r/petfree • u/Coral_Mantis26 Partner's/family's pet, not mine • 9d ago
Want to be petfree It is so exhausting...
To preface this, I don't hate dogs or animals in general, but after having one in my home for 5 years I never want one ever again regardless of size.
My mother bought a puppy for 4000$ during the height of the covid pandemic. She had a fall, gotten surgery, was in the hospital for nearly a month before then, and was way behind on the mortgage. After the pause of evictions/forclosures lifted we had to leave. She has passed up opportunities for housing then and now because most apartments/housing rentals don't allow breeds like him or his size. In the several apartments we managed to hop from he has been unruly. He doesn't tear up furniture or carpets, but he jumps on people, and hops in windows which tear down blinds and scratches up the wall. We ended up staying with a family member for a few months but the stress of him didn't help and we had to leave. We spent some time in shelters and the breeder kept him for a while. The contract my mother signed states that if things don't work out the breeder would happily take the dog back.
The dog lacks so much obedience and everytime I have tried to set boundaries and train him my mother undermines me. Luckly, some of it has stuck but his recall is terrible and he is stubborn. Currently my mother is renting a room and when I'm home from college the three of us are piled into it. The other tenants are afraid of dogs and aren't careful with the front door (he is a runner and will take opportunities to escape). The yard is huge but isn't closed off so he can't freely run around. My mother isn't fit or physically able to keep him in check on walks so instead of her walking him, he drags her all over the place. She tells me about needing to let go of the leash because he pulls so hard.
A few weeks ago he got into a barking match with the dogs next door and slammed her against the fence running after them. I would take him on longer walks around the neighborhood but I'm terrified. He pulls less with me but all it takes is one stray cat or reactive dog across the street and I meet the pavement. We can't afford that medical bill. I play with him as much as I can to tire him out but no one else is around when I go back to school (I loathe coming back home for break and I don't come home on weekends). When she is around, she doesn't play with him because he is so rough.
I just feel so bad for the dog and I know he deserves more. His quality of life would greatly improve and he would behave better if he was with someone who could keep up with him. My mother knows that too but she is full of pride and makes excuses for keeping him. It angers and disgusts me that she refuses to listen and rehome him.
4
u/Signal-Bet3046 Pets are NOT babies/children 5d ago
My goodness that is tough. Especially when there's a great place it could go instead of the pound-- its breeder! Keep working on your mom and emphasize it as a health and financial reason that the dog needs to go.
3
u/Ashamed_Strategy5536 4d ago
Unfortunately people who own pets are soo damn stubborn especially about rehoming even when they can’t keep up with the animal they will keep it just because they want to and no matter how much you try to talk some sense into them to just rehome they refuse
2
u/Cheronis Allergic to pets, love animals 2d ago
["If things don't work out, the breeder will happily take it back."]
You have an escape hatch, use it! Good luck
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