If you’ve ever been really strapped for cash, you know the mental gymnastics your mind can do to figure out a way to get some cash to just scrape by till your next payday. It’s not a nice way to live, but it is survival, what we humans do best.
But sometimes, this useful skill can be used for evil, rather than good.
In this story, a dad was royally mad when he caught his son trying to sell the family dog for some extra cash to be used for gaming gear.
More info: Reddit
A pet isn’t something you can give away easily or at all when you’re “tired” of it
Image credits: Kateryna Babieva (not the actual image)
The poster took it online to ask if he was a jerk for taking his son’s devices and dog away after he tried selling it
Image credits: u/Necessary_Concept_27
Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual image)
The son asked the parents for some new gaming equipment, but when they didn’t buy it for him, he decided to sell “his” dog
Image credits: u/Necessary_Concept_27
Image credits: Daoud Abismail (not the actual image)
The dad was enraged at his son for trying to sell the family dog, which he doesn’t take care of at all
Let’s start from the main and most important character in this story – the pupper! Zeus, the dog, was gifted to a 14-year-old, the son of the original poster (OP). He wanted an outdoorsy dog to join him on adventures, so Zeus is a husky, but not long after the teen got the dog, he became less infatuated with the outdoors and started spending more time gaming.
It’s important to mention that the teen has a cat, who he is attached to and takes very good care of, as well as being empathetic towards his siblings, so the parents couldn’t have guessed what the future held in store.
Over the course of two years, the teen now being 16, he hasn’t taken care of the dog whatsoever, no walks, no buying food, nothing. And so it became the family dog – OP mentions in the comments that he never wanted a dog, but he is happy to have it now.
Just like that meme “dad with a pet he didn’t want” sitting on top of his head, the dad and most likely the rest of the family took on all responsibilities related to the dog.
When the parents refused to buy some gaming equipment for the son because it didn’t fit their budget, the dad caught the son trying to sell the dog on Craigslist at first and then a week later, dad found the son red-handed, having taken Zeus for “a walk,” while in reality he had set up a sale.
The dad was incandescent with rage after this, taking away all of the son’s electronics and the dog, so he couldn’t attempt any more secret sales.
Another kicker is the fact that the teen actually has a job – yeah, you heard that right – and the father surmises that he just doesn’t want to spend his own money on the gaming gear.
The story happened 11 months ago and we have contacted the dad for an update, but he hasn’t gotten back to us yet.
Image credits: Szabo Viktor (not the actual image)
The trope of kids just fawning over the idea of getting a pet is a popular one. Almost as popular as them dropping any and all interest in the pet not too long after they get one.
Animals are, well – shocker incoming – animals. They’re not toys, they’re not really gifts either, they’re living beings that need a lot of upkeep to be healthy and happy.
The holidays, despite already being a period full of flashy decorations and distracting sounds for pets, are never a good time to add an animal to a family. Guests coming and going, children shouting, wanting to pet the animal at all costs, no matter how aggressively, are a definite strain on a pet.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) argue the same, that animals should never be given as gifts, because it exacerbates the problem of shelters becoming full to the brim with “toys” quickly abandoned by kids right after the holidays.
In a Quora thread, the good people of the internet were discussing what to do in these kinds of situations – when a child wanted a pet, but now that they’ve got one, they won’t take care of it.
One of the top answers says that if they’re old enough, you should make them take care of the pet. For example, if they don’t take the pet on walkies, refuse to feed it or clean up after it, decreasing their allowance could help. If they make a habit of it, they could be grounded or lose other privileges.
You shouldn’t punish the kids disproportionately, but they must understand that a pet is a responsibility that they’ve taken on and cannot be abandoned when the “shiny new thing” feeling wears off.
The original post collected 5.2k upvotes, with 837 people in the comments judging the poster not to be a jerk and emphatically supporting dad’s actions. In the end, according to the comments, the dad attempted to refer his son to therapy, to help the family understand the deeper issue.
Share your thoughts about this story and experiences below!
The community judged the poster not to be a jerk, saying that the son’s actions were way out of line
Keep the dog. Put up an ad to get rid of the kid in exchange for a bag of chips. See how he likes it.
Sounds good to me. Give away the kid, who needs him? Dog is giving more love and empathy to other family members anyway.
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I'd make sure the dog is microchipped (and registered!) so if the son succeeds in selling the dog there is a chance to get him back. And the son loves the cat? Park the cat at a friend's house for a day, give the son 10$ and tell him you sold the cat instead. Either he is upset by losing the cat, and he begins understanding what he did...or you know you have a seriously disturbed child.
Gamer and dog/cat lover here. This boy doesn't deserve the dog, and neither the gaming equipment.
"Am I overreacting by punishing my son for trying to sell our families dog behind our backs to buy gaming equipment". The fact that they are questioning that seems to show the kind of parenting which likely led to the son being a spoiled little sh*t who would do it
The father kept his eyes open and followed his son, he took a responsible stance and didn't allow his son to do the wrong thing. This is good parenting, not bad imo.
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Your son tried to sell the family pet for money to fuel his video game addiction- get your kid into therapy stat.
I wonder how much he can get for his son? Probably could buy some really nice new dog toys.
You did the right thing. Dogs become imprinted to thier families and as a husky dad myself, I couldn't imagine the devastation and trauma that dog would go through. You kid is not only the a*s#ole, but a pos too.
The father's claim that the son cares about the cat so he's not lacking in empathy or compassion rings hollow to me as well...just because he might have care for one animal in particular doesn't mean he understands all animals shouldn't be abused or neglected. It also doesn't mean the son is capable of empathy. The dad is in serious denial.
Load More Replies... Y’know, even if you do see the dog as an object which can be just given away, this kid has *twice* tried to sell someone else’s belongings and lied about it. Oh, and various family members are saying he shouldn’t be punished. He’s a wrong ‘um and the family sounds pretty dreadful too.
Despite his protestations, the father had the instincts to know what his son was up to and follow him and their dog. I think there's more to this boy's lack of attachment than Dad wants to share. Dad should mention dogs bought like that are often used as bait dogs for dog fights. This boy has some issues.
This is fair. I wrote somewhere else that kids can do things the parents don't expect, but you're right that the dad feeling suspicious might indicate other problems. It could be that dad isn't even fully conscious of why, yet. I have to repeat others recommendation of therapy.
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I'm a gamer. I understand how deeply important those things are. Your son is cruel, selfish, cold, and vain. I'd have BURNED his console. You don't sell a family pet. The dog isn't his, even if you bought it for him. The gift was having a dog in his life. Your failure was in allowing this kid to not take care of the animal to begin with. Of course he likes the cat. It shits in a box and requires no more energy than filling a food bowl once every couple of days. Your kid absolutely has empathy issues and sees animals as things. He's just made the cat an exception. Deal with it PROFESSIONALLY with a licensed therapist NOW while you still have legal ability to force the issue.
To be a little nitpicky: cats should be fed once or twice a day depending on how much food you give them, not once every few days. Also while cats are easier to care for than dogs they shouldn't be mostly ignored, they just like dogs have emotional needs and wants.
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Well, usually I'm the person who sais that if you give someone a gift, it's theirs and they can do with it as they please. Even sell it if they want or regift it as they please. But I feel this is different because it's a pet, which means it needed sustenance and care to stay healthy, which the son didn't provide. If the family didn't intervene and taking over the care for the dog, the dog would have died. So by neglecting the dog, he gave it up. He rejected the gift by never taking real possession of it. So now it's no longer his dog to do with as he pleases. And it seems like he didn't care much about the dog anyway. He already had taken over the family cat, making it his instead. I wonder if this is more of a teenage tantrum. His parents didn't give him what he wanted, so he tried to sell something he knew they loved very much. He himself said it's'technically' his dog, technically is not the same as factually. Maybe he tried to 'punish' them for not buying him the gaming equipment.
You have an interesting point. But the kid seems to lack the concept of the dog being a living, breathing, feeling creature and how to treat them. He may of wanted to get revenge but he still has some issues by using the dog to do so.
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No kidding. I would put him in the car and take HIM to the park. At 16? This kid has some screws loose and hate to tell you mom and dad, but he is an addict.
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I can't get past OP saying "...he's an outdoorsy kid and asked for an outdoorsy dog..." Yes, the son takes good care of the cat, but cats don't typically need the kind of care that most dogs do, especially huskies. OP YTA because you didn't actually think this through before bringing Zeus into the home. You should have had a long and deep discussion with your son about the responsibilities of taking care of any dog, and especially a husky.
I have a dog who is a German Shepherd/Kuchi dog mix. He’s pretty seriously disabled due to having distemper as a puppy, but he is STILL an active dog with a “job to do” (guard the property, a trait he inherited from his Kuchi mother.) He has two very active, athletic breeds as parents and he’s very active and intense despite his disability. A perfectly healthy husky would be my dog x 50. It’s terrifying when people adopt certain breeds (e.g., husky, Belgian Malinois) with NO clue about the breed and NO plan in place.
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OP needs to stop saying he son has empathy and isn't cruel to animals. Even monsters like somethings. This kid is a jerk. He doesn't deserve any electronics.
