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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

They have brought the fucking dog.

318 replies

Welshmaenad · 15/05/2015 23:09

I'm raging, whether that is U or not!

Quick background, I have a difficult relationship with PIL, they aren't easy people, not especially interested in our lives and visit twice a year (live 400 ish miles away) when they stay for 2-3 days in local hotel (no room here).

Historically they are very passive aggressive, unsupportive, favour BIL over DH and in my view treat him badly, they didn't even bother sending him a birthday card this year. I put them off visiting at Easter as it was the 1st anniversary of my DM's death and I couldn't deal with them, so they have come this weekend. I strategically went food shopping this evening and did not see them.

They have a very old, very horrible dog, terrier cross. It has hospitalised MILs dad several times with bad bites. It was known to be volatile and not safe with kids or cats when they adopted it, pre our children, they were its third or fourth home, other adopters returned it due to volatility. They are shit at managing it, and 50/50 baby it/kowtow to it so it thinks it's the boss, it's snappy, snarly and unpredictable and has basically gone from volatile to vile under their care. They tried bringing it once or twice on visits when DC were smaller and constantly pushed boundaries, would try to fetch it from the car halfway through a day out to be near kids, took kids to car to 'meet' it while I was occupied cooking, would make comments to DC like "oh, poor DDog, he's so sad in the car but mean mummy won't let him in the house" (it eats cats, I have four cats, I feel this is just common sense). I had to get very arsey and say NO, NO DOG before they got the message and started kennelling it.

For my own mental health, and because I have caring responsibilities for my dad, DH is entertaining them and the kids solo this weekend. They have brought the fucking dog. I have gone low level batshit and have told him that he absolutely HAS to enforce no contact or proximity between kids and dog or I will kill the three of them with my bare hands. He's rubbish at standing up to them though and I'm worried that they will ride roughshod over him as per. So I'm going to tell the kids tomorrow that the dog is horrible and they should not be anywhere near the dog and that if GM and GD bring the dog near them they should tell me.

I fear I may be overreacting a smidge because recent behaviour by inlaws means I'm more pissed off with them than usual, but I am genuinely concerned that if this thing gets near my kids, especially my very bouncy animal hugging 5 year old, that it will bite. Am I being a raving bitch or what?

OP posts:
hotdogsandmustard · 16/05/2015 13:17

Bloody hell a resounding YA definitely NBU from me I would go MAD

And I am the biggest animal lover going

That sounds like one stressed dog

Fatmomma99 · 16/05/2015 13:24

YNBU, Welsh. And I really warm to you for making so much effort to allow the ILs to see their GCs even though you don't especially like them.

I hope your DH appreciates that about you too.

I'm a massive dog lover, but agree with all the PPs on here who say 'but people come first'. And totally agree that you are being reasonable and sensible to put your children first and to ensure they are safe.

I also feel sorry for the dog, but 'cunty dog' made me snort. I like the muzzle idea too.

Good luck!

DartmoorDoughnut · 16/05/2015 13:45

YA Totally NBU! Hope they stick to the rules and your DC have a good day

DartmoorDoughnut · 16/05/2015 13:45

Oh and although a massive dog lover 'cuntydog' is bloody hilarious!

Dionysuss · 16/05/2015 13:53

Of course yanbu op. In fact I know your rage.
Fil had a springer who bit my nephew twice and would growl at my dc. I insisted dc could not go near it full stop. He would make excuses for it. DN got bit because he shouldn't have touched him, he was being too noisy ect. It was never his own fault for not putting his dog away. If the dog growled fil would pat it and blame everyone for upsetting him. It got so bad he eventfully started turning on fil who struggled to control him to begin with. The dog could open the front door and would jump into cars if the door was open. Fil would be unable to get him out. Several times the dog had to be driven round the block so he would jump out when he got home. Absolutely barking mad.

Flowerfae · 16/05/2015 14:16

Massive pain in the backside but if they will won't listen can you and the children go somewhere else for a couple of days until they leave?

TheSweeper · 16/05/2015 22:07

I hope the dc came back in one piece, op?

Welshmaenad · 16/05/2015 22:21

They did, they're in bed now! DH said that when the moved in convoy from the town centre to the park the dog was out of the inlaws car when DH and the kids arrived in his car, so he parked some distance away and quickly took it off for a walk, getting the inlaws to get the kids out of the car and into the play area - I'm not tremendously happy about them getting the damn thing out expecting DH and the kids to join them but it does show that DH listened to me and took it away ASAP! I asked dd quietly if the dog has been near them and she told the same story and said they didn't get near it.

For future visits I'm going to get DH to call them ahead to check the dog has a space in kennels and tell them to rearrange if it does not.

