially said 2 weeks ,and failing to provide food and veterinary care.
And ask your sister if she slices her nose to spite her face often with those threats to never come home again, but personally it sounds like “don’t threaten me with a good time”
NTA
Thank you for finding a family who loves him. ❤️ You did the right thing. Wishing you and baby much health.