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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dog sitting and moving house

4 replies

thebluehen · 25/09/2025 16:10

I mostly work remotely for a number of businesses. I live alone and my son has been living with his GF at her parents house. Next week I have 1 important office day and 2 half days. The 10 hour day in the office, my son agreed to cover, he works fully remotely and was going to work from my house. The two shorter days, I would just leave the dog at home alone. The reason I am doing the two half days is to cover for someone on holiday as they are very short staffed in the office.

Now, the dog has become quite sick. We are trying a new medication but we think he may have sustained brain damage from a long seizure. My son is completely on board with doing this rather than just putting him to sleep. We need to wait a few weeks. The dog's behaviour is odd, un-coordinated, he is chewing cables etc and he is toileting indoors so it requires a bit of management and he can't be left alone for very long at all as he is a danger to himself.

My son has now exchanged on buying his first house. He will complete on Monday and I understood the plan was to move in gradually that week in the evenings and hire a van next weekend. I assumed the dog sitting would still happen as he will still be working that day. He now tells me the internet is being fitted in his new house and he will have to be there that day and now can't dog sit. This causes me a massive problem as I can't ask a neighbour to drop in or a dog sitter as normal, as the dog is sick.

I have cancelled all non urgent things, like hair appointment, exercise classes and an evening out and another day in the office tomorrow as that can be re-arranged but I do feel I could do with some support on these working days, but can't decide if IABU or not.

For context, I have helped him financially with buying the new house and was planning on going to help with the actual move and cleaning etc next weekend but now it looks like I can't because of the dog.

I don't have any family apart from him and it's too much of an ask for my friends, who don't have dogs themselves and are also at work themselves, so there is no-one else to help.

OP posts:
Limth · 25/09/2025 16:15

Call in sick, stay with the dog.

Your son's a selfish twat.

The fact you helped him buy the house is neither here-nor-there.

Don't help your son with moving and cleaning.

Seriously consider putting the dog to sleep. That's a horrible way for him to live.

thebluehen · 25/09/2025 16:17

Limth · 25/09/2025 16:15

Call in sick, stay with the dog.

Your son's a selfish twat.

The fact you helped him buy the house is neither here-nor-there.

Don't help your son with moving and cleaning.

Seriously consider putting the dog to sleep. That's a horrible way for him to live.

Vet is saying she think's the new anti seizure medication is causing this confusion and to give it 12 more days for it to settle and then we will know. I am quite prepared to put him to sleep if need be as he is not having a good quality of life. I have had several discussions with several vets at the practice.

OP posts:
CatsorDogsrule · 25/09/2025 16:25

How about a petsitter? In the past I was a cat-sitter predominantly, but did a few ad-hoc visits with dogs in their home for 4-6 hours. 10 hours would have been OK, if paid for my time.

Alternatively, a local Facebook post might generate a response from someone with the time to spare.

I'm sorry your son isn't being supportive.

thebluehen · 25/09/2025 16:27

CatsorDogsrule · 25/09/2025 16:25

How about a petsitter? In the past I was a cat-sitter predominantly, but did a few ad-hoc visits with dogs in their home for 4-6 hours. 10 hours would have been OK, if paid for my time.

Alternatively, a local Facebook post might generate a response from someone with the time to spare.

I'm sorry your son isn't being supportive.

As the dog is quite sick, I don't think a pet sitter is suitable. Otherwise this would absolutely be a solution.

OP posts:
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