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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the house might smell?

83 replies

NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 08:04

Ds and I were just talking to dsd about when we get a puppy. It's been in the pipeline for a while but we've had to puppy proof our garden (we're rural and have lambs out front and calfs to the side so needed to plug the fence). She looked very unimpressed and asked if we were getting just one puppy because, at her mum's house, she has 3 dogs (including a 6 month old puppy) 5 cats, 2 ferrets, 2 hedgehogs (I believe her dm used to breed them at some point), a rabbit, a snake and fish Confused

We knew they had animals but, bloody hell, my nose hurts just thinking about it. The sad thing is she just said she can't play in their garden because it is covered in poo of various types.

Is it possible to keep that many animals and the house not smell?

OP posts:
merrymouse · 04/04/2016 08:53

There might be health risks in this particular situation - I have no idea.

However, some animals do have an unavoidable smell e.g. Horses. That doesn't mean they are a health risk.

I think you need to differentiate between your concern about health risks and your concern about smell.

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 08:55

Enclosed Human smell, beats any animal smell. oh yes, I still remember the smell of my teenage brother's bedroom Grin

OP posts:
Sadmother · 04/04/2016 08:56

So why was your OP only concerned with the smell? Aren't you concerned for your dsd's health? It sounds like you only want to bitch about how her mother's house smells... Nice.

MidniteScribbler · 04/04/2016 08:56

Like with everything in life, they will smell if they aren't cared for and cleaned up after. It's a bit of a zoo here, but that's how we like it. The house (I'm reliably told) does not smell, and that's because time is taken to care for the animals and make sure they are kept in clean and sanitary conditions and the house is kept clean.

No one is forcing anyone else to live with animals if they choose not to. But there are plenty of people who choose to surround themselves with pets and are perfectly capable of looking after them and not creating a health hazard.

NeedACleverNN · 04/04/2016 08:58

Sod the dogs

The ferrets and the hedgehogs will reek the most!

(Voice of experience here)

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 09:00

merry you are quite right. The smell was my initial thought though as there are also 2 adults and 4 children in the 3 bed house!

OP posts:
Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 09:03

sadmother I belive your fingers wouldn't be touching the keyboard if I hadn't mentioned whose house I was talking about, it was only who I was having the conversation with that has prompted you to jump on me for being "judgy" and wanting to moan about her dm. So who is the judgy one here?? Hmm

OP posts:
ThatsNotMyRabbit · 04/04/2016 09:07

I think with dogs it depends on the cost type too.

Dogs like Labs with their thick, slightly oily water repellent coat are quite smelly whereas finer, silkier coats don't smell as much.

pictish · 04/04/2016 09:09

What of it though? Yes her house probably smells a bit animaly - but what if it does? Why have you started a thread about it?

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 09:10

Why have you responded pictish ? Why does anyone start a thread about anything on AIBU?

OP posts:
VioletTea · 04/04/2016 09:12

Yes of course it would, but I'm afraid I'm also wondering what the point of asking is?

DreamingofItaly · 04/04/2016 09:17

The house will probably pong. She could use those plug in smelly spray things to mask it but there will be a smell.

I've got 2 dogs, big, fluffy things. One is 6, the other 14 weeks. We keep the back door open most of the time (now we've puppy proofed the garden!), don't have carpets downstairs for ease of cleaning and I've recently treated myself to a Neom "Happiness" reed diffuser for the kitchen. It smells lovely. Highly recommend it.

I wouldn't want that many animals in my house (I'd be worried they'd eat each other for a start!) but each to their own I guess.

pictish · 04/04/2016 09:20

I have responded because I am curious as to why you have started a thread about your oh's ex's home and lifestyle when it doesn't impact on yours a jot. Why does anyone respond to a thread?

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 09:24

Would you be wondering if it was about a friend pictish ? That seems to be the only thing mentioned here that apparently makes me look "judgy"......who it's about is unimportant as the question remains the same, regardless Hmm

OP posts:
hefzi · 04/04/2016 09:26

Your house will also smell when you have a dog - you can't smell your own pets, but to non-pet owners, it's usually discernible.

So your DSD asked if you were only getting one dog? It sounds like the amount of pets per se doesn't bother her (but do people really keep ferrets in the house?!) and she's playing a bit of one-upmanship with you/your DC over the getting-the-puppy comment. Is this what's prompted your thread? Or was it general relating back to your own decision?

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 09:32

No not at all hefzi I have no concern over one-upmanship, how many pets people have is of no concern to me (but yes, she asked if we were only getting one). I am genuinely interested in whether a house will smell with the type of animals and I am concerned about the garden thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 09:33

I have only ever had fish 😂😂

OP posts:
pictish · 04/04/2016 09:49

I would wonder what you are getting from the consensus that animaly houses will smell of animals, no matter who you were asking about.
The fact that it's your oh's ex you're referring to makes me wonder less.

cansu · 04/04/2016 09:49

You are basically looking for someone to agree with you that their house must smell and the garden is a health hazard. Given that your dsd does not use the garden I am not sure what the health hazard would be. You are just bitching really about her mum which is not v nice tbh.

MadameCholetsDirtySecret · 04/04/2016 09:59

I have one dog. My house has wood and stone floors downstairs - DDog isn't allowed and doesn't go upstairs. She has her bed which is washed regularly and the floors are washed every day. Windows are doors are open all day - I can't bear hot houses.
My house doesn't smell - my DM has a very sensitive nose and would have no hesitation in telling me if it did. Grin

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 10:11

You are just bitching really about her mum which is not v nice tbh

That's your view, which is wrong. It just happened that I was talking to dsd about the impending family member. I would have asked if I was talking to anybody else tbh.

It's sad that the garden is a toilet, they should be played in not pooed in. Ndn has 8 dogs, 1 a house dog and the rest are working dogs that live in a huge kennel, their garden is clean of poo, as is the kennel, because the dogs are walked.

OP posts:
pictish · 04/04/2016 10:43

What do you want to hear?

pictish · 04/04/2016 10:51

Yes their house might smell. What now?

Original poster
NewtoCornland · 04/04/2016 11:09

Oh sorry pictish am I not biting back quick enough for you? What would you like me to say? How about.....thought so, I'm phoning environmental health....or....I'm on the phone to ss as I type......or I'm going to recommend to oh to get sole residency based on the smell?

Would that live up to your hope that this is about slagging off dsd's dm?

Perhaps I was genuinely wondering if the house anyone's house would smell given the types/amount of animals in there? There's a thing....someone asking a question out of curiosity rather than having an ulterior motive Hmm

OP posts:
DonkeyOaty · 04/04/2016 11:15

Your DH - what's his take on his daughter living in an unsanitary environment?