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Do you remember this Mumsnet story…? Update

426 replies

Petsaresafe · 24/04/2026 18:28

Eight years ago I was on Mumsnet and there was a thread from a lady who was barricaded in her bedroom with her kids while her drunk husband was outside it. She had found a place in a refuge but was panicking about what to do with her pets. People all over the country were offering help. I was one of them. As it happened we were only about 30 miles away, and we had room to foster both the dog and the bunny, so the lady asked me to take them. Two days later I went to collect them. She had three young children, who were incredibly brave saying goodbye to their pets. Another Mumsnetter was coming to pick up the lady.

When the dog got to our house he was terrified of men, barking at every man he saw. He also dribbled pee all the time. Wishing a week he stopped both and glued himself to the side of our other, confident dog. The only time I have seen him do the wee thing since was when my father was slowly dying in hospital and I was crying a lot. He’s always been very worried if anyone is angry or crying.

He was 3 when he arrived. Last month he turned 11. He’s still happy and loving life. The bunny lived for another five years. His companion (that we got him) is still here and on her 5th companion - she’s like the Duracell bunny, keeping going as those around her go!

I lost touch with the family. They had so much going on. But if you’re out there I hope you see this and know he’s had a great life, still is!

Do you remember this Mumsnet story…?  Update
Do you remember this Mumsnet story…?  Update
Do you remember this Mumsnet story…?  Update
Do you remember this Mumsnet story…?  Update
OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
thestudio · 24/04/2026 18:55

OP, this is so lovely. That was both kind and brave and that's a very unusual combo.

This is so uncharacteristically woo of me, but I hope that all the good you have put out into the world is returned to you and multiplied.

And I wish all good things for the brave women and for the brave kids she chose to prioritise.

And hurrah for dogs and bunnies!

Petsaresafe · 24/04/2026 18:56

Flicitytricity · 24/04/2026 18:45

Oh God, I do remember this. I pm'd an offer to help, but was too far away, and I remember her saying there was a 'lovely lady' helping her.
YOU are the lovely lady, and what a wonderful story - thank you ❤️

There you go - there were so many lovely Mumsnet people offering help with the animals. I just happened to be the right fit. We’d just lost one of our labradors, so we had a Labrador sized bed and rugs etc, plus we were rural and had loads of space. Our remaining lab was broken hearted to have lost his bestie, so he got a lot out of fostering this dog - as the fostered dog did from him. That other lab has long gone too, now it’s this dog and our little one, who is even older than him now.

Do you remember this Mumsnet story…?  Update
OP posts:
OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 24/04/2026 18:56

and this is what Mumsnet is really about.

PillsBox · 24/04/2026 18:57

What a beautiful update OP.

You're one amazing woman 💐💐

Irridescence · 24/04/2026 18:57

A beautiful new life for a beautiful dog and rabbit with a beautiful person. Thank you for providing a loving sanctuary. I hope so much the family found their own beautiful ending. ❤️

Dollymylove · 24/04/2026 18:58

Thankyou for posting this. I hope the lady and her children are safe and happy x

Terfedout · 24/04/2026 18:58

I've not been on here very long so didn't see the original story. But how lovely! X

Notmeagain12 · 24/04/2026 18:58

Ah I feel a little sad they weren’t able to get their pets back once they were stable, but it sounds like they had a great life with you.

i do hope they see this and know they did the right thing for the animals.

JacknDiane · 24/04/2026 18:59

Fantastic update
Well done @Petsaresafe

LoveLabradors · 24/04/2026 19:00

The epitome of kindness ❤️

Delici · 24/04/2026 19:00

Lovely update. I remember the desperation and the absolute amaziness of people coming together to help.

I really hope that the poster and her children went on to have as an amazing life as the pets.

sodabreadjam · 24/04/2026 19:00

I remember this story - thanks for the wonderful update. What an amazing person you are! I'm glad the pets brought joy to your family - they were so lucky to be adopted by you. 👏👏💐💐

I hope the original poster gets to hear about this somehow and I hope she and her family are well and thriving. ❤️

Rosecoffeecup · 24/04/2026 19:01

Fucking hell what a post, this has stopped me in my tracks

You are a wonderful person OP. I hope the mother and children are safe and well, and are able to see this thread.

Madformaltesers · 24/04/2026 19:01

❤️❤️❤️amazing

HomeStayHome · 24/04/2026 19:01

Wonderful x

Karistyleaftea · 24/04/2026 19:03

What a wonderful thing you did for them.
I hope they are safe and well and I wish you good things in your life, always.

Twiglets1 · 24/04/2026 19:04

That's amazing, you're a legend @Petsaresafe

Hope the original OP and owner of the pets is safe and happy.

shiningstar2 · 24/04/2026 19:04

I seem to have something in my eye. Thank you so much for all you did for that family and their pets. It was brave of you to go to the rescue in the first place. I would have been terrified that the abuser would come back and I might get hurt 😱 We have a rescue who was very nervous at first. Wonderful what you did. Has made my birthday evening 💐♥️

Freddiesfortune · 24/04/2026 19:04

You are a wonderful person OP. What a beautiful post. I hope the family are doing well

FoulWrinkledWitch · 24/04/2026 19:04

Wonderful ❤️❤️❤️

driftingdownintomiami · 24/04/2026 19:04

I was here eight years ago but don't remember this one. But what a fantastic endorsement of the power of mumsnet and what a kind person you are. Hope the original OP sees this.

Petsaresafe · 24/04/2026 19:05

Notmeagain12 · 24/04/2026 18:58

Ah I feel a little sad they weren’t able to get their pets back once they were stable, but it sounds like they had a great life with you.

i do hope they see this and know they did the right thing for the animals.

I always had mixed emotions about that. I will never forget those children and how brave they were. But equally the dog had suffered a lot too and was pretty traumatised- and I watched the weight go off his shoulders and saw him relax. He was terrified of men, he still sometimes goes crazy barking at men (they’re usually about 5’10 and bald/with short hair, and I always wonder if that’s what the horrible husband looked like). But he absolutely adores my husband now, thinks he’s the best thing ever. And he’s relaxed and happy. And he lives on a farm, doggy paradise. So it would have been a shame for him to have had to leave that. But equally he would have probably been those children’s best buddy once.

OP posts:
Calliopespa · 24/04/2026 19:06

Increasingly on MN I wonder how often OP's are just having a bit of a laugh with what they post.

To know that someone in a difficult position was really given IRL assistance - and such a lovely gesture too - makes all the nonsense seem worth it.

A lovely, lovely thread Op.

WoozlesEverywhere · 24/04/2026 19:06

Thank you for the update. How lovely of you to step in to help her. And lucky dog to end up with you, he looks like he’s having a lovely life.

DaisyDooley · 24/04/2026 19:07

That is probably the nicest post I have ever read on here.
Ever. And I’ve read thousands. My girls send love.

Do you remember this Mumsnet story…?  Update
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