i am seriously considering surrendering my dad’s dog to the animal shelter because of the neglect i’ve seen evident on her over time.
in summer of last year, his dog had hotspots and he poured hydrogen peroxide on them. i got fed up with how mistreated the dog was and i took her to the vet when he left for the grocery store (with my dad’s girlfriend’s permission). at the vet, i learned she needed a thyroid medication, she needed medicinal baths for a skin infection (aside from the hotspots) and that she had never spayed and was in serious risk of developing a uterine infection. the only reason i didn’t surrender the dog after this situation was because my dad fucking promised he’d take care of the dog from now on and i only agreed because i made him call an elderly dog rehoming center to put her on the websites list.
he told me he had, but after checking the site and not seeing her anywhere, as well as him still being in possession of the dog, i realize now that he had lied to me.
recently, my dad got a new puppy because my younger sister (who’s four) wanted one. this little puppy is untrained and i don’t see that fact changing at all. the puppy has a bad chewing habit, as most puppies do, but this pup has chewed the end of the older dog’s tail raw and bloody.
i only come over to my dads to see my younger siblings and bond with them, but every time i’m here a new issue arises with the dog and seeing the state of here today, i really feel like this is the final straw.
the only thing that makes me hesitate to do anything is the fact that my dad is a very reactive person and i’m worried what his reaction would be if i did this. knowing him it could be anything from not allowing me to see my siblings for the foreseeable future, to me being in physical danger. he loves this dog and i know he loves her, but that doesn’t change the fact that shes clearly suffering and i can’t fucking watch this anymore.
would i be the asshole if i surrendered her to a shelter?
EDIT: after checking i learned kill shelters are banned in my state for all animals, so that is no longer a concern.
are there any other options? ex you or another family member taking the dog
i have three dogs already, and i’m personally not equipped to care for a fourth or i would have taken her in a heartbeat. all other family both myself, my dad, and my dad’s girlfriend have live out of state or out of the country or i would have asked them. i’ve asked around my friends and even my coworkers but no one can nor want to take an elderly dog. i wouldn’t be considering surrendering her if i hadn’t exhausted all other options i can think of.
I feel so bad for that dog. If you do wind up taking it make sure its a rescue and not a kill shelter.
i’m very meticulous about what facilities i wanted to drop her off at. i have a shelter that is my usual go to, but i know of a few others that would also work if my go to doesn’t have space.
Owner surrenders are the first to be euthanased if they run out of time or space. They will make you sign that it’s ok to euthanise if x,y,z, including medical or behaviour issues.
like i said, i have a go to shelter that i know for sure won’t do that. they’re technically an animal sanctuary and they specifically cater to unwanted, injured, or abandoned animals. i’ve had to drop off a number of animals i’ve found with them, from raccoons to kittens and i trust the workers there.
NTA – your heart is in the right place. Are you able to call and report the welfare of the dog instead of immediately surrendering her? Not knowing much about the situation, but I fear your dad may go to whatever shelter you surrender her to, cause a scene, and demand her back, etc. also not sure about the legality of it or where you live, but you can always report animal neglect to the proper authorities anonymously
i hadn’t considered doing that, but it’s a really good idea. my dad is absolutely the type to do that and i think making a animal welfare report would be the safest option for everyone. i think i would be able do it anonymously but ill check once i call.
Personally I think that you *would* be the AH if you didn’t take her to a shelter. Ideally you should also report him for animal cruelty. He should not be allowed to own a pet. Please notify the shelters in your area that he is a negligent and abusive owner.
The fact that he was allowed to bring a new pet home without a home inspection is concerning.
Also, no – he does not love her. Stop telling yourself that.
If you’re concerned about repercussions for yourself, try to get someone else to report him. In fact, take the dog back to the vet for a checkup and ask them if it’s possible for them to do something. They shouldn’t have allowed her to go back to the house of horrors.
YWNBTA.
You said you’re surprised he got a new pet without a home inspection. People have children without home inspections. The risk of taking the dog to a shelter is that as an elderly pet in need of medical treatment it’s likely the dog will be euthanized, unless it is taken to a no kill shelter. Those are hard to find.
Nta, surrender that innocent dog and make sure your dad is out of your life!
You are not her owner. If a rescue type shelter figures that out they won’t take her. The only kind of shelter you would have any chance of them taking her without too much questioning would be an open admission City/County type and they will euthanize her if she is old and sick.
You either need to step up and put some time/money into caring for her while she lives with your dad, or really work harder campaigning for someone to rescue her.
YTA for not already doing something about it. Take the dog away now. Please.