Am i the only one who thinks this a beyond stupid idea?!

Person_one

beth.stephenson2009 wrote: »

I noticed flea dirt in her fur so I told him to get some flew treatment- shrugged it off so issue 1.

I don't understand why that's an issue, it wouldn't take you long to pick up some Frontline and pop it on the dog, then put a note on the calendar for the date its next due.

You visit anyway, its quicker than making him a cup of tea!

gettingready

OP - if you put just 10% of the energy you are putting on here into helping to care for the dog and making your granddad happy...rather than going on about how wrong/stupid it is... all will be fine. For both your granddad and the dog. Why deny both of them that little bit of hapiness in old age?

hethmar

It sounds like the poor dog hasnt had much of a life anyway and certainly if she has fleas will probably have worms too. Is your grandad in a position to pay out for vet treatment aswell?

As a young fit 20 year old I reckon you could pop round every day and take the dog out and get the flea and worm treatment sorted ?

Does he know how to feed the dog and can he put the food down for her?

gettingready

beth.stephenson2009 wrote: »

Mum has said we will leave it a few weeks. Apparantly the people who are giving her away are willing to take her back if it doesnt work out so we will have to see. Mum has said as soon as she noticea him not coping she will be taking the dog either back to my aunt to sort out or to the RSPCA for her to pick her up there.

That would be a really cruel thing to do - to both your granddad and the poor dog as by then they would have formed a certain bond.

Seriously, rather then looking for negatives - simply organise the help if needed, I really do nto see a problem considering you seem to live pretty close.

Old dog does not need so much walking etc - both dog and grandad will enjoy each other company with a little help.

It is really that simple.

iammarmite

I personally think some people on this thread on just being down right rude to someone who has merely come and asked for some advice- not everyone is as "expert" about pets as everyone else. Good to see that things don't change on here.

Anyway- to the OP.

It isn't your problem. If the dog needs a flea treatment send your aunt a text if you don't want to ring her and tell her. She made it her responsibility to get the dog in the first place so therefore she should look after it. It's nothing to do with you and it isn't your responsibility so don't worry about it. She obviously didn't take into consideration your decision about getting the dog in the first place so leave her to it. Frontline costs a couple of pounds in the supermarket.

Regards to the situation in general I think it is a very bad idea.

Maybe a little cruel to report him to the RSPCA but if that is what it comes to- that is what it comes to. I know what it's like to have a stubborn family.

gettingready

You are forgetting that there is a living creature in the middle of all this - one that never asked to be put in a situation where people argue "not my problem" over basic care of this creature.

It is done, the dog is there so needs to be looked after one way or another. I can not see how someone living few min away from the old man can no chip in to help.

Person_one

iammarmite wrote: »

I personally think some people on this thread on just being down right rude to someone who has merely come and asked for some advice- not everyone is as "expert" about pets as everyone else. Good to see that things don't change on here.

Anyway- to the OP.

It isn't your problem. If the dog needs a flea treatment send your aunt a text if you don't want to ring her and tell her. She made it her responsibility to get the dog in the first place so therefore she should look after it. It's nothing to do with you and it isn't your responsibility so don't worry about it. She obviously didn't take into consideration your decision about getting the dog in the first place so leave her to it. Frontline costs a couple of pounds in the supermarket.

Regards to the situation in general I think it is a very bad idea.

Maybe a little cruel to report him to the RSPCA but if that is what it comes to- that is what it comes to. I know what it's like to have a stubborn family.

Technically, no its not her problem.

However, imagine it was something else that made her elderly grandfather happy and just required a little bit of help from family to make it happen. Imagine it was a club they had to drive him to, or a hobby he needed a bit of help with, imagine that he needed just a tiny bit of their time and energy to stay in his own home rather than a care home, would 'its not my problem' be acceptable then?

When families love and care about each other, they do things to help out and to make each other happy even though they don't technically have to. Its sort of the point.

Lots of people do all sorts of tasks and favours for elderly relatives, plenty of which are far more onerous than putting a bit of flea treatment on a dog every 3 months!

poet123

Person_one wrote: »

Technically, no its not her problem.

However, imagine it was something else that made her elderly grandfather happy and just required a little bit of help from family to make it happen. Imagine it was a club they had to drive him to, or a hobby he needed a bit of help with, imagine that he needed just a tiny bit of their time and energy to stay in his own home rather than a care home, would 'its not my problem' be acceptable then?

When families love and care about each other, they do things to help out and to make each other happy even though they don't technically have to. Its sort of the point.

Lots of people do all sorts of tasks and favours for elderly relatives, plenty of which are far more onerous than putting a bit of flea treatment on a dog every 3 months!

Well said. I am having to bite my tongue about some of the things the OP has said......

Beckyy

OP IMO you're old enough to help out if you want to without your Mum's permission. If you genuinely want to give your Grandad a hand then just do it, both him and the dog will probably be very grateful.

Best of luck with the whole situation.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

beth.stephenson2009 wrote: »

He does get out once a day to visit my Nana in a nursing home- but its literally a walk that would take us 2 minutes and takes him nearly 10 minutes. So there is the issue of the dog being locked in the house for 2/3 hours a day.

And if something happens to her, would he be going out once a day without a slow, little dog to give him a reason to? Would he have anybody to talk to every day? Someone to cuddle up to him?

Or could the majority of his days consist of sitting alone, nothing to do, no reason to be out, no reason to get up in the morning? Just with the odd visit from one daughter who isn't around much, but doesn't want him to be totally alone - and a daughter/granddaughter who seem to think he's a four year old whose toy should be taken away in punishment?


That little dog could be the one thing that keeps him going if your Nan dies. Don't take it away from him.