AITA for telling my cousin why I don’t let my mom dogsit for me anymore?

Shirley Stafford Hours
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The backyard gate swung shut, but the real chaos was just beginning. A young woman entrusted her new German Shepherd puppy to her mother for a day, only to return to an empty house and a sinking gut. Her Reddit tale unravels a frantic search, a sick pup, and a family rift that’s got tongues wagging. What started as a simple favor turned into a showdown over responsibility, with a furry friend caught in the crossfire.

This isn’t just about a puppy’s close call—it’s a slice of life where trust frays and words twist. When she spilled the truth to her cousin, the family grapevine lit up, leaving her mother fuming and her phone silent. Reddit’s buzzing with takes, from cheers to raised eyebrows, as readers pick sides in this messy tug-of-war. Who’s really at fault when good intentions go paw-side up?

‘AITA for telling my cousin why I don’t let my mom dogsit for me anymore?’

I (28F) have a 4 month old german shepherd puppy. For context, our family dog was of the same breed and we raised him from when he was 2 months old. Unfortunately, he passed two years ago. Last month, I had to go to work in-person out of the blue.

I got very little notice so I called up my mom and asked her if she could take care of the puppy for me. She agreed and came over, I told her he was unvaccinated and to

I came back to an empty house and panicked, thinking something had happened to both of them or there was an emergency and they had to go to the vet. I called her and she didn't pick up - her phone was switched off. I went over to my neighbor's and asked them if they knew anything and they said they had seen my mom taking the puppy out on a leash.

I started walking to the nearby public park and what do you know, my mom's there with the puppy, and like 2 other dogs. I went over and asked her why she didn't pick up and she laughed and said her phone was dead cause she was too busy with the puppy to charge it.

When we got home, I asked her why she took him outside, that I'd told her not to - she said I never explicitly told her not to take him outside and turned it around on me

I left it at that and the next day took puppy to the vet. All was clear at the time but 4 days later the puppy started showing symptoms and turns out he caught parvo. The poor thing went through a lot but he's been alright for a week now. A couple days ago I left him with a sitter to attend the fam's easter celebration,

and to note at this point I hadn't communicated with my mom since the day of. My cousin asked me how the puppy was doing and I told her the whole thing. Word got around and now people are condemning my mom for her actions and honestly I couldn't care less.

Mom called me today and demanded I

A puppy’s brush with death is enough to rattle anyone, and this Reddit story shows how fast a favor can spiral. The woman’s panic—finding an empty house after leaving her unvaccinated pup with her mom—turned to fury when parvo struck. Her mother’s park outing, despite a vague “be careful,” ignored basic pet safety, landing the pup in ICU.

Veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker warns, “Parvovirus is highly contagious and deadly, especially for unvaccinated puppies” (source: [Dr. Karen Becker](https://health ypets.mercola.com)). With a 90% survival rate only with aggressive treatment, the mother’s choice was reckless, especially given her prior dog-owning experience. The woman’s assumption that past rules applied wasn’t ironclad, though—clearer instructions could’ve helped.

This taps a broader issue: pet care miscommunication. A 2021 survey found 65% of owners don’t fully brief sitters on health risks (source: Rover). The mother’s deflection—no apology, just blame—shows pride trumping accountability, a dynamic family therapist John Gottman might flag as toxic (source: Gottman Institute). Blocking her feels harsh but protective, given the stress.

For healing, Dr. Becker might suggest a calm talk: set firm pet-care rules, demand vet bill help. The woman’s cousin chat wasn’t malicious, but gossip spreads like fleas—discretion’s key next time. Readers, was blocking mom too much, or did she earn that timeout?

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

Reddit’s pack pounced on this tale like it’s a squeaky toy, chewing through the drama with growls and tail-wags. It’s a virtual dog park of opinions—some bark support for the owner’s stand, others sniff out fault on both sides. Here’s the lively rundown from the comments, fresh and unfiltered:

Gonebabythoughts − NTA. Unfortunately, we see this with pets and children all of the time; “grandparents” or other mature adults think they know better than the younger generation with whom they interact and completely disregard directions about diet, play, sleep, and general care.

It’s pretty disrespectful. If your mom didn’t know that young dogs who are unvaccinated should not be around other dogs, she should have asked. But, to your point, she is a prior dog owner herself, so that root cause falls flat pretty quickly.