OP posts:
Welshmaenad · 16/05/2015 22:21

Also thanks for the unwavering support and assurances that IANBU over this! I sometimes feel like they think I'm being hysterical.

OP posts:
Purpleball · 16/05/2015 22:34

Glad it all worked out ok for you hopefully they will fucking listen next time

SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires · 16/05/2015 23:22

Would kennels take a very bitey dog?

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 17/05/2015 00:47

Your DH did absolutely the right thing, but fuck your PILs are thick bastards! How dare they take the damn dog out the car to meet your children after specifically being told? They don't give a shit about the safety of your children, do they.

I'd tell them that, tbh. Say they can't see your children again until they demonstrate a proper level of care for their safety, and that includes keeping their poorly trained mutt away from them.

Mistigri · 17/05/2015 09:05

The only unreasonable (but understandable) thing you've done is leaving the kids at home when the dog might be there. I'd have shipped them off somewhere else and told your OH to entertain his parents alone!

amybear2 · 17/05/2015 09:48

I thiink the main problem is that you don't seem to have any faith in your dh when it comes to keeping the children safe

PeachyPants · 17/05/2015 09:53

Glad they're ok I think your plan For future visits I'm going to get DH to call them ahead to check the dog has a space in kennels and tell them to rearrange if it does not. is spot on, they won't respond to subtly or do the decent thing you need to set the boundaries and stick to them. Good luck.

EponasWildDaughter · 17/05/2015 10:00

Yes i agree, DH to phone just before next visit to check it's booked into the kennel.

The fact that they had the dog out of the car and kept it out of the car when the children arrived speaks volumes. They cannot or will not see sense. They will have to be monitored and managed by DH until the dog pegs out.

Glad no one got bitten yesterday OP! Flowers

Dowser · 17/05/2015 10:10

Two of my children were bitten by dogs. One was the pubs dog and my lovely slaughter was just 18 months old and it got her on the face.

My son was 10 when a Rottweiler took a chunk out of my sons leg resulting in emergency surgery and 8 weeks off school. I hated my pil's Alsatian with a passion which they got when my daughter was a baby. It never touched our children.

I've had a lot of hang ups about dogs ever since so I can understand very much where you are coming from.

I'd go ape shit too.

Welshmaenad · 12/08/2016 22:10

I am really, really sorry for resurrecting my own zombie thread but it provides so much context and I can't be arsed to type all that shit again.

Situation is that then-DH and I have separated. I moved out with the kids to my own house. Mostly amicable co-parenting relationship though he gets his arse in his hand occasionally and gets foot-stampy about how I can't tell him what to do (usually when I'm not even trying to).

His parents are coming down on the BH weekend.

Ohhhhh you know where this is going, yeah?

THEY ARE BRINGING THE FUCKING DOG.

Clearly as we're now separated they feel they can totally ride roughshod over my boundaries. Apparently they can't get it into the kennel.

Do I trust exDH to enforce the 50ft rule; do I supply details of local kennels with vacancies, or do I tell them that if the dog comes the kids stay with me? I could so do without the stress of a fight right now but I'm deeply deeply displeased.

OP posts:
YouTheCat · 12/08/2016 22:12

Tell them the kids will stay with you. They are taking the piss.

Primaryteach87 · 12/08/2016 22:14

I'm a massive dog lover, but I don't think you're overreacting. This dog is potentially very dangerous.

Primaryteach87 · 12/08/2016 22:15

Yes, either dog goes or kids stay with you.

hungryhippo90 · 12/08/2016 22:17

OP, I'm sorry to tell you this, but I think it is unlikely they will be able to get their dog into a kennel at this time....I'm a newbie boarder/sitter/walker, and even I am too busy at this moment in time (I had five people seriously wanting me to look after their dogs this week!)

I would (been in similar position) tell him you don't trust him to take into account how dangerous that this dog is, and protect the children. Therefore you are unable to send them for contact on this occasion. Is not a court in the land who will say you are wrong.

It's the best way of ensuring their safety.

PickAChew · 12/08/2016 22:21

With a bit of forethought, they probably could have got the dog into the kennel - or arranged their visit for when they could, hippo, just as OP suggested last year!

Welshmaenad · 12/08/2016 22:24

No I don't think I'll find a kennel with vacancies, I'm just clutching at straws to try to avoid causing an unneccary rift between exDH and I who were getting along quite nicely. I could kill them for this.

WHY WON'T THE CUNT OF A DOG JUST DIE????

OP posts:
IAmNotAMindReader · 12/08/2016 22:30

If the dog gets within the same postcode as the kids they stay with you. You know you cant trust your ex to do anything other than simper around them.