Woman doesn't want to continue to be responsible for 18-year-old sister-in-law's pet snake mistake: 'I plan to give her the $200 she paid and re-home the snake permanently'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jan 21, 2025 12:00 PM EST

If you get a pet snake of which care you're not able to take, there has been made, a serious mistake…

Pets are a lot of work, even goldfish, the classic "starter" pet, take a lot of taking care of if you're doing it properly. It's all fun and games until you realize that you have to transfer it out to clean its tank every week. And don't get it wrong; it's great having another living thing there to break up the mundanity of life's existence, especially as you get older and everything begins to stay the same, but it comes with a level of consistency and responsibility that a lot of young people aren't ready for.

And owning a snake really isn't like owning any old goldfish; I'm not sure whether or not they're necessarily the hardest pets to take care of, but there's definitely that whole "snake" factor to consider, especially when expecting someone else to take care of it. It's like having a pet cockroach or spider; most people aren't too keen on taking care of slimy or hairy things that have a weird number of appendages and/or eyes.

Advertisement

  • This whole situation of becoming the defacto carer of an irresponsible child's pet that you never wanted is the reason why parents and guardians are so resistant to getting the pets their children are requesting. Kids have a tendency to believe their current "want" is and will be the end-all most important thing in the world to them, but the next week, they're back to playing Fortnite and have forgotten all about the parakeet in the corner of their room. 

  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10456091136
    via Julian Zwengel

  • So, the parents know that they're ultimately going to end up with the responsibility of caring for whatever animal the kid wants to get, meaning it has to be something that they're willing and able to care for. 

     

  • 02
    wwwwww
    via Julian Zwengel

  • That's pretty much how this woman came to be responsible for her sister-in-law's pet snake. Except, well, her sister-in-law isn't her child, and she's not her parent, so it shouldn't really fall on her to be responsible for it in the first place. 

    On the one hand, the sister-in-law might still be in high school, but on the other hand, she is already eighteen and legally an adult, and there are certain responsibilities that a child can shirk but an adult can't… Speaking of shirking responsibilities… why did her husband agree to “co-owning” the snake, and where is he in all of this?

  • 03

    "AITA for telling my SIL I’m done taking care of her snake?"

    My SIL, who's in high school, wanted a snake, but her mom said no, so she asked my husband to co-own one with her. He agreed, and I went along with it since I've wanted a snake before. We bought the tank, lights, and bedding, while she got decorative items, and we split the cost of the snake ($200 each). We set up the tank in our spare room.
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 04
    However, I somehow became the snake's primary caretaker, even though it wasn't my idea. My husband's involvement was minimal-mostly driving with me to get rats (a 30- minute drive) and pre-killing them. I was the only one feeding, cleaning, and handling the snake. SIL would visit occasionally to see the snake, but not often.
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 05
    After about a year, my SIL said she could take the snake to her career technical school, where she's in an animal program. So that's was we did for the rest of junior year and then again when senior year started. I was relieved and drove her and the snake to school whenever needed (a 35-40 minute drive). It felt like a solution, but then winter break came, and the snake came back to my house.
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 06
    Now I'm pregnant, and our spare room will become the baby's room. I started asking SIL to take the snake after graduation (about 5+ months away). I told her she'd need to convince her mom to let her keep him or rehome him. Her response was always the same: she'd come over to care for the snake after getting her license and even suggested having a key to my house. I told her no-that doesn't solve the problem of the snake taking up space.
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 07
    When I insisted she figure it out, she became ride, saying " calling me a you" and person for "throwing the snake out." Then in the same breath she claimed she's the most mature person in the family. I tried to give her plenty of time, but she's not being respectful of the fact that it's my house, and I no longer want the snake here. If she continues being ride, I plan to give her the $200 she paid and rehome. the snake permanently. AITA?
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 08
    Let me clear a few things, She's 18 guys. Not some "little kid". Let me remind you that she said she's the most mature person in her family (she's the youngest out of 7 btw) Yes my husband could have helped more but considering he works the most and helps take care of the house and our three cats (cats we've had since they were 13 weeks and are now over 5 years old... we love and take care of our pets) I've let it slide. But that wasn't right of me so I have been conversing with him about it and
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 09
    Guys his tank takes up too much space in a single wide trailer... if I wanted the snake there's no logical place for him.
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 10
    OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the a hole: I'm insensitive to the fact that she doesn't want him out of my house because her mom won't let her have him.
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 11
    jadepumpkin1984 . 4h ago. Nta. But your husband also needs to be in on this conversation.
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 12
    AllTheColors8762 4h ago • NTA. • Where's your husband in all of this? Hopefully he'll take better care of his baby than his snake.
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 13
    bellamy-bl8ke • 3h ago. ESH except the snake A snake is a pet and pets take lots of forethought and planning. It's a commitment to the lifetime of the pet. If you always knew the snake could never stay in the home when you started a family, and SIL could never keep the snake at her house while she's still in high school, I'm... not sure why there is now a snake in the mix.
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 14
    She's a kid, and while her attitude and cursing at you s ks I'm just not sure this was a good idea to begin with. I get that things change and life happens but I feel as if this was a decision to get a snake just because a teenager was like "yeah, always wanted a snake!" without actually thinking about how much work and care and enthusiasm goes into one, and everyone just went along with it rather than telling them no and waiting a few years for them to grow up and get one on their own. But hind
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 15
    And lastly, where is the husband in all of this? Are you not at all worried that this lackadaisical attitude to his own pet will translate to his future child?
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 16
    Okdoey 3h ago • ESH Your SIL was a minor and therefore could not legally enter into a binding contract. While the idea may have been hers, it's really your husbands snake since he's the adult who actually purchased the snake. He shouldn't have agreed to do so without the understanding that the snake is his responsibility and not counting on a minor.
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 17
    A pet, any pet, is a lifelong responsibility and shouldn't have been entered into lightly. Hopefully you can find a good home for the snake with someone who is more responsible in making that choice.
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 18
    Prairie Bunny91 · 2h ago • ESH. So many exotic pets like snakes end up in conditions or in rescues because no one puts the time and energy into really thinking about the care that goes into them and how long they live.
    via Hairless_YodaKat
  • 19
    Mountain-BI • d-7374 3h ago • Nta. And don't give her back the $200 she spent if you rehome the snake. You've probably spent more than that on feeding the snake since it began living with you. She doesn't just get her money back because she can't be responsible. Also, give her a hard deadline. Make communication with your SIL your husband's problem. The only way I'd find you the AH in this situation is if you decide that rehoming the snake means letting it loose outside rather than it going to a
    via Hairless_YodaKat

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

family drama brother sibling rivalry sisters siblings wife family feud husband sister in law in laws family sister
Scroll Down For The Next Article