Instead of wasting time asking for advice I'd be spending it devising a rota on who in the family will be awake and on guard just in case his son goes psycho... Because he sounds a little... Odd...
I lost my dog back in 2020. I wasn't the best owner but I never totally neglected him. That nimrod shouldn't be allowed anywhere within 10ft of a dog, and if OP bought all his electronics, OP ought to sell them as funds for raising Zeus.
He first started it when he bought the dog as a present. You buy things as presents, you don’t buy family as presents. And a pet is a family. A parent who hasn’t bother to teach that to their kid is bad parent. A dog is not a bike or ski or skateboard. It is a lifelong commitment, not just a commodity for a phase in your life, which can be discarded once the phase is over.The father is just as bad as the son.
Absolutely NTA. Your son treated "his" dog like an inanimate object that could be discarded or sold without affecting anyone else in the family. If I were you, I would have a long talk with him. Either you failed to teach him the importance of empathy, patience, and responsibility...or he failed to learn.
Or son is sociopath (similar to psychopaths but sociopaths are more similar to healthy people - they can like, have relationships with animals and people but their emphaty and compassion is limited - in other words they can love their family members, pet, friends, lover but they can do terrible unspeakable things to other people, animals.
Load More Replies... Yeah that kids going to end up on the evening news soon, let’s hope the kid hasn’t got access to guns!
My guess is that you didn't set boundaries from the beginning. He won't change.
Load More Replies... I think the son thought taking care of the dog would be similar to taking care of the cat. But it's not. Cats are way less work. That is why I have cats instead of dogs. (Though I love all animals)!
It sounds like the son may have a literal addiction to video games. Internet Gaming Addiction isn't widely accepted, but it is a very real thing and it needs real treatment. Based on the son's other acceptable behavior, ie cat and sibling care, the son has a disconnect with his Gaming. He needs help; not the silent treatment.
Yeah I dont think its an empathy issue I think its an ADDICTION issue
Load More Replies... I don't understand why OP is denying that his son has empathy issues, he does it's a fact, now whether or not he just has issues because he doesn't think things through and is a pissed of teen or if it's something diagnosable is the question. Personally I'd be worried since it seems that he treats everything that he views below him as disposable. Sure he likes the cat, but I wonder how much of that is just because the cat ignores him and OP's kid only interacts with the cat when it suits him. I feel bad for the rest of the family cuz this kid isn't really ok, hope it's something he grows out of
Agree with everything you said except this kind of behavior is not something he'd grow out of. He needs therapy.
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Ok - my parents treat animals like pieces of furniture they need to feed and even THEY would never sell a dog like this!!! This is disturbing on a different level to me...
The OP should just tell his son that the dog is no longer his since the day he stopped taking care of it so he should just save for whatever c**p he wants. This reminds me of my husband's cousins that used to steal from his grandma to sell and buy drugs. Real pieces of c**p.
This is so freaking creepy.... I honestly have no idea what to say, like I get some people just don't click with dogs and that's totally fine but shouldn't he have at least realized it would break his family's hearts to lose their dog? I almost wonder if the son is intentionally acting out for attention, like he's doing the shittiest thing he can think of because he knows it'll create a huge reaction. But that's still insanely messed up....
NTA, but a failure as a parent for raising your son to think this kind of thing is okay.
But he didn't raise his kid to think this way? It's clear in the post that the dad was blindsided by his kid thinking that way. He even got the kid a cat a while ago that he takes care of perfectly fine. Like the dad had said "why doesn't he treat the dog that way?"
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The last two words OP wrote speaks volumes of concern & I’d the real issue needing to be addressed
I understand his guilt of taking away his sons electronics. I do, only because this means he is a good man. He thinks about his actions and loves his son so much he put his feelings aside. I just hope he understands that he was not wrong, not in the slightest. I was terrified to do anything wrong growing up, terrified. This is just craziness. So many kids are so disconnected. All he could see was himself. Zeus is his brother simple as that. He is no longer his, as soon as he let Zeus be taken care of dad and the rest of the family, that right to give away or sell his present crumbled. A Cat... Low maintenance. I have had some awesome cats but a dog is a friend. When the screen becomes your best friend it's time for something truly drastic. I still... Sell your family's dog? YOUR FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVIATED! WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO LIE AND MAKE THEM ALL THINK HE WAS GONE, GONE? I don't even want to know. I cannot wrap my head around how hurtful people can be.
Don’t leave the son alone with the dog. I actually fear that he will mistreat the dog if he feels forced to take care of Zues. That’s not cool at all …
The dad missed a great opportunity to chisel a lesson in that child's memory. "So, since you're MY son, that means I can sell you too if it's convenient for me? See what your logic is?!"
That wouldve been a good thing to say actually, the only thing youve said I agree with
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The dog stopped being the boys dog when he stopped caring for it. Everything was done by the rest of the family. A pet is a privilege, not a right and so is gaming equipment. Not sorry for the little s**t.
Kid's got a job so he can buy his own stuff. Good on you, OP, that just because your son never really liked the responsibility of a dog, just the idea of having one, it didn't affect how you felt about the dog.
I'd probably have checked local laws too, in a lot of locales, at least in USA it's actually illegal to sell or give away pets. You have to charge an adoption fee, which reduces the chance of dog fighting people getting a hold of dogs, but you can't call it selling. It's splitting hairs a bit. Chances are, the dog is documented as belonging to the adults in the house, selling it is actually illegal simply because it's theft. I'd recommend make it clear that if he tries to sell anything owned by the family again they'll press charges and come visit his a*s in juvie where he'll have a real hard time playing his precious games.
The kid has a job!? And won't use his own money to buy it? Jeez! He's gotta get tough, if the sons still in his house..he makes the rules..
Yikes... looks like the dad may have a bad apple in the fold.. I just dont have words for how to handle a 14yo that would sneakily try and sell the family dog for electronics.. yes I understand the dog was meant for him but he basically abandoned the dog and that pooch became the family dog.. only way I would consider the dad to be an AH is if he permanently banned his son from electronics until he moved out..
Kristi, the boy is 16 years old. I'm troubled that this boy has a job and doesn't want to spend his money on the gaming stuff that he wants. He's a spoiled entitled acting brat. He definitely needs therapy. And the dad wouldn't be out of order if he banned electronic devices for the next 2 years. Boy child could then move out...
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This kid is messed up. Loves the cat but thinks the dog is a thing? works but doesn't think he should have to spend the money for his gaming c**p? he's got some messed up stuff going on and needs therapy but the dad doesn't seem all that bright either.
Your son's a narcissist and perhaps a sociopath. Not just for trying to sell the dog but because he didn't care about the impact that it would have on his family that were close to Zeus. Your son needs therapy and I would worry about the safety of your family because that is highly abnormal behavior
Wow, I remember being a teenager and leaving to study away, it broke my heart to live my dog at home with mum and dad. I used to get home on weekends and he would go crazy the moment he heard my motorbike. I loved that dog. Eventually I got my own place but the didn't allow animals but I smuggle him in. This was the 90s and my boss gave me permission to build a little hut on the roof where I worked so I could bring him to work. Sadly he escaped chasing a b***h in heat and got run over, broke me. I took me more then 20 years to adopt another dog, she snoring next to me now after a day on the beach. She come to work to.
I am so glad to see his Dad is thinking about putting this kid in therapy. Yes, please. Get to the bottom of it. Don't we wish the parents of Bryan Kohberger paid attention to this kind of thing?
NTA There is something really wrong with your son. It's okay if taking care of or hanging out with the dog isn't his thing, but he has lived with the dog everyday for two years and doesn't recognize or care that it's a living being with feelings and needs? And, he doesn't understand or have empathy for the love you and your wife have for the dog or the love and dependency the dog has for the family. I would talk to a therapist and keep him away from animals.
Your Son likes the cat because cats are independent and he doesn't have to "play" with the cat like you have to do with the dog. He doesn't have to walk the cat/take it outside so the cat can use the bathroom. Basically he has no responsibilities with the cat. He probably doesn't even clean out the litter box. If he wants gaming equipment he can use his own money.
Wow, sorry but your son is awful. That is borderline sociopath behaviour.
So sad anybody abandons a dog from material things.dogs loving security for our homes.they give unconditional love.dont leave him alone with dog he self centred wicked.he has no love compassion for that beautiful creature.my bro stinky for money too he can't own dog not willing care for it or spend medical bills.he greedy Ur son heartless.protect love that dog animals deserves to be cared for.
Parenting failure. You raised him. Where did he learn his values?
Dad may think the kid doesn't have empathy issues and maybe he doesn't. However, this kid does have issues in not being able to accept that he can't have anything he wants and that he resorts to what is essentially theft of the family dog after already being stopped from selling the dog once before.That kid wouldn't be seeing his gaming equipment for the foreseeable future.
NTA. However, it sounds as if your son has a gaming addiction. You need to get him some help ASAP, before he gets himself into serious trouble. Board his cat elsewhere, and tell him that if he can't show the same empathy for Zeus as he does for the cat, he deserves neither. Pets are living, breathing creatures, not commodities to be bought and sold like furniture.
