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

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Notice OP never returned?

She’s out walking the dog.

Or cleaning piss or poo 😩

[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.

Not traveling for work is not the same thing as not working. You are bringing your own baggage to this comment. She doesn’t say she doesn’t work.

[Anonymous]

I would tell them to take the puppy home with them. Absolutely no chance of it staying even one minute in my house when they’re gone.

[Anonymous]

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 am the same and feel the exact same way as you do. I love dogs, but understand the immense responsibility and work they are.

I’m starting to suspect the op was fake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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 a TA.

Hon, you’re not using that correctly. What do you think TA stands for?

[Anonymous]

If someone did this to my family, they and the dog would have to leave immediately. We would not be sitting down to dinner with them. I wouldn’t give my kids 5 minutes to bond with a puppy we’re not keeping. How are the in-laws supposed to learn how badly they’ve behaved if you all have dinner like everything is normal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 a TA.

Hon, you’re not using that correctly. What do you think TA stands for?

She’s using it correctly. That poster is an a-hole, if not the a-hole.

[Anonymous]

My DHD was very opposed to getting a dog. After many years of trying to persuade him, I got a dog with the understanding that I would manage the dog with zero expectations of help from him. Now, he loves the dog. My kids love the dog. My IL's love the dog. The dog has been good for everyone.

I know the situation is not the same, but having a dog may not be as bad as you think it will be.

[Anonymous]

Op, if they won’t take the puppy home, her the name of the breeder, pet store, or rescue where they got it. Demand that DH get it from them, if you need to. Then take the puppy back and explain that the puppy was a gift and wasn’t welcome. Any reputable place will take the puppy back.

Boundaries must be enforced. If you can’t for some reason, I’d make the kids 💯 responsible. They pay for everything and do everything or the dog goes. You will not tolerate the dog being mistreated either. That poor puppy.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

I hope that puppy went home with them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The thing is... if your kids really want the dog, you are going to break their hearts. And they will remember that forever.

The in-laws are awful people, because you lose either way: you're going to have a dog in your house, or you're going to be the villain to your kids.

I'm really sorry, OP. I assume this is part of a pattern from the in-laws.

No, OP isn’t the bad guy. Her husband is. They’re his parents. She needs to have a come to Jesus with him and he can be the bad guy who sends the dog to live with his parents.

Agree, OP definitely isn’t the bad guy and DH and his parents are AHs but teens’ feelings are not always rational.

[Anonymous]

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

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