Last year my sister moved out and started to rent an upstairs flat about 10 miles away from my mother and me. She had been going on about getting a puppy for some time, but my mother and I thought she was just having a laugh. Anyway, about two months ago she bought a female Akita puppy, even though my mother begged her not to because my sister works full-time and is out of the house for 9 or 10 hours Monday to Friday. What on earth was she thinking???
She takes the puppy around the block where she lives for 5-10 minutes at the most in the morning so the dog can have a pee and poo and then feeds her and leaves her water and then puts her in the sitting room. She goes to work and returns at dinner time and feeds her again and gives her fresh water and then leaves her until she gets home which is between 4-5pm and then takes her out for 15 minutes at the most.
I haven't owned a dog for quite a few years now, but even I know that what she is doing is not right. In fact, I would argue that it's cruel and not fair on the dog. She isn't bothering to train her puppy at all and it's as if she thinks she can buy a puppy and just behave like her life was before she got the puppy.
She has even had the audacity to ask our mother to stay at her flat and look after the puppy. Our mother refused and told her that the dog was not her dog and to give the dog to a good home and my sister called her the b word. They haven't spoken for a fortnight or so now.
She's not socialising her puppy, giving it enough exercise, etc. She's going to end up with an aggressive and miserable because of her selfish behaviour.
What should I do?
She sends me photos of the puppy playing with a dog in her flat and I feel like she's trying to emotionally blackmail to take the dog out.
I work shifts, but I am home most days, but why should I look after her dog? I still can't even believe that she bought her puppy.
Her flat stinks of pee, there is always pee on the floor and the dog is becoming destructive. That behaviour is not the dog's fault, it is my sister's fault and I feel sooooo angry at her. I don't even speak to her.
Yes, I know that a dog needs to learn to be alone sometimes, but not a young puppy and for hours and hours. It's not fair.
My sister bought a breed that needs lots and lots of exercise and is not really advised as a breed for a novice dog owner. Things are only going to get worse.
Has anyone else experienced this selfish behaviour from a family member or friend? I can't believe that she's been so irresponsible and selfish.
Her friends and other members of the family told her not to buy a puppy because of her lifestyle but she just dismissed any concerns and stated abruptly that "everything will be fine".
I feel so sorry for the puppy and it's driving me crazy.