Do I think your cousin is a blabbermouth who needs to shut her piehole? Yes, yes I do. So maybe one thing to consider is how much you tell her that you don’t want being repeated in an uncontrolled manner. But saying something when asked about it doesn’t make you an a**hole.

bluffingpost − NTA. You had a reasonable expectation that your mom would follow basic instructions to keep your unvaccinated puppy safe, especially given the clear communication about his vaccination status. Taking the puppy to a public place where he could be exposed to diseases was a significant oversight on her part, particularly for a breed as susceptible to health issues as a German Shepherd puppy.

While you didn't explicitly say

You shared the situation with your cousin, which is a natural thing to do, especially when discussing your pet's health and your life. You weren't spreading rumors; you were recounting a factual experience that directly impacted your puppy's well-being.

Your mother's refusal to acknowledge her role in the situation or offer an apology only underscores her lack of accountability. Blocking her might seem like a drastic step, but it's a boundary you felt necessary to set after her dismissive response to a serious situation. Your priority is your pet's health and well-being, and you acted to protect that.

Cataclysmus78 − NTA. I feel for your pup, parvovirus is NO EFFING JOKE for puppies.. Your mom seems to have forgotten puppy 101.. You should probably keep important things from Cousin McTalksalot.

clevercitrus − nta, how are you supposed to

but I still feel it's reasonable to assume that she would understand that

Accountant_Rules − NTA. It is basic knowledge that puppies need their vaccines before going out! Anyone who has ever had a dog (and is a responsible owner) knows this! I have a puppie who just turned 4months old, and when she did not have all her vaccines she didn't leave the house.

And anyone who wanted to meet her, wich we rounded down to my parents and my IL's, had to wash their hands.. It's just like a little baby, they do not have the anticorps for anything.. Let other people know. It's her own (ir)responsibility.

nothingmen − ESH. You could have been clearer: are you sure she realized

StrongDesign4 − ESH.. Yes, your mom shouldn't have taken the dog out, and is partially the reason for why your pup caught parvo. But you should've communicated to her what you meant and the care behind the pup. Yes, you didn't have much time in person but you could've called or texted while on the way to work and at work.

Both of you didn't communicate with each other. I will say this although your mom was the one to take care of the family dog I'm sure it's been over a decade since she did so and there are things she could've easily forgotten or didn't realize had changed. Like how rampant parvo is amongst unvaccinated dogs.

Best example I can give you of things changing over the years is this my bestie just had her third child. She's discovering that things she used to do with her 8 year when they were a baby have changed such as giving water at 6 months has now changed to waiting a year, how it's better to introduce solids at a certain age and etc.. Communicate with anyone watching your dog as if they are a novice.

Proper-Mountain3066 − I am not sure why people are voting Y T A because you were too vague?

Strain_Pure − NTA. you clearly told her the puppy wasn't vaccinated, and she actively chose to take it to a park and let it mix with other dogs, which she knew could have potentially fatal consequences. She has nobody to blame but herself, and her refusal to accept that, let alone apologise for said actions shows just what sort of person she is.

discojagrawr − You blocked your mom? Over a disagreement like this? You sound so spoiled. She fucked up sure but lots of parents wouldn’t take care of their kids let alone a puppy, even w notice let alone last minute… and you’re going no contact over this? Are you sure you explicitly explained what she could and could not do w your dog?

If you said “be careful”… idk what that means. That is an over reaction. Take a breathe. All is well that ends well and your dog is fine. and you’re making the problem here by making a big deal over someone seeing a situation (whether she should apologize) differently than you. Get over it and call your mother. YTA

These Redditors are off the leash, cheering her for guarding her pup or nipping at her vague directions. Some say mom’s denial deserves the cold shoulder; others think family gossip lit the fuse. But are they fetching the real issue, or just chasing drama’s tail? One thing’s for sure—this puppy tale’s got everyone yapping. Where do you stand on this furry fiasco?

This story’s a bone worth gnawing on—a puppy’s pain, a mom’s misstep, and a family split that’s anything but puppy love. It’s not just about parvo; it’s about trust chewed up and spit out when it matters most. With her mom shut out and the pup bouncing back, the woman’s left picking up the pieces. Ever had a favor backfire big time? What would you do when family lets you—and your pet—down? Toss your thoughts in—let’s dig into this mess together.

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