‘My animal loving fiancee and sister will not allow me to drop the dog at a shelter as she’s old, sweet and did nothing wrong.’: A twenty-day abandonment of a senior dog by neglectful traveling pawrent ends in small claims court after a ruined carpet

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Dec 16, 2025 3:00 PM EST

Dog abandonment stories typically involve some sort of sad story about a pawrent moving homes, leaving the country, or some other kind of big life change. But the story we have today takes a somewhat different approach to abandonment. For this pawrent kept promising to come back. An interesting way to neglect and abandon your dog child for sure.

For after they left their dog in the generous care of a neighbor who agreed to watch the pupper for a few days, the pawrent did nothing but dodge calls and deflect as the days wore into weeks and eventually months. Truly blurring the lines between abandonment and neglect to come home. Thankfully the person left to care for the canine did the best they could by the pupper, and made sure they had everything they needed even when their pawrent would not provide funds for them. So the next time your neighbor asks you to watch their pupper, take a moment to really assess whether you can take them at their word…

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  • 01
    "The dog is sweet, and I don't blame her, but I can't have her turning our home upside down anymore."
    via clueless-wallob

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I recently moved into a new place in a new state. About a week in, this neighbor I'd see on my nightly dog walks had told me that he was leaving
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  • 03
    town in a day for 6 days and his dog sitter bailed. He told me that she doesn't go to the bathroom in the house. It's now been 17
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  • 04
    days! And she does go in the house - | had to hire a carpet cleaner to extract here from everywhere she marked. The non carpeted areas
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  • 05
    wreak of p s no matter how hard I scrub and how much I clean. She barks when I don't leave my smaller dog with her, which causes me to lose sleep. On
    via clueless-wallob

  • Jheez, what a mess and what kind of a person leaves their dog in the care of someone else for more than double the time they initially agreed upon. Like would you not want to come home to your pupper already? Or at the very least have the person caring for your canine be informed of the responsibility that has been bestowed upon them?

  • 06
    the other hand, my small dog is stressed by her. My cat won't leave my bedroom... I called yesterday and let him know about the carpet
    via clueless-wallob
  • 07
    and that it was time for him to make an alternative plan to go in place today, that does not involve me. He and his son told me that they would take care
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  • 08
    of it by last night. Undoubtedly, I will not be hearing from either of them and need to figure out what I'm going to do here. The dog is sweet, and I don't
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  • 09
    blame her, but I can't have her turning our home upside down anymore. Any advice?
    via clueless-wallob
  • 10
    I called today, 24 hours after it was agreed there would be a solution. The son (who also has lied nonstop) informed me that I was misinformed
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  • 11
    and that they are in Columbia (which is also a lie). Asked me to watch Chanel for an additional week, that his father would be done with his teeth implants by
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  • Honestly, the fantasy worlds that some people live in are simply unreal. In what world is it ok to dump a dog on someone, to then extend that period, keep lying about your whereabouts, and then extend it again? It is simply bonkers!

  • 12
    tan dog looking sad in an abandoned house
    via Vulp via Adobe Stock

    Disclaimer: Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 13
    then. He claimed there were no other options past me... I informed him of the countless options including Wag and Rover and
    via clueless-wallob
  • 14
    gave them two options: a service pick up the dog today (or I surrender the Chanel), pay me $60 a day for every day after day #6 + materials and carpet
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  • 15
    cleaning bill (or I surrender the dog). Response to my request for being paid: "personally, I find that a little ridiculous".
    via clueless-wallob
  • 16
    I asked him if it were more ridiculous than asking a stranger to watch your dog for 6 days and then leave the country for a month. He said Chanel would be
    via clueless-wallob
  • 17
    picked up today or tomorrow then hung up when I said "she will be picked up today or surrendered". From hereon, they ignored my calls. My
    via clueless-wallob
  • 18
    animal loving fiancé and sister will not allow me to drop the dog at a shelter as she's old, sweet and did nothing wrong. Big sis called from her Philly number
    via clueless-wallob
  • 19
    and proceeded to let the owner know what laws were being violated and how much sh the will be walking into upon arrival to the US/ it will only get
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  • 20
    more expensive for him and he will lose his dog if this is not handled properly, to our satisfaction in a way that is safe and comfortable for poor little Chanel.
    via clueless-wallob
  • 21
    cream colored puppy sitting in abandoned building
    via zef art via Adobe Stock

    Disclaimer: Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 22
    Deadline is this evening - who wants to make a bet on this one?
    via clueless-wallob
  • 23
    After 20 days, this story comes to a close. I think? Probably not! The neighbor finally scheduled a dog sitter to come pick
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  • 24
    up little Chanel! He was actually the same sitter that took care of my other neighbors dog and cat after I cared for them for one night (to save them an
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  • 25
    additional day of Rover fees). Very kind, reputable and caring dude. I let him know what the deal was and he immediately demanded a portion
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  • 26
    of the fee be paid last night by the neighbor (didn't get hired through rover or wag). The sitter sent me an update and photo this evening of Chanel
    via clueless-wallob
  • 27
    cuddled up, happy and safe. Thank you all so much for your concern and support! My hands are tied in regard to taking ownership of
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  • 28
    Chanel as she is now considered not to be abandoned. However, I'm not going to make life easy for this guy - I'm filing a suit with small claims court
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  • 29
    for the carpet cleaning +$60 per day for each day past day six. I will also include a 20% tip because this guy is an a hat. I don't know if it's worth
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  • 30
    contacting anyone and claiming animal abuse or cruelty charges. My older sister is visiting and knows how to be a thorough pain in the ashe doesn't
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  • 31
    sad dog lying on the floor outside on paving stones
    via Maryna Konoplytska via Adobe Stock

    Disclaimer: Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 32
    have much to do while she's staying with me and has made it clear that bothering the neighbor for the demanded $1400 will be incredibly fun
    via clueless-wallob
  • 33
    and her pleasure. Again, thank you all for your support, advice and concern for Chanel. I miss her already!
    via clueless-wallob

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old dogs sweet dog court reddit story ruined pawrents neglect senior dog dog story sister traveling animal shelter abandoned-dog fiancee animal lover carpet
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