To be happy SIL's dangerous dog had been given away

[Kerrieanne85]

Hi everyone

This post is a follow on/update from a previous post I had on WWYD/AIBU back in November 2023.

Quick recap:
Back in Nov 2023 I made a post as myself, DH and DC were supposed to be going to FIL's 70th birthday party but they were housing a dangerous dog who had a history of biting numerous people.

Zorro (the dog) initially belonged to my SIL & she never trained him from day 1. Zorro had bitten numerous family members and had even bitten SIL's fiancee so badly that he was on crutches for 7 weeks. SIL then decided to give Zorro to in-laws as she had a 9 month old baby. Zorro is given tablets 3 times a day to keep him calm and is fine with just MIL & FIL, but very nervous when there are people in the house.

MIL refused to have him put down even after being advised to so we decided not to attend FIL's big 70th party as it would be a full house and we didn't want to take the risk of Zorro getting stressed.

Fast Forward To Today;
In-laws came over to our house late morning for early Sunday Roast. They left around an hour ago. FIL again asked to visit them more often so he can spend time with D.C. DH explained to him that we don't go to their house because of the risk of Zorro. FIL then tells us during the meal that he has gotten rid of Zorro.
Zorro attacked FIL last week when he was making tea in the kitchen. The following day Zorro then went for a SIL's 14 month baby. Thank god he didn't get her but he did lunge aggressively towards her.

FIL then put his foot down once and for all and told MIL that the dog was going for good and there was nothing MIL would do about it.

MIL was sitting there at the table with a bright red face like a beetroot. She had tears in her eyes and blew up at FIL. She started shouting at him for "talking about Zorro" she said her heart is so broken and he's being insensitive to her for even speaking about it to us" she stormed out into the garden to compose herself.

DH and FIL stayed in dining room eating and discussing the situation, DH telling his father that this decision has been long overdue. MIL couldn't compose herself and wanted sympathy. I went to check on her outside but she kept saying how angry she was that FIL was talking about it.

I normally try and keep peace but to be honest I am so happy that Zorro is no longer around. He wasn't put to sleep but given away. I feel comfortable now that DC and everyone can visit In-laws without any fear of a dangerous dog.

They left with MIL being sad and somber, I think she was expecting DH, me and FIL to give her an abundance of pity but for the first time no-one really did. We didn't talk about Zorro in front of her again as she asked.

AIBU to be relieved Zorro is finally gone?

I suspect you're right.

No I don't but owners of extremely dangerous dogs who kill children should be tried for manslaughter.

I hope that FIL lied to MIL about giving the dog away because I’d hate to think about the injuries that it could do to others. I hope that Zorro doesn’t live near me.

Thank you for your replies.

Just to answer a few comments:

• Zorro had been given away to FIL's friend who lives alone far away and knows the dog fully and knows its history. (We already live 2 hours away from in-laws and FIL's friend lives a further 2 hours away from In-laws)

• it has been stated that at at no point would FIL's friend EVER bring Zorro round to in-laws house for any reason whatsoever.

• I'm not happy and jumping off the roof that he's gone I'm more relieved. However considering the history of the dog and that he went for a 14 month old baby I don't think our reaction is spiteful.

In-laws knew he should have been put down ages ago but MIL couldn't bring herself to do it (I understand she loves Zorro)

Zorro is a pedigree Staffordshire Bull Terrier and 9 years old. They initially wanted to let nature take him naturally and so they gave him tablets 3 times a day to keep him calm.

Zorro had been given away to FIL's friend who lives alone far away and knows the dog fully and knows its history. (We already live 2 hours away from in-laws and FIL's friend lives a further 2 hours away from In-laws)

What sort of person takes on such a dog??? Why would someone knowingly take on a dog that's already a proven bite risk?

Will await the thread from Zorro's new owner....

This isn't the happy ending you think it is.

What a relief.

@ZipZapZoom I really don't know why fil's friend has chosen to take him on?

DH and I have been thinking maybe this is a way for MIL to have a little visit once in a while?

FIL said enough was enough after he went for baby. This could have ended in the worst way possible

They chose having their Gc and family at a milestone birthday over a dog??
I could never understand this.

@Hollyhobbi so human rapists and murderers can live. That’s awesome. 🤔#they bite too.

I can’t even.

I recall your previous thread. I’m afraid all your PILs and SIL are idiots who put a dangerous dog ahead of their children and grandchildren. They are lucky the dog didn’t kill someone. It’s appalling that they’ve passed the risk onto someone else rather than put the poor thing to sleep.

I'm afraid I still wouldn't want my kids to be looked after by people with such poor judgement.

I get why you are feeling relieved OP but I don't think this is a happy outcome.

What if FILs friend decides to pass on the dog? What if it ends up with other irresponsible owners or even owners with children. PIL have effectively just passed the problem on with absolutely no control over what happens in the dogs future, I think it's completely irresponsible.

They really should have had him put to sleep in my opinion.

Probably has been PTS, MILs been told it’s gone to live on a farm 😬

@Hollyhobbi Yes, in all honesty I agree with you. It does seem like passing the burden on and endangering whoever is caring for the dog now.

Obviously it's a dangerous dog etc but the poor thing might've been passed on for fighting or anything. Much better to PTS.

We are talking about a dangerous animal here. Not humans. There is a difference. You may love dogs, but please get some perspective.

MIL is sad - if you don't understand that then at least respect it. She loved the dog and it has gone. She doesn't feel relief she is grieving.

I make no comment on the rehoming here - my comment purely relates to empathy for sad people even if you don't agree with why they are sad.

I don't think you're wrong to be relieved but do think you're being a bit heartless towards your MIL, sorry.

Staffies are stunning dogs, this one has been severely let down to behave like it does, it's really sad but not remotely compatible with your family.

@Screamingabdabz But please, find your common sense. Humans can be very dangerous, like any animal.

They've just passed the problem on to someone else. They should have had the dog put down after so many bad attacks. That dog could kill a child or seriously hurt another adult and they've just washed their hands of it. I don't know why any of you would be feeling relieved.

Everyone is being unreasonable. That poor dog should have been PTS years ago. Poor animal is obviously stressed and causing stress to all who look after him.

You’re definitely not being unreasonable. You weren’t being unreasonable in not going over to the in laws’ either. I missed your original thread but am going to look it up now. As for any suggestions the way you feel about this savage animal having been disposed of - I agree with others that it should have been destroyed - ignore them. This dog sounds like it had a propensity to attack people and was a ticking time bomb. 3 tablets a day because of its temperament? Goodness’ sake!

I was at a family gathering a few weeks ago and my cousin’s other half was telling me he and she had been dog sitting for my cousin’s half brother. Apparently his dog has already bitten 5 people and had previously lunged at and almost bitten my cousin’s other half. I said well more fool the half brother for not doing the sensible thing and having the dog put to sleep. Why keep such an animal around?

Zorro sounds worse and I agree with others who have suggested your SIL and MIL must be insane. It’s criminally negligent in my view to keep a dog that has been known to bite as many people as it had alive. Might sound like a harsh stance but the number of fatal dog attacks in this country has gone through the roof in the last 4 years - the UK average had been around 3 for years. The trend in rising numbers needs to be reversed by any means possible.
Too much of this, “poor doggo,” and anthropomorphizing crap mentality these days.