No! Boarding the cat elsewhere would be punishing the cat, not the boy. Please find some other punishment.
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I would like to know the source of what caused the kid to stop loving outdoors and retreat to video games in the first place. During one of the hardest times in my life I developed a bad gaming addiction. I would play almost all my waking hours and felt I couldn’t live without them. Then things started to get better. I slowly began to learn new hobbies (like jewelry making and cooking), and slowly lost interest in the games over a period of several weeks. Eventually I uninstalled most of them. Now I only really feel the urge to go back when I am under high stress. I am not saying this kid’s actions were justifiable (I would have never sold my dogs!), but I am saying that they should look into whether anything is happening at school or if anything else changed. This is likely an addiction that he developed to escape from something. Or at least it could be.
They won't let me say what I think of 1: The dad buying his 14 year old kid a dog just because the kid wanted one and then let that same child ignore and dismiss all the responsibilities that come with it but still allowing the child to display a sense of ownership over the dog. That is on the dad. 2: The kid.
Dad is in some denial! But the cat... Uh, sir- this still shows a lack of empathy, even if he's nice to his cat.
The amount of times this dad said "but he has a cat he loves." Narcissists are absolutely capable of showing affection if they feel it benefits them to do so. It doesn't mean he doesn't have issues.
Can we NOT jump to labeling every a*****e with an already stigmatized personality disorder? Every a*****e isnt a narcissist and narcissists arent monsters theyre people who need THERAPY. This kids actual issue is a GAMING *ADDICTION*
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I'm always having to explain to my teenager that technically, he does not "own" anything. Things beyond the necessities I am required by law to provide he only has because I allow him to have them. I can take any of it away at any time. I don't arbitrarily take his things, but sometimes kids need a reminder when they start up with the "It's mine! I can do what I want!" On no you cannot.
I love this thinking, but what if it's something they purchased themselves, say with birthday money? This is the exact reason that I worked from the time I was 13, so that I could by a car at 16 and pay for it myself without any help (insurance too). That way my father wouldn't be able to stop me from using it.
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You are definitely not AH and I totally agree with taking is stuff away from him!
I am an animal lover, and I love each and every dog, but I don't connect with every single one. If you get a dog for a kid the surprise is a cool one time event, but letting them choose themselves might be wiser in the long run, so that THIS doesn't happen.
Son asks for dog. Son is given dog. Son doesn’t connect with dog. Dad takes ofer caring for dog. Son proposes selling dog to buy computer games. Dad says no. Son decides to lie and go behind the family’s back to see the dog anyway. Multiple family members say that the son should not be punished. 🤔The problem is not that the son failed to bond with the dog.
Load More Replies... Dear BP: you should NEVER quote PETA or deal with them in any way. The only thing ethical about them is...well, nothing.
Well, watch the cat and be sure it looks safe, happy, and healthy. This whole story demonstrates some underlying anger issues.
GAMER, ANIMAL LOVER, but more importantly, a PARENT here. While most people are so quick to blame the kid, y'all have to ask yourself, did the kid really wanted a dog?? Sometimes parents only hear what they want to hear. Probably YOU GUYS who wants to give your kid a dog, then make your kid believe that it's them who wants a dog. Kids are weird and going through all those hormonal and rebellious nonsense -we're all been through that. So as a parent, what can YOU say about kid who try to sell a family member for gaming equipments?? What kind of values that YOU teach to your kids?? I'm a gamer, my kids are gamers, but none of us are a******s. I always took my time and teach them good values. I don't let them learn from strangers on the internet. It's MY RESPONSIBILITY as their dad. Buying them gaming gears is not where your responsibility ends, it's where your responsibility STARTS.
There are SO MANY red flags here! The fact that this kid feels so entitled to get whatever he wants by any means necessary, including selling the family dog, is beyond disturbing in its own right! But the fact that this Father (who created this monster) feels some type of guilt for taking "his sons" dog, is despicable! The son has no interest in the dog! He doesn't care for him or his needs whatsoever and tou feel WRONG for being rhe parent and stepping in?!?! Dude GROW A PAIR! This kid clearly needs an old fashioned a*s whooping! Ylwho is the parent here?? ACT LIKE IT! And the dog deserves a family who will love him beyond measure! ❤️ I feel bad for this dog bc this entire family needs help!
Parent may have bought the dog for the child but until the child reaches the age of maturity they don't legally own a damn thing.
Time for boarding school, keep the dog. Kid has issues, that's cruel. I wouldn't trust him in my home again.
I feel the Son & Father may not have a close relationship..& as some of us are-insecure in areas-parenting is a big one! Kids I feel need to know-esp. at that age that WE know we aren't perfect-& make mistakes...it's definitely o.k. for them to...& make a atmosphere they can talk to you. Why doesn't the father know Why he doesn't like the dog-as opposed to the Cat? That seems like an obvious answer. Offering to sell your son in jest-or something he does care abt-or cut off a best friendhip-just for him to be helped to gain empathy for things that aren't of value to him. He obviously is also short on understanding selling the dog-EOULD HURT you and the rest of the Family-which I also see no where he is having this info passed on to him. As he said-he relates to material things-may be his friends or aquant. at school dont show him real friendship. Children HAVE to be Taught empathy- But parents r confused by behavior-but cant ask in begin. *WHY don't like? Its a problem w Closeness.
Sorry but that kid should not own the dog. I think what the father did was correct. Tell him to get a job and he can buy his own c***.
Here in Belgium we have a saying:kid wants a pet and who takes care of it?mom ! Most of the time when the summervacation starts such animals get dumped in shelters of even crueller still on the streets or tied on a tree. I personaly have seen it happen .my own daughter was like that one time after we got a cat.a year later she was bored of it and wanted a dog,i replied are gonna walke it daily or me? Are you really so cruell to want get the cat in a shelter after you begged for it? Are you really that stupid? Or shall i put your games in the thrash cause im fed up whit your expensive games ?that´s not the sameshe said,well no the cat is a living being ,games are only games nothing more.shell i put you away instead then in a bordingshool? She never asked me again
The sad thing it's one more parents offering pets as toys story. Where I live we have to register our pets and only an adult can do it, so in my point of view, the dog cannot belong to a child. Then there is the complete horrible behaviour for a kid that is almost an adult of taking an animal that the parents obviously care for and try to trade it for more shinny toys ... I would never do that to my family even if I did not like the dog that is unacceptable behaviour and last, how he thinks of the dog as something to barter with strangers so... These parents obviously failed to educate him and now he is almost an adult and an incredible addition to society... Kids will always want shiny expensive toys and pets are included in these wants but every time a parent gives something of value to the children it's their job to educate them in how they perceive and value their gifts... And it's their job to evaluate what could go wrong. That kid obviously does not need the consoles nor the dog
If he truly believes the dog is his then start charging him for all the vet bills and food. Once he sees that it's so expensive I'm sure he will admit that the dog isn't his "responsibility" therefore the pup is yours. If he wants the systems or whatever, he can use his own money... I'd start charging a small rent as well and save a portion of it for a deposits when he moves out.
The dad is a wimp of an a**hole for even asking if he is the a**hole. His son has is a future serial killer. Take away the toys and send him to military school. What a totally stupid question from a worthless worm of a parent.
May of not been able to bond, also likely has a gaming addiction + cats dont usually sell for much
Load More Replies... Maybe the son is jealous of the bond the dog has with the family and is just looking for a reason to get rid of the dog. I would have a long talk and ask pointed questions to determine the root cause of the boys ambivalence to the dog.
Ah heck nah...I have my own dog(a chihuahua that is completely attached to me) that my parents got me when she was 3 (she's currently 8, I got her when i was 29) she was from an Amish puppy mill, and was completely TERRIFIED of god and everything, especially men. I am unable to pay for her medical bills and license ect. My parents foot the bill for that...but getting all past that stuff. I have a tiny income from SSI and I am a huge gamer. However, I do buy my chihuahua toys every so often (because of her past she never really learned how to be a dog and I'm trying my best to ease her into toys) but if I desire a game or something to go along with my gaming console, I save tf up for it. Simple as that. The kid has issues...I'm not even that heartless. Perhaps it's because I volunteered in shelters when I was younger and know what it's like to see dogs and cats come and go
Why pile it on the kid? Didn't you raise him?? Your failure to use judgement in the first place, lavish him with a high maintenance gift in the secind place, and reluctance to talk this out with him in the third place, point to your creating just another entitled kid. Fortunately parents are now being held accountable in various ways... no more pleading ignorance
Chat bot much on this article Larsas or are writers really this bad now?????? But seriously I would like to know is there an app where I can copy paste this article and see if it was written by bot or human???? Ty in advance the excitement to find out is killing me...
If I'm being honest what he is doing is horrible but you did give him the dog and he didn't want it anymore. I can't really judge him for being heartless if he has another companion and he loves them and maybe he just didn't really want the dog. Yes it probably would have been better to discuss it with y'all but again you did give HIM the dog. But since he is not an adult yet, you are the parent and you can still make the decision especially since you're the one probably paying for the care. If you had given him the dog and he was an adult, I would just say you're overreacting purely on the basis of it's not a decision for you to make even if you don't like it.
