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AIBU?

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To be angry at my mum over an animal in distress

139 replies

Corintha · 27/05/2026 15:25

My mum has just text me in casual conversation to say that there is a pigeon trapped in the chimney vent in her and my dad’s bedroom. She says that they heard it fall down early this morning and it has been in there cooing ever since and is clearly stuck.

I have asked what she intends to do about it, whether she is going to get my dad to take the vent off or call someone in. She doesn’t want to take the vent off as it will be messy and doesn’t want to call anyone out as she says she’s too busy with other life admin (she’s a carer for adult autistic sibling). She says “It’s a shame but it’s life” and she’s just going to leave it and let nature run its course.

I’ve lost my shit with her a bit as she seems okay to lay in bed for the next few nights listening to an animal die in a horrible way. The vent is behind their bed board ffs! I’ve also warned her that the smell is going to be horrendous and she will have flies but she is insisting it will be fine. It’s a vent, of course the smell is going to seep through.

I’ve lost my shit with her a bit and she has told me to go away and blocked me saying “it’s not the first time an animal has died in a chimney and won’t be the last”.

AIBU to think she’s being incredibly thick. I’m so angry at her and I don’t know what to do as I live an hour away and don’t drive, it’s 3 hours away on public transport

OP posts:
WellFineThen · 27/05/2026 15:55

Nah, being 'busy' isn't a good excuse to allow an animal to suffer.

BeeHive909 · 27/05/2026 15:54

It won’t smell. Sadly i live in a house where birds fall down the chimney all the time and because the vent is sealed up with only one bar remaining we can’t get to it . I couldn’t listen to it alive still though .

Corintha · 27/05/2026 15:53

LoserWinner · 27/05/2026 15:50

If it matters so much to you, why don’t you go and release the bird yourself, and clear up the mess for her? Or offer to look after your brother for the day so she has the time and headspace to deal with it?

I’m 7 months pregnant and a 3 hour train ride away and then would be another 3 hour train ride back and I work at 7am tomorrow.

OP posts:
Galaxylights · 27/05/2026 15:53

LoserWinner · 27/05/2026 15:50

If it matters so much to you, why don’t you go and release the bird yourself, and clear up the mess for her? Or offer to look after your brother for the day so she has the time and headspace to deal with it?

Did you not read she is 3 hours sway on public transport? Or are you the mother.

FurtherDownTheRoad · 27/05/2026 15:51

Is it not worth the effort to you to go over and sort it out yourself?

LoserWinner · 27/05/2026 15:50

If it matters so much to you, why don’t you go and release the bird yourself, and clear up the mess for her? Or offer to look after your brother for the day so she has the time and headspace to deal with it?

thenightsky · 27/05/2026 15:50

If its just a panel that needs unscrewing, I can't see why anyone wouldn't do that. The fly problem is going to be horrendous when it starts rotting.

We moved into a new build with an open chimney that had been stood empty for 6 months. Clearly a bird had got trapped and died as the lounge was full of flies. Like something out of a horror film. We got a chimney sweep in who removed 2 dead rooks.

Ponoka7 · 27/05/2026 15:49

There would have been someone willing to come out, if she had have posted on a animal group on FB. We have a specific one for Pigeons and Gulls.

Corintha · 27/05/2026 15:49

Galaxylights · 27/05/2026 15:46

Wow that's absolutely awful. Does she usually act like she has no feelings about living creatures?

No she claims to be an animal lover and has a dog.

i’m so fucking furious at her and she is happily going to lay there listening to it coo as it starves to death

and she’s so thick for thinking it won’t smell or attract flies because “it’s behind the vent and the vent is covered by the bed board”

OP posts:
Credittocress · 27/05/2026 15:49

Well if there’s a vent then she’s better off removing the vent now and trapping the animal in a towel and throwing it outside rather than letting it die, that’s going to fucking stink.

Orangemintcream · 27/05/2026 15:47

I would be furious if someone I knew did that. And I agree with you about the smell - over the summer good god <vomit>

Galaxylights · 27/05/2026 15:46

Wow that's absolutely awful. Does she usually act like she has no feelings about living creatures?

Lifeisforliving12 · 27/05/2026 15:44

I agree with you. It’s totally unreasonable to leave an animal trapped and in distress.

Corintha · 27/05/2026 15:33

I don’t know if I’m overreacting because I’m pregnant. At the end of the day it’s her house and not mine but I feel disgusted with her

OP posts: