Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Lockdown Puppies

52 replies

GreenlandTheMovie · 14/03/2021 13:37

I've posted about this on here before in another thread and been given a hard time, but am I really being unreasonable?

My parents bought a 3 month old, large active dog breed puppy a few weeks ago, because, and I quote, "they were bored not seeing their grandchildren in lockdown". Now, the grandchildren seem to be back visiting (following rules isn't a strong point of my parents) and they are going to rehome the puppy. The breeder of course won't have it back, so its going to be dumped at a rehoming centre most likely. They will make up their minds this week.

The puppy nipped one of the grandchildren. And it makes a mess and they're tired of cleaning it up. And my parents also spend around 5 months of each year out of the country, either at their holiday home abroad, or on foreign holidays. How they thought they would be able to provide a suitable home for an active puppy that needs walks (they don't like walking even to the shops) or training, I do not understand. DF doesn't even like animals at all.

They have form for buying things, getting bored with them quite quickly and selling them. But treating an animal as a disposable consumer item disgusts me. I'm so annoyed with them, and told them so, but they just talk over me and pay no attention. They have talked about buying a smaller puppy at some time in the future instead. I think the puppy will be sent to a rehoming centre some time this week. They've had her just over a month...

OP posts:
HostaFireAndIce · 14/03/2021 13:45

Well, you're not being unreasonable, obviously, but the poor thing will be better off if the centre can find it a better home.

Original poster
GreenlandTheMovie · 14/03/2021 13:49

@HostaFireAndIce

Well, you're not being unreasonable, obviously, but the poor thing will be better off if the centre can find it a better home.
They are actually quite likely to advertise the puppy on gumtree and sell it to whoever comes along, or even give it away. They asked me if I would buy her from them (the answer was no as I'm not looking for a dog). A rehoming centre would be the responsible thing to do as they would vet homes.
OP posts:
FOJN · 14/03/2021 13:52

Given everything you've written I'm really hoping they surrender the puppy to a rehoming centre. The centre will screen applicants for suitability and the dog is young enough to be trained effectively. It will absolutely be better for the dog. Remind them if the downsides of dog ownership frequently just to nudge them in the right direction, has the puppy started chewing everything yet!

Someone out there will be delighted to adopt a puppy, fully aware of all it entails and give it a much better life.

Spidey66 · 14/03/2021 13:52

That's disgraceful behaviour. They should be banned from even owning a goldfish.

Sparklesocks · 14/03/2021 13:52

Poor dog. Yes your parents made a very selfish decision in buying it when they clearly hadn’t thought it through. I just hope it finds a decent home.

rookiemere · 14/03/2021 13:53

If you give the details and location someone here might well be interested. If they sell the poor thing privately it could end up being used in dog fighting or forced breeding.

LaurieFairyCake · 14/03/2021 13:54

They are absolutely horrific

Please go and get the dog and call a decent rescue

The last thing you need is the thought of that dog being used for baiting, fighting on your conscience Sad

Also never talk to those fuckers again

Easterbunnygettingready · 14/03/2021 13:56

I have a profile on a care site... Been bombed with pleas for doggy care these past weeks...
Very sad..
Gumtree is also full of :
Puppy for sale, going back to work haven't got time...
Grim....
Society is going to be flooded with problem dogs very soon. Bought by novices. Sold on by utter twats.

Original poster
GreenlandTheMovie · 14/03/2021 13:57

@rookiemere

If you give the details and location someone here might well be interested. If they sell the poor thing privately it could end up being used in dog fighting or forced breeding.
Thank you. Thats a great idea. However, I can guarantee that they will not listen to me or any common sense ideas that anyone might have to ensure this puppy a safe future. They would be more likely to listen to a total stranger spinning them a line than common sense advice from me. I won't probably even find out whats really happened to her. I think they will definatley get rid of her though. DF is coming out with his "I hate animals. I don't see the point in them" lines again.

As I say, they have form for this sort of thing. Just not involving animals before.

OP posts:
rookiemere · 14/03/2021 13:59

OP if they were prepared to give the puppy to you, could you not take it then pass it on to a rescue or find a suitable home?
I know it's not your responsibility but it would certainly be a kindness to the poor animal.

Original poster
GreenlandTheMovie · 14/03/2021 13:59

@LaurieFairyCake

They are absolutely horrific

Please go and get the dog and call a decent rescue

The last thing you need is the thought of that dog being used for baiting, fighting on your conscience Sad

Also never talk to those fuckers again

I have to try at least. I'll phone them and suggest this.