You should be sold to a random person, not this dog. You have zero empathy, it's pathetic. A dog is not an object. You should look for help.
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NTA. I wouldn't trust this kid now, as far as I could throw him. Trying to sell the dog is just a sneaky, underhanded thing to do. I was going to say that he might have some emotional problem, BUT, asking for the dog, then changing his mind, and ignoring the dog is kind of a "immature kid" thing to do. Like "I wanted a dog last week, but this week I don't." It's not that unusual for his age. Somewhere along the line, this kid has learned to be callous and selfish. If he's working, what does he do with the money he earns? Do not give into him. If he wants the gaming stuff, tell him he needs to save up and pay for it himself. I'd still wonder what he does with his money. The dog is not his at this point. He cares nothing for the dog. The dog is now the family pet. Unfortunately, you're now going to have to watch him so he doesn't try to sell the dog again behind your back.
I hate these stories. Dad is like I don't know why my kid is an idiot/lazy/entitled and everyone is like something wrong with you kid and dad is like no way. Dad is right nothing wrong with the kid it's the dad who cannot parent. Kid caught trying to sell dog. Dad says no and kid doesn't listen. Even more troubling is kid has money but doesn't want to use it. For Christ sake be a parent and quit asking the Internet if you're an AH. Ground the kid, take away electronics, and make him apologize to everyone in the family. I might even make the kid walk with us when I take the dog and clean up the waste.
NTA There is something really wrong with your son. It's okay if taking care of or hanging out with the dog isn't his thing but he has lived with the dog everyday for two years and doesn't recognize or care that it's a living being with feelings and needs? And, he doesn't understand or have empathy for the love you and your wife have for the dog or the love and dependency the dog has for the family. I would talk to a therapist and keep him away from animals.
It's obvious the son knew how much the dog meant to everyone. He wanted what he wanted and would do anything to get it. He needs to be reminded of his age and stop acting like a child.
Dad is part of the problem - in every response he is making excuses or sticking up for his son rather that face head on very disturbing behavior.
Living creature that the parents bought and are caregiving for. Ingrate went behind thier backs after being explicitly told not to sell living creature. The son might be a sociopath....
This goes beyond serious. OP may have to implement commando parenting tactics. His son just proved that he cannot be trusted, with his dog or anything else of value. OP would be better off locking up any and all valuables (including those belonging to his siblings), taking away and selling the games and electronics, and getting his son some professional help. Otherwise, OP could end up losing a lot of his stuff.
Back in the early 90s, late 80s?? I remember having a pager if that helps. My meth head cousin tried to sell my rottweiler Tasha Yar he wasnt able to, Thank Gawd!, I have hated him ever since, when I visit other family I have to see him. I am not forgetting and forgiveness is out of the question his other male siblings and father ruined any semblance of family for me.
This sounds like the son has a gaming addiction. Trying to sell the family pet for cash to support a habit is addiction-level desperation.
The attempt to sell a dog for a pile of plastic is beyond my comprehension. And what about the cat? Is it a breed? No? There, nobody buys a regular adult cat, plenty to adopt. Is the dog a breed? Probably. Forgive my frankness, but your son has serious issues. You need to alert the family. Other "things" Will disappear. Cynical and inclined to sneak and lie to an entire family? No. Not possible. You seem to be remorseful...put some strength in your resolve. Look, in old time folks used to joke about family member on drugs stealing appliances...to buy something. This kid must be seen by a psychiatrist. His school should be infirmed too. After the games, what will he demand? I have seen families destroyed by undetected psichosis. Sorry. Just being seriously frank.
I get it, what the kid did was cold. But hes a kid. All the comments making it seem like he's an animal abuser just because he doesn't want a dog is really a stretch. People let their judgements become as wild as their imaginations. But That's what happens when you put your situations out there for the world to judge.
Not to mention people labelling him as a narcissist, clearly not knowing what narcissism actually is. I dont have it myself but have friends who do, and its a mental health issue not just the defining thing of a monster.
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One. The boy is 16 and should be working. Summer time full time. If he drives a car he pays gas, if he has a phone he pays 50 toward it or he gets a flip phone. He pays parent money to rent his gaming ware say 5 an hour. When he turns 18 go to trade school or college or start charging rent 200 a month put it in savings until he moves out. These kids are losing emotions due to gaming and covid lock-in and a sense of entitlement. Unplug your kids and take them outside. Play ball, just walk with them, go on a hike, go on a short trip to something historic. Yes they will complain but eventually they will start to like it. Don't worry about th e pushback it's normal. Do a clean the earth day, plant a garden, volunteer as a family, go to church or just meditate in nature. It's not too late to fix him but using computers and phones and TV to keep you kids quiet because your too tired is wrong. Connect your children to people, life, animals, nature, be with them, talk to them.
This is the time to bond with your son. Go for walks together, build things together. It'll make you talk and appreciate each other's skills. Meanwhile, your son is not on electronics. Your son is in dire straits. He needs more human interaction. If thus doesnt work he needs to have tests done. It might clear up why he did such a cold thing and why he lacks ethics.
The Dad was incandescent? Do these a******s even check their s****y articles?
You say that you took away his electronics.Does this include the gaming gear (console, cartridges, software, etc...)? Because he has a serious addiction problem. Also, stop buying him whatever he wants. You said you didn't buy the gaming gear because you couldn't afford it which sounds like if you could have afforded it at the time you would have bought it for him. STOP! He has a job but "doesn't want to use his money". WTF?! Your son needs help and so do you and your wife. I'm not saying that to be mean. Don't even get me started on the the whole dog thing. Five months and two days ago, I had to put my best friend (who was a husky mix) to sleep. I would have given anything including my own body parts if it meant I could have saved her, but she was so sick, and it was not possible. It's often said that "We don't deserve dogs", but your son truly doesn't deserve a dog!
My pooper would not still be pointing down if I EVER pulled a stunt like that.
I feel like this is a serious character flaw. He had no problem disobeying, deceiving and could care less about a living thing to benefit his greed. I have a hard time wondering why the dad thinks he's an a*****e when this is clearly disturbing and he has a right to be upset.
Its not greed, the kid needs therapy for a video game addiction
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Kid beyterbe grounded until 21 for that c**p! No equipment until then either!
How did this person raise a child for 16 years and the child thinks this is something that's ok to do?
Damn I loved BP until they quoted PETA in one of their articles. Stealing content is bad enough but posting something about PETA, a company that literally steals people's pets out of their yard to euthanize them? Yikes! Also my daughter's dog, Jake, was a Christmas present. Guess what? It's been 3 years and Jake the Jerk is still with us and still a butthead.
PETA is absolutely disgusting. On the surface they may appear kind and like they genuinely want to help animals, but that's just not the case once you look deeper into it.
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The kid isn't even good at gaming. I just destroyed him in Fortnite and RL. Terrible.
Everyone here is accusing the kid of animal cruelty but that isn’t the case. He is lazy. The parent says he loves the cat who doesn’t need to be walked or played with. He wanted a dog but the rest of his family take care of it and he only sees it’s monetary value. The problem this family has is that their son is a narcissist. He has no empathy for the rest of his family and doesn’t care that they love the dog. He will continue to think only of himself if his parents continue with the ‘he loves the cat’ line and keep letting him get away with his self centred behaviour. He thinks only of himself. They need help.
The people that are telling this man that is son needs mental health treatment and disgusting. Apparently you have never had a teenager or you would be able to relate better. Your son does not have issues or cruel to animals. He was trying to get cash not cutting him up for fish bait. He is a teenager and the definition is selfish individual that thinks we should buy them whatever they want. If you told him it was his dog then he thought he could do whatever he wanted with him. A hundred times I’ve heard the words “it’s MY cat” as I’m cleaning out the litter box. Just talk to him. Explain why it was wrong and yes punish him from electronics a couple weeks. Tell him how many times you could have sold him when you were broke but you didn’t because you love him just like you love Zeus. I think he is very entrepreneurial and has nothing to do with cruelty to animals. Teenagers think they shouldn’t have to spend their money. I live through it every day. Just have a one.
No, this is not how normal teenagers behave. My brother was like that and he grew to be an adult with problems with empathy, I, as a younger sister, always took care of our dog because I understood it's a living, feeling creature. BTW, sounds like your kid is spoiled.
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Good thing he ain’t my (former) kid. I’d be in jail for homicide.
Thats one way to sever a parent child relationship...
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You're raising Dhamer. Unfortunately you got about two years before you can get rid of the little bastard so all you can really do is keep an extra eye on your dog until then.
If it was me, that 16 year old boy would be looking for a new home. He works and has money so he can afford rent somewhere else. I would be driving him down to the Courthouse to get his emancipation papers. YOU DON'T DO THAT TO AN ANIMAL! 🤬🤬🤬
This whole conversation is ridiculous. A pet is not one person's responsibility it's the family's, it's part of the family. Your son didn't find it, rescue or in some other way acquire it. You the parent bought it for a child that you take care of and are legally (ethicaly & morally also) responsible for, thereby assuming the responsibility of caring for the pet. No matter how well a child cares for or pays attention to something, they cannot be held accountable / responsible for another living creature they lose interest. A child is a child, by definition, and cannot competely care for themselves thereby how can they be expected to care for another living thing? You, as a parent, sound completely ridiculous touting that you pay for the needs of the animal that you, as an adult, purchased for your family. So since the dog didn't work out, maybe have another child so that your son has somebody to play with, then you can turn to the ATA forms for other parenting skills.
