Man Cancels Family Thanksgiving After His Parents Insisted on Bringing Their Dog Along

As cute as the dog is, this man had to prioritize the safety of his children.

Jesse

Published in Interesting
30 Oct 2022

Man Cancels Family Thanksgiving After His Parents Insisted on Bringing Their Dog Along

If you've ever spent a day with a dog, you'd understand why they are the most popular pets in the United States. These adorable creatures are magical, which is why almost half of the world's population is completely enamored with them.

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However, it takes more than just loving a dog to own one. These canines require attention, time, energy, and money to care for.

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From walks to cleaning up after them to hiring a dog trainer or even training your dog yourself, it can take a lot from an individual.

Unfortunately, having an unkempt or untrained dog doesn't just affect you; it affects everyone around you, including friends and family.

You also have to consider that, as awesome as dogs are, some people can get sick just by being around them. When a member of your own family happens to be allergic to your dog, it can make visits or reunions a bit tricky.

We found a Reddit post highlighting the challenging nature of having a dog that isn't really welcome around the family.

A Redditor shared on the AITA subreddit that his parents own an adorable 100+ pound dog, but due to a lack of training, it was always chaotic having the dog around. From constantly barking to knocking his little kids over, the dog was a handful for everyone.

OP further revealed that his son is allergic to the dog, so he and his parents had agreed to board the dog whenever they came to visit.

Unfortunately, the dog got sick, and OP's parents were uncomfortable leaving him with a caregiver. So, OP was left with no choice but to cancel the family visit. From the looks of things, it was a tough decision to make.

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Family Reunion, Ruined!

Unfortunately, the 100+ pound dog was a handful for everyone. So, the plan was for his parents to board the dog before every visit.

OP Explained That the Family Reunion Was on the Brink of Collapse After the Dog Got Sick. Apparently, His Parents Weren't Comfortable Leaving Their Sick Dog with a Sitter.

The Psychology of Family Decisions

OP's Parents Brought Up the Idea of Visiting with the Dog Instead, but It Wasn't an Idea That OP Was Willing to Entertain.

"Your parents need to get a grip. Prioritizing their pet over their grandchildren is ridiculous."

"NTA, you did the right thing, and your children's safety is most important."

"Your child is allergic to the dog. The dog physically hurts your kids. That should come before anything else."

"I’m glad you stuck to your boundary; moms don’t always make it easy. As someone who also breaks out in hives around dogs, your child will be glad too."

"So your son breaking out in hives isn’t enough? What grandma risks a kid's health like that?"

Balancing Safety and Family Traditions

"Your mom sounds like she’s anything but a proud dog mom."

"NTA, and you have nothing to 'feel terrible' about. Your mother intentionally put you on the spot because she doesn't take your safety concerns seriously."

"Your kids come first. Even if you didn’t have little kids, your house, your rules."

"As much as I think dogs are the best thing ever, I despise bad pet owners who raise out-of-control dogs and think that everyone should accommodate them."

"The dog can't help that he has energy, true. But your mom and dad are clearly not doing enough with the dog to expel that energy."

"It's very important to establish boundaries early with grandparents. If expectations are clear, everyone is happier."

"Keep up the boundary. Tell them to come without the dog, or not at all."

Psychological Analysis

Analysis & Alternative Approaches

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