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AITA for Returning My Daughter’s Emotional Support Dog to the Shelter? My daughter is 17, and I’m 47. My wife is 44. Lately, my daughter, who’s been dealing with anxiety and depression, asked if she could get an emotional support animal. She didn’t want to go back to therapy because she didn’t like her last therapist.
I didn’t want to get a pet because my daughter having trouble keeping her room clean and doing chores, and I didn’t want to be responsible for a dog after working long hours. My wife felt strongly that an animal might help my daughter, so we decided to get her a dog. We picked a breed that was suitable for our situation
At first, the dog seemed to help and got along well with my daughter and wife. I was less enthusiastic, and I think the dog picked up on that. Over time, the dog started causing problems escaping its leash during walks, destroying furniture, and my daughter wasn’t taking it out regularly. I came home to find messes on the new carpet.
I warned my daughter twice that if she didn’t start taking better care of the dog, it would have to go. She promised she’d do better, but she didn’t. So, one day while she was at school, I took the dog back to the shelter.
When my daughter came home and found out, she was heartbroken. She said the dog was her best friend and blamed me for making her depression worse. My wife thinks I should have discussed it more with her before making the decision. Now, my daughter and I aren’t talking.
AITA for taking the dog back after my daughter failed to care for it?
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AITA for Returning My Daughter’s Emotional Support Dog to the Shelter?
Let’s swiftly assess a handful of the top comments: AITA for Returning My Daughter’s Emotional Support Dog to the Shelter?
NTA for returning the dog to the shelter. It was not having a good life with your family being unable to take regular exercise or go outside, and that is why it was going wild and going to the bathroom inside. It’s best it is with a family that has the capacity to look after its needs. And I see your daughter agrees she wasn’t caring for it properly, so she needs to understand she can’t have an ill/unhappy dog around because it helps her mood at times. It is a living creature and has needs, same way she does. Maybe if she really needs/wants contact with animals you all should work out something like shelter volunteering or visiting petting zoos where she can see them when she’s up to it. Or get more independent pet that you and your wife are willing to help with.
Slight Y T A for not discussing this with your daughter in terms of timelines. Whatever she is going through, she should not have found out by coming home to no dog, there should have been a chance to say goodbye.
I considered E S H but ultimately NTA as this was best for the doggo
Why the hell would you get a dog in the first place if you knew nobody would take care of it? That’s borderline abuse.
The only thing I can give you credit for is returning the dog so hopefully someone with basic empathy can give it a good home.
Why the hell would you get a dog in the first place if you knew nobody would take care of it?
Because his 17-year-old daughter and his wife assured him it’ll be fine. That’s one whole adult in addition to the depressed teenager who should’ve been picking up the slack.