He should have beat the 16yo a*s. Damn spoiled a*s kids now days. It is all about what they want and don't give a c**p about anyone else.
I read all the comments and your replies and my question to you sir, why are you defending him? You keep saying he loves the cat and he has empathy yet your instincts kicked in when he took the pupper out for a walk. You already knew what was going on and know your son has issues and needs help but on the adults terms. This is going to be a battle for you. And you must not let your son go home alone without supervision on the dog. You know what s going to happen next. So be vigilant on this. Stay strong and adamant. This is a young man that has to understand you are boss no exception.
I feel like this is a good example of why it's not necessarily a good idea to "wait until they're old enough" to bring a dog into the family. Children raised around dogs from a young age grow up understanding a dog is a family member, not a possession. In our family of 3, we have 3 dogs. Each dog has "their" person, and we each have "our" dog, but all this refers to is that special bond. We all love, play with, and care for all three.. they are family, and all major decisions are made as a family. "Gifting" a first family dog to a teenager bypasses this important foundation.
The title alone has me! I don't even know how I would deal with that. Yet another reason every parent needs all the help they can get. Creepy Biden, no they are not our kids but does something have to be ours to help? The Karen's out there shove it, and take the help! They say we are only given what we can handle. Idk about that one but I do know that our dog probably saved me. A lot of folks feel the same and that young man needs a very hard lesson on happiness.
I don't know where you're getting huskies from but around here they go for hundreds
Load More Replies... Keep the dog. Put up an ad to get rid of the kid in exchange for a bag of chips. See how he likes it.
Sounds good to me. Give away the kid, who needs him? Dog is giving more love and empathy to other family members anyway.
Load More Replies... I'd make sure the dog is microchipped (and registered!) so if the son succeeds in selling the dog there is a chance to get him back. And the son loves the cat? Park the cat at a friend's house for a day, give the son 10$ and tell him you sold the cat instead. Either he is upset by losing the cat, and he begins understanding what he did...or you know you have a seriously disturbed child.
Gamer and dog/cat lover here. This boy doesn't deserve the dog, and neither the gaming equipment.
"Am I overreacting by punishing my son for trying to sell our families dog behind our backs to buy gaming equipment". The fact that they are questioning that seems to show the kind of parenting which likely led to the son being a spoiled little sh*t who would do it
The father kept his eyes open and followed his son, he took a responsible stance and didn't allow his son to do the wrong thing. This is good parenting, not bad imo.
Load More Replies... Your son tried to sell the family pet for money to fuel his video game addiction- get your kid into therapy stat.
I wonder how much he can get for his son? Probably could buy some really nice new dog toys.
You did the right thing. Dogs become imprinted to thier families and as a husky dad myself, I couldn't imagine the devastation and trauma that dog would go through. You kid is not only the a*s#ole, but a pos too.
The father's claim that the son cares about the cat so he's not lacking in empathy or compassion rings hollow to me as well...just because he might have care for one animal in particular doesn't mean he understands all animals shouldn't be abused or neglected. It also doesn't mean the son is capable of empathy. The dad is in serious denial.
Load More Replies... Y’know, even if you do see the dog as an object which can be just given away, this kid has *twice* tried to sell someone else’s belongings and lied about it. Oh, and various family members are saying he shouldn’t be punished. He’s a wrong ‘um and the family sounds pretty dreadful too.
Despite his protestations, the father had the instincts to know what his son was up to and follow him and their dog. I think there's more to this boy's lack of attachment than Dad wants to share. Dad should mention dogs bought like that are often used as bait dogs for dog fights. This boy has some issues.
This is fair. I wrote somewhere else that kids can do things the parents don't expect, but you're right that the dad feeling suspicious might indicate other problems. It could be that dad isn't even fully conscious of why, yet. I have to repeat others recommendation of therapy.
Load More Replies... I'm a gamer. I understand how deeply important those things are. Your son is cruel, selfish, cold, and vain. I'd have BURNED his console. You don't sell a family pet. The dog isn't his, even if you bought it for him. The gift was having a dog in his life. Your failure was in allowing this kid to not take care of the animal to begin with. Of course he likes the cat. It shits in a box and requires no more energy than filling a food bowl once every couple of days. Your kid absolutely has empathy issues and sees animals as things. He's just made the cat an exception. Deal with it PROFESSIONALLY with a licensed therapist NOW while you still have legal ability to force the issue.
To be a little nitpicky: cats should be fed once or twice a day depending on how much food you give them, not once every few days. Also while cats are easier to care for than dogs they shouldn't be mostly ignored, they just like dogs have emotional needs and wants.
Load More Replies... Well, usually I'm the person who sais that if you give someone a gift, it's theirs and they can do with it as they please. Even sell it if they want or regift it as they please. But I feel this is different because it's a pet, which means it needed sustenance and care to stay healthy, which the son didn't provide. If the family didn't intervene and taking over the care for the dog, the dog would have died. So by neglecting the dog, he gave it up. He rejected the gift by never taking real possession of it. So now it's no longer his dog to do with as he pleases. And it seems like he didn't care much about the dog anyway. He already had taken over the family cat, making it his instead. I wonder if this is more of a teenage tantrum. His parents didn't give him what he wanted, so he tried to sell something he knew they loved very much. He himself said it's'technically' his dog, technically is not the same as factually. Maybe he tried to 'punish' them for not buying him the gaming equipment.
You have an interesting point. But the kid seems to lack the concept of the dog being a living, breathing, feeling creature and how to treat them. He may of wanted to get revenge but he still has some issues by using the dog to do so.
Load More Replies... No kidding. I would put him in the car and take HIM to the park. At 16? This kid has some screws loose and hate to tell you mom and dad, but he is an addict.
Load More Replies... I can't get past OP saying "...he's an outdoorsy kid and asked for an outdoorsy dog..." Yes, the son takes good care of the cat, but cats don't typically need the kind of care that most dogs do, especially huskies. OP YTA because you didn't actually think this through before bringing Zeus into the home. You should have had a long and deep discussion with your son about the responsibilities of taking care of any dog, and especially a husky.
I have a dog who is a German Shepherd/Kuchi dog mix. He’s pretty seriously disabled due to having distemper as a puppy, but he is STILL an active dog with a “job to do” (guard the property, a trait he inherited from his Kuchi mother.) He has two very active, athletic breeds as parents and he’s very active and intense despite his disability. A perfectly healthy husky would be my dog x 50. It’s terrifying when people adopt certain breeds (e.g., husky, Belgian Malinois) with NO clue about the breed and NO plan in place.
Load More Replies... OP needs to stop saying he son has empathy and isn't cruel to animals. Even monsters like somethings. This kid is a jerk. He doesn't deserve any electronics.
Instead of wasting time asking for advice I'd be spending it devising a rota on who in the family will be awake and on guard just in case his son goes psycho... Because he sounds a little... Odd...
I lost my dog back in 2020. I wasn't the best owner but I never totally neglected him. That nimrod shouldn't be allowed anywhere within 10ft of a dog, and if OP bought all his electronics, OP ought to sell them as funds for raising Zeus.
He first started it when he bought the dog as a present. You buy things as presents, you don’t buy family as presents. And a pet is a family. A parent who hasn’t bother to teach that to their kid is bad parent. A dog is not a bike or ski or skateboard. It is a lifelong commitment, not just a commodity for a phase in your life, which can be discarded once the phase is over.The father is just as bad as the son.
Absolutely NTA. Your son treated "his" dog like an inanimate object that could be discarded or sold without affecting anyone else in the family. If I were you, I would have a long talk with him. Either you failed to teach him the importance of empathy, patience, and responsibility...or he failed to learn.
Or son is sociopath (similar to psychopaths but sociopaths are more similar to healthy people - they can like, have relationships with animals and people but their emphaty and compassion is limited - in other words they can love their family members, pet, friends, lover but they can do terrible unspeakable things to other people, animals.
Load More Replies... Yeah that kids going to end up on the evening news soon, let’s hope the kid hasn’t got access to guns!
My guess is that you didn't set boundaries from the beginning. He won't change.
Load More Replies... I think the son thought taking care of the dog would be similar to taking care of the cat. But it's not. Cats are way less work. That is why I have cats instead of dogs. (Though I love all animals)!
It sounds like the son may have a literal addiction to video games. Internet Gaming Addiction isn't widely accepted, but it is a very real thing and it needs real treatment. Based on the son's other acceptable behavior, ie cat and sibling care, the son has a disconnect with his Gaming. He needs help; not the silent treatment.
