With my cousins DD..

[NoOtherUsernameWasValid]

I went to my cousins house the other day, we grew up close but not as close anymore, own families etc. We have a catch up and a chat once every 3/4 months.

She has a DD who is 3 years old and a new small puppy.

Her DD was playing extremely rough games with the puppy and I was getting more and more anxious and also annoyed by this, her mother, my cousin didn't seem to bat an eyelid.

Then 10 minutes later her DD picks the puppy up with both hands around the puppies neck

I jumped up from my chair and said, firmly but not shouting, "no no... put him down quickly" as I went to her and took the puppy from her. Her DD didn't seem to care, just looked a bit sulky.

As I returned to my chair my cousin also looked sulky and after another 15 minutes I left as I felt awkward and as though I was no longer welcome.

I then received this text later in the evening which I have not replied to yet. (Changed names to DD and puppy)

I didn't have the words to express it earlier but I was really upset with how you treated DD. She doesn't know you well enough to be told off by you. She is 3 years old and we have only had puppy for 2 weeks so DD is still learning how to play with him. She doesn't dare play with him at all now incase she is told off again. You had no right to do that.

I'm shaking reading this. I've spent a good portion of my adult life volunteering in shelters and fostering animals (mainly cats, a few dogs) and it's heartbreaking how many of these loving living creatures are in shelters simply because they were bought as Christmas or birthday presents and now little Susie or little Johnny is bored with their "new toy" which is then dropped off at the shelter without a second thought.

Animals are NOT toys. Animals are living beings that deserve families that will protect them as they would any human member of their family. What other PPs have said about when the dog snaps and is put to sleep...I'm teary eyed, it happens far more than it should. I've tried to save puppies and dogs from death row after biting a bratty unsupervised child and sadly I know of at least 4 dogs in the 15+ years I've been doing volunteer work that have been murdered because of having their tail nearly dislocated by an unsupervised toddler. If your child isn't old enough to know that you pet/play VERY gentle with an animal, then that child should never be put in a situation where they have free access to that animal. OP, you're a saint - on my behalf as well as every animal I've ever seen murdered because of human ignorance - THANK YOU. When an animal feels in pain or in danger, it doesn't matter if the animal is a fully trained adult, instinct will override anything they've been trained and they will fight to make the pain stop or the threat to their life stop. Picking a puppy up by it's neck is a really good way to get that pups instinct to survive to kick in and cause it to lash out and bite what is choking it. I sincerely hope that child is scared to play with the puppy out of fear of being reprimanded...however I doubt it, it sounds more like a disgusting attempt at a guilt trip. Sorry, this got me going, but you absolutely did the right thing, and I thank you again. At this point I'm nervous for the safety of that puppy as well as the safety of the child - I live in the US so I'm not sure if there's some kind of anonymous tip line you can call in to your local humane society. It doesn't sound like anything will change as far as supervision and that's just a recipe for a very disastrous, sad ending. I'd seriously consider asking your cousin to foster the puppy now (you sound like a good candidate!) and if she won't see reason maybe make that anonymous tip, or at least consider it.

I would reply -
Let's be clear, I wasn't telling your dd off, I was saving the life of your puppy.
it isn't about 'playing' it is about keeping your puppy safe.

Feel free to link her to this thread, ignorant woman.

She should be ashamed of herself. If her child can’t interact with the puppy correctly then they shouldn’t have it.
Poor, poor dog.

@NoOtherUsernameWasValid you did and have done since, exactly the right thing. Your cousin doesn't sound responsible enough to have a dog. Never mind a child... The poor pooch would probably grow up and be snappy and get all the blame and then I dread to think what would happen.

Thank god she won’t play with the pup again

Op you absolutely did the right thing. Your cousin is pan arse.

Poor little puppy

You definitely did the right thing by the puppy. I cannot believe an adult would allow that to happen. Poor dog.