Roommate takes care of Border Collie after his owner temporarily moved overseas, then questions if they should keep the dog after a year together: ‘We formed an attachment’

Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor

Jun 25, 2026 6:45 AM EDT

Who is the doggo's rightful owner?

When you take care of a sweet dog, it is only a matter of time before both of you form an attachment to each other. It's so easy to fall in love with this giant fluff ball and want to spend every single moment you have with them, forever and ever.

The problem is, you should only form this strong an attachment with a pet you actually own, otherwise you are setting both of you up for heartbreak. Sure, you can spend time with your roommate's dog, or bring your sister's cat snacks every time you visit, but there is a special bond that should only form between a pet and its owner, that shouldn't happen with anyone else.

The situation between the trio below is a bit more complicated, but the good thing is that it all comes from a place of love. After a sweet Border Collie's owner decided to move overseas for two years, the owner decided to leave his dog, called Benji, with the care of his housemate. The housemate agreed to take on the commitment of taking care of a dog, and since they already lived together, it was an easy shift.

Since then, a year has passed, and Benji and the housemate are truly happy with each other. They formed quite an attachment.

But that attachment is not necessarily a good thing, because now the housemate is dreading the day of the owner's return. They start wondering if Benji is happier with them, and shouldn't be separated from another owner he has grown so fond of. Yet, as far as the owner is concerned, they left their dog in the care of the housemate for two years, and fully expect to get Benji back when he returns. And the toughest part is that Benji has no say in the matter.

It's a good thing that Benji has two people who love him so much and want to be with him forever, but who should be the one to end up keeping him?

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^{Cute Border Collie Dog with Owner at Home, Presented by Model}
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Should I give a dog (Border Collie) back to his original owner after over a year of separation?

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^{Border Collie Dog Giving Paw to Owner at Home, Closeup with Model}
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