Family abandoned 7-year-old dog because they were expecting a baby, begs new owner to give them the dog back 10 months after she adopted him: 'The husband never wanted to give the dog up but it was an ultimatum the wife gave.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Jun 11, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

Sometimes animals need to be rehomed. It's a sad reality of pet ownership, and it doesn't inherently make somebody a bad person, as long as they go through the proper rehoming channels. There's a significant difference between leaving a cat in a cage in front of a storefront, letting it out into the street like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and surrendering it to a reputable shelter in your area. The latter is the ethical option.

When you give your pet up for adoption, that's it. There's no going back after that. The damage to the relationship has already been done, and the new owners have no reason to give the pet back just because the previous owner regrets their decision. It's the right decision to give up a pet if you can't take care of them anymore, but that doesn't mean you can get them back once you get your life together. 

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  • 01

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

    About a little over a year ago | went through probably the worst time in my adult life. I was engaged and I found out my 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 temporarily. Moving home at 32
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  • The family in this story tried to change their minds about giving up their 7-year-old dog. The wife was pregnant and gave her husband the ultimatum that it was either her or the dog. Now that the baby's here, they want their original baby back, even though he has a new family now. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10516291840
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    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 03
    wasn't in my plans and it all took a toll on me mentally and emotionally. I was sad, embarrassed and my mental health wasn't good. Fortunately I have supportive parents, an awesome job that let me take a leave and got my mental health 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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  • 04
    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 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 rescue thinking I would find a puppy I could raise and care for.
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  • 05
    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 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 prior to getting married and the wife wanted the dog gone
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  • 06
    because she felt he wouldn't be safe around her baby. He had no history of aggression and just 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 months ago and I honestly have to say we have made each other's lives dramatically better. I cook for
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  • 07
    him, we watch movies, he is amazing motivation for me 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 Brooke Cagle (Unsplash+)

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

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    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 rescue who in turn have contacted me. I was absolutely
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  • 10
    floored that they would even ask me if I was willing to speak with his ex family. Apparently there is something where I guess 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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  • 11
    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 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
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    via Sandeep Kashyap

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

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    because I was afraid his old 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 would be horrible for both of us. feel like we found each other for a reason. Am I being selfish, or am I in the right here?
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  • 14
    Update: I just want to thank most of the people who commented it made me feel a lot more justified in my feelings and how I reacted. I appreciate all of your feedback
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  • 15
    ImAnNPCsoWhat NTA. I used to work at a vet/groomer. A dog came in for a groom but started showing abnormal signs, turns out she went into bloat (stomach flipped and twisted). This is a death sentence without treatment. The owners were called but they didn't want to treat or even come see her. They opted for euthanasia. A receptionist that had known this dog for years offered to take her, foot the bill for surgery, on the condition that the dog now belong to the receptionist. The owners said what
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  • 16
    Receptionist rushes dog to emergency vet, surgery goes well, receptionist spends days sleeping on the floor with dog while it recovers from surgery. Old dog owner's rich-a mom calls veterinary practice owner saying old dog owner regrets giving up dog and wants it back. Vet practice owner forced receptionist to give back dog and refunds receptionist for the surgery. Receptionist is literally heartbroken and sobs at work for days.
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  • 17
    I will never forgive the vet practice owner for disregarding receptionist's time and emotions so much and giving the dog back to people who wanted it euthanized. Keep your dog. They don't have a legal leg to stand on.
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    Mobile-Ad-9348 OP I asked a friend that is an attorney and she told me they couldn't force me to return him. It isn't even the money I spent on the adoption fee, vet appointments, grooming, food and his very stylish wardrobe... I feel like we are so deeply bonded, he sleeps on my bed and I take him everywhere (that's dog appropriate) with me. He was in the shelter for a couple months before I got him. So they waited like a year to decide they wanted him back? I don't think they deserve him.
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    ImAnNPCsoWhat Don't even spare them another thought. This is your family member.
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    dinahdog Make sure they don't know where you live. He is your dog. Protect him.
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  • 21
    Either_Coconut Get him microchipped ASAP if you haven't already done so. He is YOUR dog.
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  • 22
    duchess_of_fire I'm shocked the rescue even contacted you about it. normally they just tell the old owners 'sorry', and then go about their day. they should've shut that down and not bothered you about it
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  • 23
    Spinnerofyarn I'm shocked, too. Most rescues would never, ever ask an adopter to give an animal back to the previous owner. In a very few rare cases, they let the party that surrendered the animal take the animal back, but that's only if the animal hasn't been adopted yet.
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  • 24
    hammond66 NTA you are absolutely right. And a good person for adopting an older dog. At least the shelter didn't give your contact information to the previous owners.
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  • 25
    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?
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big dogs dogs baby entitled parents entitlement pets entitled parent wife husband entitled people karma entitled family dog adoption entitled people dog owner
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