My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all. Back to update. DH told his parents that they should keep the dog at their house. They reluctantly agreed. Kids were OK with it, but I'm still shaken that they even tried.

Wow. I hope for the dog’s sake they’re up for that commitment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all. Back to update. DH told his parents that they should keep the dog at their house. They reluctantly agreed. Kids were OK with it, but I'm still shaken that they even tried.

That's a good outcome.

My parents took the dog elsewhere and told.us kids the puppy "ran off." I hope they rehomed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 12 and 14-yr old have been begging for a dog for years but we really don't have the time or the inclination for a dog. DH travels for work often and both kids play sports with plenty of weekend travel. For years, my in-laws have been laying it on thick that "every child deserves a dog!" and how wonderful it is and going on about my DH's dogs growing up. Never mind the fact that my MIL is the one who cared for the pets.

I AM SO MAD. They came over an hour ago and said they had a surprise for 12-year-old's upcoming birthday.
Guess what it was.

A PUPPY.

I...do not...know what to say. They are still here about to have dinner and I ran upstairs to post on DCUM just for catharsis since I may lose it (or guzzle five cocktails). My DH is now super edgy b/c he knows I'm mad, my FIL is just hee-hawing in the corner and my kids are over the moon. I....am...speech-less...

Get a job and travel like your husband. Stop living off of his salary.

Come on.

You are slow. Her ILs did not pay the bills for her family. Her DH did not buy the dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all. Back to update. DH told his parents that they should keep the dog at their house. They reluctantly agreed. Kids were OK with it, but I'm still shaken that they even tried.

Good! I’d be shaken too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I knew if OP is WOH or whatever.
If she is SAHM then she is just selfish. Sorry.

You are cray cray.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People that hate dogs have a sickness.

People who can't read have a mental sickness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I knew if OP is WOH or whatever.
If she is SAHM then she is just selfish. Sorry.

She could be sitting on her ass all day long doing jack shit and her in laws still wouldn’t have any right to make this decision for her. GTFOH

I’m not saying the in laws have that right. But that doesn’t mean OP couldn’t make the choice to make it work.

IF she decided to get a dog. Her ILs don't get to decide for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I knew if OP is WOH or whatever.
If she is SAHM then she is just selfish. Sorry.

She could be sitting on her ass all day long doing jack shit and her in laws still wouldn’t have any right to make this decision for her. GTFOH

I’m not saying the in laws have that right. But that doesn’t mean OP couldn’t make the choice to make it work.

IF she decided to get a dog. Her ILs don't get to decide for her.

ILs shouldn’t have done what they did.
But they did, and the dog was there. Still OP’s choice whether it stays or goes. Hopefully the ILs are up for the challenge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I knew if OP is WOH or whatever.
If she is SAHM then she is just selfish. Sorry.

She could be sitting on her ass all day long doing jack shit and her in laws still wouldn’t have any right to make this decision for her. GTFOH

I’m not saying the in laws have that right. But that doesn’t mean OP couldn’t make the choice to make it work.

IF she decided to get a dog. Her ILs don't get to decide for her.

ILs shouldn’t have done what they did.
But they did, and the dog was there. Still OP’s choice whether it stays or goes. Hopefully the ILs are up for the challenge.

Not OP's problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I knew if OP is WOH or whatever.
If she is SAHM then she is just selfish. Sorry.

She could be sitting on her ass all day long doing jack shit and her in laws still wouldn’t have any right to make this decision for her. GTFOH

I’m not saying the in laws have that right. But that doesn’t mean OP couldn’t make the choice to make it work.

IF she decided to get a dog. Her ILs don't get to decide for her.

ILs shouldn’t have done what they did.
But they did, and the dog was there. Still OP’s choice whether it stays or goes. Hopefully the ILs are up for the challenge.

If someone gifted my kids a dog, it would absolutely not stay. If Its wouldn't take it, I'd immediately take to a shelter the following day.
What a terrible imposition by the ILs. I'd be livid.

[Anonymous]

How cute is the dog ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I knew if OP is WOH or whatever.
If she is SAHM then she is just selfish. Sorry.

She could be sitting on her ass all day long doing jack shit and her in laws still wouldn’t have any right to make this decision for her. GTFOH

I’m not saying the in laws have that right. But that doesn’t mean OP couldn’t make the choice to make it work.

IF she decided to get a dog. Her ILs don't get to decide for her.

ILs shouldn’t have done what they did.
But they did, and the dog was there. Still OP’s choice whether it stays or goes. Hopefully the ILs are up for the challenge.

If someone gifted my kids a dog, it would absolutely not stay. If Its wouldn't take it, I'd immediately take to a shelter the following day.
What a terrible imposition by the ILs. I'd be livid.

Eh, I’m betting you would dump the dog by the side of the road because you were so livid.

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe this whole thing happened. It’s bananas!

[Anonymous]

Even if I had a specific litter in mind, I'd still want to actually pick out my dog. Dogs are definitely a whole family consent situation.

I love dogs and it's because I love dogs that I see this situation as bonkers. Dogs are companions, they are a commitment of over a decade and thousands of dollars a year. They are not toys. Springing a dog on someone like this is treating a dog like a toy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids who grow up with dogs are better off overall.

Our little dog is everything. We have dog sitters when we go away, we take him with us a lot because he only weighs 7 lbs. There are so many carriers now, even for bigger dogs. I can’t say enough about the positive addition he is to our family.

I know it wasn’t a good idea for grandparents to do that but their hearts were in the right place. And playing sports won’t be going on for much longer anyway. Grandparents can take the dog on weekends!

Here’s a good article on the benefits of having a family dog.

https://total.vet/24-benefits-for-kids-growing-up-with-dogs/?srsltid=AfmBOopoEaMSZK8IF_64V84DMjY2SfbYXLxkdG7Q0FMx5LjlHTNEnVyC

I absolutely love dogs, I am the one asking people to pet their dogs all the time. Our dog is a member of our family.

She’s also a LOT of work and a lot of money and it causes us stress when we travel because we find a good dog sitter but then they move away or stop doing Rover.

I would never impose a dog on someone who didn’t want one, even if research says it’s good for kids and even if *I* think it’s good for kids. It may not be right for that family and everybody needs to respect that.

I understand that no one should buy another family a dog. It’s a shame that they can’t make it work. Did OP say they bought a purebred dog or a rescue?

No reputable breeder or rescue would provide a dog under these circumstances.

My sister got her dog from a breeder and they asked for pictures of her living space and a vet to forward records to before she was allowed to take her puppy home. I got a stray kitten from a rescue and also had to send them pictures of her food/bowls/litter box and provide vet records to show my current cat was up to date on medical care.