I have other animals myself and cannot take the puppy (and yes, DPs would not give her to me anyway, I would have to buy her if I wanted her - not joking). Which is why I'm worried they might sell her. I think they paid £1500, and want at least £500 back. I think if they even got £200 they would be happy.

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 14/03/2021 14:01

Well YANBU at all, they have been very irresponsible and callous tbh. They seem to have underestimated the work that comes with a puppy.

However I do hate the phrase ‘lockdown puppies’ as you seem to have generalised everyone who has got a dog in the past year as the same. We got a puppy last year due to it being our plan anyway. Our work situation hasn’t changed due to lockdown (DH has worked out of the home throughout, I’m a childminder so will always be home) so this wasn’t a ‘lockdown’ decision. It’a sad that all pet owners with an animal bought in the last year are getting the same judgement. Life has gone on, not everything is about lockdown and an irresponsible decision.

FOJN · 14/03/2021 14:02

How would you feel about saying you'll take the dog on a month's trial, get all the transfer of ownership documents signed over to you, and then tragically "lose" it at a rescue centre? Surely they wouldn't expect you to pay for a dog you no longer had. Yes it's dishonest but if left to their own devices this poor dogs life will go from bad to worse.

Original poster
GreenlandTheMovie · 14/03/2021 14:07

@FOJN

How would you feel about saying you'll take the dog on a month's trial, get all the transfer of ownership documents signed over to you, and then tragically "lose" it at a rescue centre? Surely they wouldn't expect you to pay for a dog you no longer had. Yes it's dishonest but if left to their own devices this poor dogs life will go from bad to worse.
Thats a very good idea! I really have to do something. Its such a young puppy and they have no idea how to train her, and she is going to be so unsettled by having 3 or 4 different homes in the first 4 or 5 months of her life. Poor thing. I'm going to phone DM and will report back.

I live 120 miles away and can't just pop round to kidnap the puppy on the excuse of a walk! ("just ran off, nothing I could do about it")

OP posts:
Somanysocks · 14/03/2021 14:08

Of course you're not unreasonable, and thankfully you haven't inherited their stupid thoughtlessness.

Calmyertits · 14/03/2021 14:14

If their anywhere near southwest, ill come get pupper. I seem to end up with all sorts of waifs and strays and have become the person people come to when they dont want their pets. My in laws keep getting things because we have them, then guess who it falls to when they decide they dont want them and i have to find said animal the 5* home it should of had in the 1st place.

FOJN · 14/03/2021 14:14

"just ran off, nothing I could do about it"

You'll be distraught, have done everything you can to find it, poor thing was probably trying to find its way back to them.

It would be great for the dog if you could pull this off.

coldwarenigma · 14/03/2021 14:21

Poor puppy..Sad
Your parents ...Angry I would struggle to be even civil after this. I hope you are able to help the puppy OP

tigger001 · 14/03/2021 14:51

Im sure there are plenty of people out there who will gladly take the puppy (us for one!!!) and the sooner the better for the pup.

Genuine people who want a puppy have no chance at the moment unless you want to pay 3k for an 800 quid dog. Its loonacy.

ErrolTheDragon · 14/03/2021 14:57

If they can't take proper responsibility for this poor pup - which means ensuring it's correctly rehomed - and don't have the common sense or basic decency not to contemplate getting another pup, I'd be seriously considering if they were people I wanted my kids in contact with.

tabulahrasa · 14/03/2021 15:04

@tigger001

Im sure there are plenty of people out there who will gladly take the puppy (us for one!!!) and the sooner the better for the pup.

Genuine people who want a puppy have no chance at the moment unless you want to pay 3k for an 800 quid dog. Its loonacy.

That... I suspect if you asked around people you know you could find someone you’d trust to have it.

I’d have snatched your hands off 2 weeks ago, I’d been looking to rehome a dog for ages, though I’ve now got a 5 month old puppy from a rescue centre.

lynsey91 · 14/03/2021 15:21

I am disgusted with your parents' attitude. Poor dog. Also disgusted with the breeder. A decent breeder will ALWAYS take the dog back at any age.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 14/03/2021 15:27

@lynsey91

I am disgusted with your parents' attitude. Poor dog. Also disgusted with the breeder. A decent breeder will ALWAYS take the dog back at any age.
This 100%^
ilovesooty · 14/03/2021 15:33

I'm also in the camp of people who'd be cutting off contact with people who could do this. Would you be prepared to buy the puppy and get it responsibly rehomed? I realise that they want a significant amount though.

GuyFawkesDay · 14/03/2021 15:36

If they are Midlands based I may be interested x