Money Moral Dilemma: Should we still give our son £1,000 instead of a puppy?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

Our son and his girlfriend wanted a Labrador puppy, so we bred our Labrador, with the idea we'd give them one of the pups and sell the rest for £1,000 each. Our elder son didn't want a dog, so we promised him £1,000 instead. Yet after they were born, our younger son decided he wanted a retriever instead. I still want to give our elder son £1,000 as it's not his fault his brother changed his mind, but my wife thinks we should put it towards a family holiday, so we're still treating them equally. What would you do?

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SStitanic

You say you “promised” it to him so yes, it’s a promise and we must all keep our promises. Trust is a very important thing.

taper

Yes I would still give it to him as promised. As you now have an additional puppy to sell I would give the other son £1000 to put towards the retriever, which also keeps it fair.

ripongrammargirl

I’m just really concerned about the fact that your son said he wanted a puppy so you bred even more dogs that were not necessary and then he changed his mind. There are so many unwanted and abandoned dogs out there in shelters needing their forever homes and this has just added to this problem. Your son is clearly not responsible enough to own a dog if he changes his mind so quickly. Give your son his promised cash and show the potential dog owner how difficult it is to care for a dog by sending him to some classes first, so there are no further dogs sent for re-homing.  This post had left me really sad as we always go to rescue centres for our forever friends, not breed more unwanted puppies. 🦮🐾😢

Marcon

I'd stop agonising over things which really aren't dilemmas. Give them each whatever one of the pups sells for.

Geenniebabes

Yes, definitely give him the £1000 as you entered into an agreement to do just that when putting your dog into pup for the other son, which of course will have cost you to do, and although he changed his mind, hopefully you sold that puppy so are recompensed somewhat. If you hadn’t voiced to the other son that you would give him £1000, but just decided that quietly between yourselves, different matter!! Give him the £1000 and take them both on a family holiday if that’s what you want with the profit from the puppies!!!

Tiscean

Give both sons £1000 each - that’s fair. You will have the extra puppy and be able to sell it 

CapeTown

Good grief. The moral dilemma here is that you used your dog as a money making machine.  Poor dog

svcoolgirl

Get the younger son to give elder son the £100o you promised him, whilst telling him to not be so fickle as it impacts on others. And learn the lesson for yourselves about not indulging your children in the first place!

Ed264

Astonishing. You haven't disclosed the ages of your sons, but I think the younger son needs a good talking to. That's about as polite as I can put it.

camlotte31B

Why would you even think of not giving your elder son the money? You told him you would give him £1000 so you should stick to that. In addition you should give your younger son £1000 as well as by not doing so you are making a difference between the two of them. In any case you presumably will be selling the now unwanted puppy along with it's siblings. I agree with a previous post. I think it's irresponsible to breed your dog just so your Son and his girlfriend can have a puppy only to back out. Clearly the welfare of the !!!!!! or her puppies were not your primary concern and you are now leading by example in that you are legitimising puppy farming.