Yeah I dont think its an empathy issue I think its an ADDICTION issue
Load More Replies... I don't understand why OP is denying that his son has empathy issues, he does it's a fact, now whether or not he just has issues because he doesn't think things through and is a pissed of teen or if it's something diagnosable is the question. Personally I'd be worried since it seems that he treats everything that he views below him as disposable. Sure he likes the cat, but I wonder how much of that is just because the cat ignores him and OP's kid only interacts with the cat when it suits him. I feel bad for the rest of the family cuz this kid isn't really ok, hope it's something he grows out of
Agree with everything you said except this kind of behavior is not something he'd grow out of. He needs therapy.
Load More Replies... Ok - my parents treat animals like pieces of furniture they need to feed and even THEY would never sell a dog like this!!! This is disturbing on a different level to me...
The OP should just tell his son that the dog is no longer his since the day he stopped taking care of it so he should just save for whatever c**p he wants. This reminds me of my husband's cousins that used to steal from his grandma to sell and buy drugs. Real pieces of c**p.
This is so freaking creepy.... I honestly have no idea what to say, like I get some people just don't click with dogs and that's totally fine but shouldn't he have at least realized it would break his family's hearts to lose their dog? I almost wonder if the son is intentionally acting out for attention, like he's doing the shittiest thing he can think of because he knows it'll create a huge reaction. But that's still insanely messed up....
NTA, but a failure as a parent for raising your son to think this kind of thing is okay.
But he didn't raise his kid to think this way? It's clear in the post that the dad was blindsided by his kid thinking that way. He even got the kid a cat a while ago that he takes care of perfectly fine. Like the dad had said "why doesn't he treat the dog that way?"
Load More Replies... The last two words OP wrote speaks volumes of concern & I’d the real issue needing to be addressed
I understand his guilt of taking away his sons electronics. I do, only because this means he is a good man. He thinks about his actions and loves his son so much he put his feelings aside. I just hope he understands that he was not wrong, not in the slightest. I was terrified to do anything wrong growing up, terrified. This is just craziness. So many kids are so disconnected. All he could see was himself. Zeus is his brother simple as that. He is no longer his, as soon as he let Zeus be taken care of dad and the rest of the family, that right to give away or sell his present crumbled. A Cat... Low maintenance. I have had some awesome cats but a dog is a friend. When the screen becomes your best friend it's time for something truly drastic. I still... Sell your family's dog? YOUR FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVIATED! WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO LIE AND MAKE THEM ALL THINK HE WAS GONE, GONE? I don't even want to know. I cannot wrap my head around how hurtful people can be.
Don’t leave the son alone with the dog. I actually fear that he will mistreat the dog if he feels forced to take care of Zues. That’s not cool at all …
The dad missed a great opportunity to chisel a lesson in that child's memory. "So, since you're MY son, that means I can sell you too if it's convenient for me? See what your logic is?!"
That wouldve been a good thing to say actually, the only thing youve said I agree with
Load More Replies... The dog stopped being the boys dog when he stopped caring for it. Everything was done by the rest of the family. A pet is a privilege, not a right and so is gaming equipment. Not sorry for the little s**t.
Kid's got a job so he can buy his own stuff. Good on you, OP, that just because your son never really liked the responsibility of a dog, just the idea of having one, it didn't affect how you felt about the dog.
I'd probably have checked local laws too, in a lot of locales, at least in USA it's actually illegal to sell or give away pets. You have to charge an adoption fee, which reduces the chance of dog fighting people getting a hold of dogs, but you can't call it selling. It's splitting hairs a bit. Chances are, the dog is documented as belonging to the adults in the house, selling it is actually illegal simply because it's theft. I'd recommend make it clear that if he tries to sell anything owned by the family again they'll press charges and come visit his a*s in juvie where he'll have a real hard time playing his precious games.
The kid has a job!? And won't use his own money to buy it? Jeez! He's gotta get tough, if the sons still in his house..he makes the rules..
Yikes... looks like the dad may have a bad apple in the fold.. I just dont have words for how to handle a 14yo that would sneakily try and sell the family dog for electronics.. yes I understand the dog was meant for him but he basically abandoned the dog and that pooch became the family dog.. only way I would consider the dad to be an AH is if he permanently banned his son from electronics until he moved out..
Kristi, the boy is 16 years old. I'm troubled that this boy has a job and doesn't want to spend his money on the gaming stuff that he wants. He's a spoiled entitled acting brat. He definitely needs therapy. And the dad wouldn't be out of order if he banned electronic devices for the next 2 years. Boy child could then move out...
Load More Replies... This kid is messed up. Loves the cat but thinks the dog is a thing? works but doesn't think he should have to spend the money for his gaming c**p? he's got some messed up stuff going on and needs therapy but the dad doesn't seem all that bright either.
Your son's a narcissist and perhaps a sociopath. Not just for trying to sell the dog but because he didn't care about the impact that it would have on his family that were close to Zeus. Your son needs therapy and I would worry about the safety of your family because that is highly abnormal behavior
Wow, I remember being a teenager and leaving to study away, it broke my heart to live my dog at home with mum and dad. I used to get home on weekends and he would go crazy the moment he heard my motorbike. I loved that dog. Eventually I got my own place but the didn't allow animals but I smuggle him in. This was the 90s and my boss gave me permission to build a little hut on the roof where I worked so I could bring him to work. Sadly he escaped chasing a b***h in heat and got run over, broke me. I took me more then 20 years to adopt another dog, she snoring next to me now after a day on the beach. She come to work to.
I am so glad to see his Dad is thinking about putting this kid in therapy. Yes, please. Get to the bottom of it. Don't we wish the parents of Bryan Kohberger paid attention to this kind of thing?
NTA There is something really wrong with your son. It's okay if taking care of or hanging out with the dog isn't his thing, but he has lived with the dog everyday for two years and doesn't recognize or care that it's a living being with feelings and needs? And, he doesn't understand or have empathy for the love you and your wife have for the dog or the love and dependency the dog has for the family. I would talk to a therapist and keep him away from animals.
Your Son likes the cat because cats are independent and he doesn't have to "play" with the cat like you have to do with the dog. He doesn't have to walk the cat/take it outside so the cat can use the bathroom. Basically he has no responsibilities with the cat. He probably doesn't even clean out the litter box. If he wants gaming equipment he can use his own money.
Wow, sorry but your son is awful. That is borderline sociopath behaviour.
So sad anybody abandons a dog from material things.dogs loving security for our homes.they give unconditional love.dont leave him alone with dog he self centred wicked.he has no love compassion for that beautiful creature.my bro stinky for money too he can't own dog not willing care for it or spend medical bills.he greedy Ur son heartless.protect love that dog animals deserves to be cared for.
Parenting failure. You raised him. Where did he learn his values?
Dad may think the kid doesn't have empathy issues and maybe he doesn't. However, this kid does have issues in not being able to accept that he can't have anything he wants and that he resorts to what is essentially theft of the family dog after already being stopped from selling the dog once before.That kid wouldn't be seeing his gaming equipment for the foreseeable future.
NTA. However, it sounds as if your son has a gaming addiction. You need to get him some help ASAP, before he gets himself into serious trouble. Board his cat elsewhere, and tell him that if he can't show the same empathy for Zeus as he does for the cat, he deserves neither. Pets are living, breathing creatures, not commodities to be bought and sold like furniture.
No! Boarding the cat elsewhere would be punishing the cat, not the boy. Please find some other punishment.
Load More Replies... I would like to know the source of what caused the kid to stop loving outdoors and retreat to video games in the first place. During one of the hardest times in my life I developed a bad gaming addiction. I would play almost all my waking hours and felt I couldn’t live without them. Then things started to get better. I slowly began to learn new hobbies (like jewelry making and cooking), and slowly lost interest in the games over a period of several weeks. Eventually I uninstalled most of them. Now I only really feel the urge to go back when I am under high stress. I am not saying this kid’s actions were justifiable (I would have never sold my dogs!), but I am saying that they should look into whether anything is happening at school or if anything else changed. This is likely an addiction that he developed to escape from something. Or at least it could be.
They won't let me say what I think of 1: The dad buying his 14 year old kid a dog just because the kid wanted one and then let that same child ignore and dismiss all the responsibilities that come with it but still allowing the child to display a sense of ownership over the dog. That is on the dad. 2: The kid.
Dad is in some denial! But the cat... Uh, sir- this still shows a lack of empathy, even if he's nice to his cat.
The amount of times this dad said "but he has a cat he loves." Narcissists are absolutely capable of showing affection if they feel it benefits them to do so. It doesn't mean he doesn't have issues.
Can we NOT jump to labeling every a*****e with an already stigmatized personality disorder? Every a*****e isnt a narcissist and narcissists arent monsters theyre people who need THERAPY. This kids actual issue is a GAMING *ADDICTION*
Load More Replies... I'm always having to explain to my teenager that technically, he does not "own" anything. Things beyond the necessities I am required by law to provide he only has because I allow him to have them. I can take any of it away at any time. I don't arbitrarily take his things, but sometimes kids need a reminder when they start up with the "It's mine! I can do what I want!" On no you cannot.
I love this thinking, but what if it's something they purchased themselves, say with birthday money? This is the exact reason that I worked from the time I was 13, so that I could by a car at 16 and pay for it myself without any help (insurance too). That way my father wouldn't be able to stop me from using it.
