Am I wrong to be angry

[crapday69]

I am so angry with my brother. I'll explain why below.

My mother is 87 and in and out of hospital with old age related problems. She has just been in and has stents fitted (if thats the right word), she also has arthritis on her knee and is house bound unless someone take het out in there car with her wheelchair.

Her dog died at the end of last year (we lost my father 5 years ago) he was 14. She had to pay a dog walker to take him out. My mother wanted another dog to keep her company, an older jack Russel type dog at about 5 or 6, one that was house trained and looking for a new home. I was against this as she's not really up to it, but at a push if she really wanted one I would have helped her look for one. Yesterday when I went to visit my mum, my brother had spent £600 on a cockapoo puppy for her. I was angry with him for doing this to my mum. She can't train a new puppy and it will need loads of stimulation that's past my mums ability. She can hardly walk never mind slipping on pee and poo and a puppy running through her legs. Its also not her type of dog but now she's feels forced to keep it, it is a beautiful wee puppy and she does love it (how can you not love a puppy) but she knows herself it will be too much work for her.

So am I being unreasonable in being mad at my brother or does anyone here think he's a complete idiot.

[GiveMeABreak]

Sorry to hear about all the problems.

I think he meant well, but the idea was a bit misjudged, without considering the amount of care needed for a puppy however small the dog may be.

Unfortunately it’s one of the things people don’t always consider when they buy an animal for a pet, after not seeing past the initial knee jerk reaction to buy one.

Mind you any pet like a cat or a dog will need looking after exercising feeding watering and general interaction. If anybody can’t supply these things then it’s probably not a good idea to have one unfortunately .

[crapday69]

My mum doesn't mind paying a dog walker and she has a concealed back garden that her dog can run about and she can give it lots of love and companionship, thats why she was looking for an older dog.

TBH at her age and condition, she shouldn't have a pet for her own safety never mind the pets. My brother has 2 small dogs of his own. what will happen if my mum needs to into hospital, will he take the puppy and confuse and scare it with his 2 dogs ? Its not as if my brother is young and thoughtless, he's 65 !!! I don't want to get into a big argument with him so I haven't spoken to him (as I know I will end up shouting at him) My other brother and sister are of the same mindset as me. I cant take the dog as I have a cat and stay 80 miles away in Glasgow and my other brother is in Liverpool and sister, Cornwall. The brother that bought the puppy stays 15 minutes away from her.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yeah it’s important not to try and fall out with family. Better to bite your tongue in the situations .

I think just agreeing that your brother will have to take responsibility for his decision so there is no come back - for practical reasons of distance if nothing else Gary.

[crapday69]

he's never took responsibility before with her old dog. as a mater of fact, his tendons went 2 days after my dad passed away and my friend had to look after him for about 12/14 weeks and my brother from Liverpool used to come up and look after him.

what do I do if my mum trips over her puppy and hurts herself? I dread to think like that though and I know when he's house trained, she will be over the moon.

[Hell Razor5543]

They say that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

While you may well be angry (and justifiably so) with your brother, it is not worth a major fight over it. He will have to take responsibility for his actions, as he is the closest (location wise) member of the family. If this means paying somebody to train the puppy (or training it PROPERLY himself) then that is what he will HAVE to do! It will take carefully diplomatic talk to point out his mistake, but don't beat him around the head with it.