A woman has confessed to taking her mother-in-law’s dog because she thought it would be ‘happier’ living with her.
Sharing her truth on Reddit, the woman explained how she’d travelled to her hometown with her boyfriend to spend time with their families.
During their visit, they ended up checking in with his mum and 10-year-old brother on several occasions.
The 24-year-old said: “His mother is married to a man who does a lot of drugs and is emotionally and has been physically abusive before.”
Wanting to make up for his mistakes, the stepdad brought a dog home earlier this year – and the young boy bonded with it instantly.
“They have a history of getting new dogs and the dogs accidentally running out the door and never coming back,” she said.
“This has happened at least three or four times.”
It was during their visit when the woman asked her boyfriend’s mum whether she could take their new dog home with her, secretly wanting to ‘save’ it from suffering a similar fate to their other dogs.
The woman added: “I thought she was very sweet and asked if we could take her. She needs to be fixed and get all of her vaccines and such.
“Her husband was very hesitant at first but eventually agreed.
“The stepdad is rarely home now because he travels during the week for work, so the one who takes care of the dog is my mother-in-law and her son, who really loved the dog.”
Without stating what her 24-year-old boyfriend thought about the situation, she revealed how guilty she felt taking the dog away from her boyfriend’s family.
“We are on our way home and we have the dog in the backseat,” she said.
“I am happy because I know we will be able to give her a better life away from the stepdad and also get her regular veterinary care.
“But part of me feels really guilty for taking her.”
Offering their opinion, one user said: “You know their situation, and you know how difficult it will be for them to give her reliable care. And, however reluctantly, they did agree to your request. You did not steal the dog.
“Yes, it is sad for the 10-year-old. I’m sure he loves that dog -but he also likely loved all the other dogs that were abused, mistreated, or neglected.
“At 10-years-old, he can’t have sole responsibility for an animal, especially under those circumstances. He can’t, for instance, take the dog to the vet as needed in an emergency.
“I hope that when he gets older, he understands the situation better and thinks more that ’Hey, my sister-in-law and her husband were able to rescue a pet’.
“Whether he comes to believe that or not, that is exactly what you did do. You know you rescued that dog. And your husband believes that too.
“Animals don’t have to be in absolute cataclysmic situations to need rescue, and you made a decision that your house would be better, and safer, for this dog than your mother-in-law’s
“If nothing else, you significantly decreased the likelihood of the dog running out and getting hit by a car.
“Take a deep breath, let go of your guilt, and enjoy your new dog.”