Load More Replies... You are definitely not AH and I totally agree with taking is stuff away from him!
I am an animal lover, and I love each and every dog, but I don't connect with every single one. If you get a dog for a kid the surprise is a cool one time event, but letting them choose themselves might be wiser in the long run, so that THIS doesn't happen.
Son asks for dog. Son is given dog. Son doesn’t connect with dog. Dad takes ofer caring for dog. Son proposes selling dog to buy computer games. Dad says no. Son decides to lie and go behind the family’s back to see the dog anyway. Multiple family members say that the son should not be punished. 🤔The problem is not that the son failed to bond with the dog.
Load More Replies... Dear BP: you should NEVER quote PETA or deal with them in any way. The only thing ethical about them is...well, nothing.
Well, watch the cat and be sure it looks safe, happy, and healthy. This whole story demonstrates some underlying anger issues.
GAMER, ANIMAL LOVER, but more importantly, a PARENT here. While most people are so quick to blame the kid, y'all have to ask yourself, did the kid really wanted a dog?? Sometimes parents only hear what they want to hear. Probably YOU GUYS who wants to give your kid a dog, then make your kid believe that it's them who wants a dog. Kids are weird and going through all those hormonal and rebellious nonsense -we're all been through that. So as a parent, what can YOU say about kid who try to sell a family member for gaming equipments?? What kind of values that YOU teach to your kids?? I'm a gamer, my kids are gamers, but none of us are a******s. I always took my time and teach them good values. I don't let them learn from strangers on the internet. It's MY RESPONSIBILITY as their dad. Buying them gaming gears is not where your responsibility ends, it's where your responsibility STARTS.
There are SO MANY red flags here! The fact that this kid feels so entitled to get whatever he wants by any means necessary, including selling the family dog, is beyond disturbing in its own right! But the fact that this Father (who created this monster) feels some type of guilt for taking "his sons" dog, is despicable! The son has no interest in the dog! He doesn't care for him or his needs whatsoever and tou feel WRONG for being rhe parent and stepping in?!?! Dude GROW A PAIR! This kid clearly needs an old fashioned a*s whooping! Ylwho is the parent here?? ACT LIKE IT! And the dog deserves a family who will love him beyond measure! ❤️ I feel bad for this dog bc this entire family needs help!
Parent may have bought the dog for the child but until the child reaches the age of maturity they don't legally own a damn thing.
Time for boarding school, keep the dog. Kid has issues, that's cruel. I wouldn't trust him in my home again.
I feel the Son & Father may not have a close relationship..& as some of us are-insecure in areas-parenting is a big one! Kids I feel need to know-esp. at that age that WE know we aren't perfect-& make mistakes...it's definitely o.k. for them to...& make a atmosphere they can talk to you. Why doesn't the father know Why he doesn't like the dog-as opposed to the Cat? That seems like an obvious answer. Offering to sell your son in jest-or something he does care abt-or cut off a best friendhip-just for him to be helped to gain empathy for things that aren't of value to him. He obviously is also short on understanding selling the dog-EOULD HURT you and the rest of the Family-which I also see no where he is having this info passed on to him. As he said-he relates to material things-may be his friends or aquant. at school dont show him real friendship. Children HAVE to be Taught empathy- But parents r confused by behavior-but cant ask in begin. *WHY don't like? Its a problem w Closeness.
Sorry but that kid should not own the dog. I think what the father did was correct. Tell him to get a job and he can buy his own c***.
Here in Belgium we have a saying:kid wants a pet and who takes care of it?mom ! Most of the time when the summervacation starts such animals get dumped in shelters of even crueller still on the streets or tied on a tree. I personaly have seen it happen .my own daughter was like that one time after we got a cat.a year later she was bored of it and wanted a dog,i replied are gonna walke it daily or me? Are you really so cruell to want get the cat in a shelter after you begged for it? Are you really that stupid? Or shall i put your games in the thrash cause im fed up whit your expensive games ?that´s not the sameshe said,well no the cat is a living being ,games are only games nothing more.shell i put you away instead then in a bordingshool? She never asked me again
The sad thing it's one more parents offering pets as toys story. Where I live we have to register our pets and only an adult can do it, so in my point of view, the dog cannot belong to a child. Then there is the complete horrible behaviour for a kid that is almost an adult of taking an animal that the parents obviously care for and try to trade it for more shinny toys ... I would never do that to my family even if I did not like the dog that is unacceptable behaviour and last, how he thinks of the dog as something to barter with strangers so... These parents obviously failed to educate him and now he is almost an adult and an incredible addition to society... Kids will always want shiny expensive toys and pets are included in these wants but every time a parent gives something of value to the children it's their job to educate them in how they perceive and value their gifts... And it's their job to evaluate what could go wrong. That kid obviously does not need the consoles nor the dog
If he truly believes the dog is his then start charging him for all the vet bills and food. Once he sees that it's so expensive I'm sure he will admit that the dog isn't his "responsibility" therefore the pup is yours. If he wants the systems or whatever, he can use his own money... I'd start charging a small rent as well and save a portion of it for a deposits when he moves out.
The dad is a wimp of an a**hole for even asking if he is the a**hole. His son has is a future serial killer. Take away the toys and send him to military school. What a totally stupid question from a worthless worm of a parent.
May of not been able to bond, also likely has a gaming addiction + cats dont usually sell for much
Load More Replies... Maybe the son is jealous of the bond the dog has with the family and is just looking for a reason to get rid of the dog. I would have a long talk and ask pointed questions to determine the root cause of the boys ambivalence to the dog.
Ah heck nah...I have my own dog(a chihuahua that is completely attached to me) that my parents got me when she was 3 (she's currently 8, I got her when i was 29) she was from an Amish puppy mill, and was completely TERRIFIED of god and everything, especially men. I am unable to pay for her medical bills and license ect. My parents foot the bill for that...but getting all past that stuff. I have a tiny income from SSI and I am a huge gamer. However, I do buy my chihuahua toys every so often (because of her past she never really learned how to be a dog and I'm trying my best to ease her into toys) but if I desire a game or something to go along with my gaming console, I save tf up for it. Simple as that. The kid has issues...I'm not even that heartless. Perhaps it's because I volunteered in shelters when I was younger and know what it's like to see dogs and cats come and go
Why pile it on the kid? Didn't you raise him?? Your failure to use judgement in the first place, lavish him with a high maintenance gift in the secind place, and reluctance to talk this out with him in the third place, point to your creating just another entitled kid. Fortunately parents are now being held accountable in various ways... no more pleading ignorance
Chat bot much on this article Larsas or are writers really this bad now?????? But seriously I would like to know is there an app where I can copy paste this article and see if it was written by bot or human???? Ty in advance the excitement to find out is killing me...
If I'm being honest what he is doing is horrible but you did give him the dog and he didn't want it anymore. I can't really judge him for being heartless if he has another companion and he loves them and maybe he just didn't really want the dog. Yes it probably would have been better to discuss it with y'all but again you did give HIM the dog. But since he is not an adult yet, you are the parent and you can still make the decision especially since you're the one probably paying for the care. If you had given him the dog and he was an adult, I would just say you're overreacting purely on the basis of it's not a decision for you to make even if you don't like it.
You should be sold to a random person, not this dog. You have zero empathy, it's pathetic. A dog is not an object. You should look for help.
Load More Replies... NTA. I wouldn't trust this kid now, as far as I could throw him. Trying to sell the dog is just a sneaky, underhanded thing to do. I was going to say that he might have some emotional problem, BUT, asking for the dog, then changing his mind, and ignoring the dog is kind of a "immature kid" thing to do. Like "I wanted a dog last week, but this week I don't." It's not that unusual for his age. Somewhere along the line, this kid has learned to be callous and selfish. If he's working, what does he do with the money he earns? Do not give into him. If he wants the gaming stuff, tell him he needs to save up and pay for it himself. I'd still wonder what he does with his money. The dog is not his at this point. He cares nothing for the dog. The dog is now the family pet. Unfortunately, you're now going to have to watch him so he doesn't try to sell the dog again behind your back.
I hate these stories. Dad is like I don't know why my kid is an idiot/lazy/entitled and everyone is like something wrong with you kid and dad is like no way. Dad is right nothing wrong with the kid it's the dad who cannot parent. Kid caught trying to sell dog. Dad says no and kid doesn't listen. Even more troubling is kid has money but doesn't want to use it. For Christ sake be a parent and quit asking the Internet if you're an AH. Ground the kid, take away electronics, and make him apologize to everyone in the family. I might even make the kid walk with us when I take the dog and clean up the waste.
NTA There is something really wrong with your son. It's okay if taking care of or hanging out with the dog isn't his thing but he has lived with the dog everyday for two years and doesn't recognize or care that it's a living being with feelings and needs? And, he doesn't understand or have empathy for the love you and your wife have for the dog or the love and dependency the dog has for the family. I would talk to a therapist and keep him away from animals.
It's obvious the son knew how much the dog meant to everyone. He wanted what he wanted and would do anything to get it. He needs to be reminded of his age and stop acting like a child.
