Struggling hooman adopts 7-year-old dog who was surrendered to a shelter by his owner, then refuses to give the pup up when his original owners try to get him back: ‘I feel like we found each other for a reason’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jun 12, 2025 5:00 AM EDT

Pets are family—any current, former, or future pet pawrent knows that. Sometimes, some things happen out of our control or ultimatums given that force our hands and make us give up our furry family members. It's difficult for everyone involved, especially if you really don't want to give up your canine companion or feline friend. Some circumstances are avoidable, and some aren't. That's the dog-eat-dog world we live in, unfortunately.

In this next story, and man is given an ultimatum by his pregnant wife to surrender his seven-year-old dog because they have a child on the way. The man does so, with some hesitation. Another person, who has admittedly been struggling with their mental health, ends up adopting this pup in need, and it appears that they both saved each other. Fats forward 10 months later, the original owner expects her to just give the dog up again so he can have him back. What do you think? Scroll below to read the full story.

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  • This is clearly a bit of a complex situation, but the bottom line most commenters mention is this: You don't give up on family, and yes, that includes animals. The original owner of this pup had been with him for seven years, and threw their companionship away with seemingly little fight… But then tries to take it back when the pup has already formed a bond with another pawrent…

  • "I told them there was no way I would be willing to traumatize my dog or give him back to people who just tossed him away."
    via Sandra Seitamaa For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "AITAH For refusing to return a dog that I adopted to his original owner?"

    About a little over a year ago I went through probably the worst time in my adult life. I was engaged and I found out my
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  • fiancé was cheating on me. I was living in a condo he owned, and even though he wanted to "try to make things work" I couldn't do it so I left and moved home
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  • temporarily. Moving home at 32 wasn't in my plans and it all took a toll on me mentally and emotionally. I was sad, embarrassed and my mental
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  • health wasn't good. Fortunately I have supportive parents, an awesome job that let me take a leave and got my mental health
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  • back to at least stable. For quite a while eating and sleeping were a major struggle and finding motivation wasn't great.
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  • After a lot of therapy and tough work I started to feel somewhat human again but still very much sad. I found an apartment and I
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  • had been considering adopting a pet. I talked it over with my therapist and she told me she thought it could be good for me to look into. I went to a local
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  • rescue thinking I would find a puppy I could raise and care for. What I didn't expect was finding an older dog, he's 7, who had been given up when his owners were expecting a child. He was
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  • so sad, and honestly a bigger breed than I was as thinking of but I grew up with dogs. The woman at the rescue told me of his backstory, his owner had him
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  • prior to getting married and the wife wanted the dog gone because she felt he wouldn't be safe around her baby. He had no history of aggression and just
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  • seemed timid and depr sed. I instantly connected with this dog, we went for a walk and I knew I would be taking him home with me. That was almost 10
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  • months ago and I honestly have to say we have made each other's lives dramatically better. I cook for him, we watch movies, he is amazing motivation for me
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  • to get out and walk every day. I have human friends of course but this dog is my bestie and I can't imagine not having him.
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    via Margarita Kosior for Unsplash

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This brings us to the issue at hand. Apparently the people who surrendered him realize that the wife forcing the dog out is now a mistake. They have contacted the
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  • rescue who in turn have contacted me. I was absolutely floored that they would even ask me if I was willing to speak with his ex family. Apparently there is something where I guess
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  • pregnant women become fearful or whatever with animals? The husband never wanted to give the dog up but it was an ultimatum the wife gave. I told
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  • them there was no way I would be willing to traumatize my dog or give him back to people who just tossed him away. I feel the fact they were even asking this upset me, because animals aren't
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  • just something you toss away or whatever and then get to change your mind. I asked them not to contact me again, and blocked the rescue on social media because I was afraid his old
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  • owner would find me there. I can't imagine being pressured to give up someone like a dog you had for years but I feel like that isn't my problem. Losing him
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  • would be horrible for both of us. I feel like we found each other for a reason. Am I being selfish, or am I in the right here?
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  • CoolGamer6845 Not the a hole. YOU raised the dog for 10 months he's yours. Thats like me buying a used xbox and the a year later the owner asking for it back.
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  • Novafancypants NTA. And I'd make a post about the rescue even putting you through this. It's not like a stranger got rid of their dog and they want it back. They chose to get rid of him. Who's to say they won't do it again when the kid is a toddler?
    via Novafancypants
  • amotion_87 They gave up the dog and you have since given it a loving home. It is not your responsibility to help the previous owner rectify his mistake. Pets are family members and the previous owner chose to walk away from that. NTA.
    via amotion_87

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