‘You have to give him back—he’s our family’: After a devastating breakup, woman finds comfort in a senior rescue dog—until his original owners demand he be returned, months after giving him up

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jul 1, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

Well, this is a complicated conundrum for sure. It is no big secret that when you bring a hooman baby to be your canine child's sibling, some consideration needs to happen before you do. You might think about whether your pupper's breed is dangerous, if they have any behavioral difficulties (the baby not the dog) and whether you will feel comfortable with your canine cuddling your child. In most cases the answer to these questions is a resounding yes.

However, in the case of this couple it was a no. but that led to a woman finding comfort in her time of need in the very doggo the couple discarded, a beautiful coming together of souls who need love. Unfortunately, as in any good Disney movie, there is conflict, in this story too. We will not spoil how our heroine overcame her challenges, but will let you dive in and find out fur yourself.

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  • 01
    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 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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  • 02
    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
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  • You know, it is these moments when our darling doggo buddies truly leave their paw prints on our hearts. You might think that you are inconsolable, that there is no way out of the hole you have found yourself in. But the truth is that with the love and support of a pupper, there is nothing that you cannot overcome.

  • 03
    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
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  • 05
    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 so
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  • 06
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  • 07
    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 because she felt he wouldn't be safe around her baby. He had no
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  • 08
    history of aggression and just seemed timid and d ed. 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
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  • That is the wonderful thing about going to the dog shelter. You might think that you know what you want, what you need, but before you know it the universe will show you want you need. And thankfully this woman listened because what the universe had in store for her was truly wonderful.

  • 09
    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 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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  • 10
    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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  • 11
    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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  • 12
    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
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  • 13
    contact me again, and blocked the rescue on social media 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
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  • 14
    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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  • 16
    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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  • 17
    Updated again: I want to add a photo of my baby "Moo" (formerly Moe but he looks like a cow plus it's similar so now Moo) but I can't figure out how to add them.
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  • 18
    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 d i
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  • 19
    sentence without treatment. The owners were called but they didn't want to treat or even come see her. They opted for euthanasia. A
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  • 20
    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 whatever sure.
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  • 21
    Receptionist rushes dog to emergency vet, surgery goes well, receptionist spends days sleeping on the floor with dog while it recovers from surgery.
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  • 22
    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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  • 23
    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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giving up woman have dog owner rescue dog comfort find reddit story senior dog family dog story breakup back give return original
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