Dad is part of the problem - in every response he is making excuses or sticking up for his son rather that face head on very disturbing behavior.
Living creature that the parents bought and are caregiving for. Ingrate went behind thier backs after being explicitly told not to sell living creature. The son might be a sociopath....
This goes beyond serious. OP may have to implement commando parenting tactics. His son just proved that he cannot be trusted, with his dog or anything else of value. OP would be better off locking up any and all valuables (including those belonging to his siblings), taking away and selling the games and electronics, and getting his son some professional help. Otherwise, OP could end up losing a lot of his stuff.
Back in the early 90s, late 80s?? I remember having a pager if that helps. My meth head cousin tried to sell my rottweiler Tasha Yar he wasnt able to, Thank Gawd!, I have hated him ever since, when I visit other family I have to see him. I am not forgetting and forgiveness is out of the question his other male siblings and father ruined any semblance of family for me.
This sounds like the son has a gaming addiction. Trying to sell the family pet for cash to support a habit is addiction-level desperation.
The attempt to sell a dog for a pile of plastic is beyond my comprehension. And what about the cat? Is it a breed? No? There, nobody buys a regular adult cat, plenty to adopt. Is the dog a breed? Probably. Forgive my frankness, but your son has serious issues. You need to alert the family. Other "things" Will disappear. Cynical and inclined to sneak and lie to an entire family? No. Not possible. You seem to be remorseful...put some strength in your resolve. Look, in old time folks used to joke about family member on drugs stealing appliances...to buy something. This kid must be seen by a psychiatrist. His school should be infirmed too. After the games, what will he demand? I have seen families destroyed by undetected psichosis. Sorry. Just being seriously frank.
I get it, what the kid did was cold. But hes a kid. All the comments making it seem like he's an animal abuser just because he doesn't want a dog is really a stretch. People let their judgements become as wild as their imaginations. But That's what happens when you put your situations out there for the world to judge.
Not to mention people labelling him as a narcissist, clearly not knowing what narcissism actually is. I dont have it myself but have friends who do, and its a mental health issue not just the defining thing of a monster.
Load More Replies... One. The boy is 16 and should be working. Summer time full time. If he drives a car he pays gas, if he has a phone he pays 50 toward it or he gets a flip phone. He pays parent money to rent his gaming ware say 5 an hour. When he turns 18 go to trade school or college or start charging rent 200 a month put it in savings until he moves out. These kids are losing emotions due to gaming and covid lock-in and a sense of entitlement. Unplug your kids and take them outside. Play ball, just walk with them, go on a hike, go on a short trip to something historic. Yes they will complain but eventually they will start to like it. Don't worry about th e pushback it's normal. Do a clean the earth day, plant a garden, volunteer as a family, go to church or just meditate in nature. It's not too late to fix him but using computers and phones and TV to keep you kids quiet because your too tired is wrong. Connect your children to people, life, animals, nature, be with them, talk to them.
This is the time to bond with your son. Go for walks together, build things together. It'll make you talk and appreciate each other's skills. Meanwhile, your son is not on electronics. Your son is in dire straits. He needs more human interaction. If thus doesnt work he needs to have tests done. It might clear up why he did such a cold thing and why he lacks ethics.
The Dad was incandescent? Do these a******s even check their s****y articles?
You say that you took away his electronics.Does this include the gaming gear (console, cartridges, software, etc...)? Because he has a serious addiction problem. Also, stop buying him whatever he wants. You said you didn't buy the gaming gear because you couldn't afford it which sounds like if you could have afforded it at the time you would have bought it for him. STOP! He has a job but "doesn't want to use his money". WTF?! Your son needs help and so do you and your wife. I'm not saying that to be mean. Don't even get me started on the the whole dog thing. Five months and two days ago, I had to put my best friend (who was a husky mix) to sleep. I would have given anything including my own body parts if it meant I could have saved her, but she was so sick, and it was not possible. It's often said that "We don't deserve dogs", but your son truly doesn't deserve a dog!
My pooper would not still be pointing down if I EVER pulled a stunt like that.
I feel like this is a serious character flaw. He had no problem disobeying, deceiving and could care less about a living thing to benefit his greed. I have a hard time wondering why the dad thinks he's an a*****e when this is clearly disturbing and he has a right to be upset.
Its not greed, the kid needs therapy for a video game addiction
Load More Replies... Kid beyterbe grounded until 21 for that c**p! No equipment until then either!
How did this person raise a child for 16 years and the child thinks this is something that's ok to do?
Damn I loved BP until they quoted PETA in one of their articles. Stealing content is bad enough but posting something about PETA, a company that literally steals people's pets out of their yard to euthanize them? Yikes! Also my daughter's dog, Jake, was a Christmas present. Guess what? It's been 3 years and Jake the Jerk is still with us and still a butthead.
PETA is absolutely disgusting. On the surface they may appear kind and like they genuinely want to help animals, but that's just not the case once you look deeper into it.
Load More Replies... The kid isn't even good at gaming. I just destroyed him in Fortnite and RL. Terrible.
Everyone here is accusing the kid of animal cruelty but that isn’t the case. He is lazy. The parent says he loves the cat who doesn’t need to be walked or played with. He wanted a dog but the rest of his family take care of it and he only sees it’s monetary value. The problem this family has is that their son is a narcissist. He has no empathy for the rest of his family and doesn’t care that they love the dog. He will continue to think only of himself if his parents continue with the ‘he loves the cat’ line and keep letting him get away with his self centred behaviour. He thinks only of himself. They need help.
The people that are telling this man that is son needs mental health treatment and disgusting. Apparently you have never had a teenager or you would be able to relate better. Your son does not have issues or cruel to animals. He was trying to get cash not cutting him up for fish bait. He is a teenager and the definition is selfish individual that thinks we should buy them whatever they want. If you told him it was his dog then he thought he could do whatever he wanted with him. A hundred times I’ve heard the words “it’s MY cat” as I’m cleaning out the litter box. Just talk to him. Explain why it was wrong and yes punish him from electronics a couple weeks. Tell him how many times you could have sold him when you were broke but you didn’t because you love him just like you love Zeus. I think he is very entrepreneurial and has nothing to do with cruelty to animals. Teenagers think they shouldn’t have to spend their money. I live through it every day. Just have a one.
No, this is not how normal teenagers behave. My brother was like that and he grew to be an adult with problems with empathy, I, as a younger sister, always took care of our dog because I understood it's a living, feeling creature. BTW, sounds like your kid is spoiled.
Load More Replies... Good thing he ain’t my (former) kid. I’d be in jail for homicide.
Thats one way to sever a parent child relationship...
Load More Replies... You're raising Dhamer. Unfortunately you got about two years before you can get rid of the little bastard so all you can really do is keep an extra eye on your dog until then.
If it was me, that 16 year old boy would be looking for a new home. He works and has money so he can afford rent somewhere else. I would be driving him down to the Courthouse to get his emancipation papers. YOU DON'T DO THAT TO AN ANIMAL! 🤬🤬🤬
This whole conversation is ridiculous. A pet is not one person's responsibility it's the family's, it's part of the family. Your son didn't find it, rescue or in some other way acquire it. You the parent bought it for a child that you take care of and are legally (ethicaly & morally also) responsible for, thereby assuming the responsibility of caring for the pet. No matter how well a child cares for or pays attention to something, they cannot be held accountable / responsible for another living creature they lose interest. A child is a child, by definition, and cannot competely care for themselves thereby how can they be expected to care for another living thing? You, as a parent, sound completely ridiculous touting that you pay for the needs of the animal that you, as an adult, purchased for your family. So since the dog didn't work out, maybe have another child so that your son has somebody to play with, then you can turn to the ATA forms for other parenting skills.
He should have beat the 16yo a*s. Damn spoiled a*s kids now days. It is all about what they want and don't give a c**p about anyone else.
I read all the comments and your replies and my question to you sir, why are you defending him? You keep saying he loves the cat and he has empathy yet your instincts kicked in when he took the pupper out for a walk. You already knew what was going on and know your son has issues and needs help but on the adults terms. This is going to be a battle for you. And you must not let your son go home alone without supervision on the dog. You know what s going to happen next. So be vigilant on this. Stay strong and adamant. This is a young man that has to understand you are boss no exception.
I feel like this is a good example of why it's not necessarily a good idea to "wait until they're old enough" to bring a dog into the family. Children raised around dogs from a young age grow up understanding a dog is a family member, not a possession. In our family of 3, we have 3 dogs. Each dog has "their" person, and we each have "our" dog, but all this refers to is that special bond. We all love, play with, and care for all three.. they are family, and all major decisions are made as a family. "Gifting" a first family dog to a teenager bypasses this important foundation.
The title alone has me! I don't even know how I would deal with that. Yet another reason every parent needs all the help they can get. Creepy Biden, no they are not our kids but does something have to be ours to help? The Karen's out there shove it, and take the help! They say we are only given what we can handle. Idk about that one but I do know that our dog probably saved me. A lot of folks feel the same and that young man needs a very hard lesson on happiness.
I don't know where you're getting huskies from but around here they go for hundreds
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