Despite their lack of money they do care well for their daughter. My family steps up and pays for things when they can't.

 Quote: Olivia Brown

Despite their lack of money they do care well for their daughter. My family steps up and pays for things when they can't.

Then maybe the family should be discouraged from suppling funds & they will have to spend this extra funds that they seem to have to build the dog pens...to buy diapers for their child & her needs. Let him spend the money on the family needs not dogs.

I'd be darned if I was giving them $$$s to buy diapers & they were squireling it away for dogs & dog pens. This doesn't make any sense to me at all. Seems to me that everyone donating funds is 'supporting' this dozen dogs idea indirectly.

If you feel that you need to contribute to help out... I would purchase diapers & food & deliver that to them & not any money itself. At least that way you know that they are using the 'donations' for their designated purpose. Just an idea. But this may already be being done, I don't know.


Must be difficult to watch all this, Olivia.

 Quote: betty landercasp

Guess I'd be worried about my sister more than the dogs. If the guy cannot see that there is a "mind" in a dog, he may not see the "person" in your sister, just the
sweetness that she provides him. He may think that she is "property", too.
Maybe I'd take her to lunch and have a chat about what goes on over there. The dogs might be the least of the trouble.

You took the words right out of my mouth, Betty.

What about calling the local humane society or is that possible? I'm not sure how all of that works and whether animal control has to determine if there is a problem - just wanted to throw it out there.

I must be in a grumpy mood Olivia...

After determining that there is no abuse going on about which you are not aware (hopefully), I think the rest of the family needs to agree to make it crystal clear to this irresponsible couple that the care of the child comes first, period.

I'd lovingly and bluntly make it clear that if they proceed with purchasing 12 more dogs for which they don't/won't care for, the next time diapers or baby food need to be donated by family members, Child Protective Services will be called. (After providing diapers and baby food of course...)

I don't have patience for people who don't ensure the welfare of their own children nor the animals they bring into their home.

I totally agree with everyone. Maybe if family hasn't been made aware of what is happening with the money they are so willing to "loan" for groceries, etc - they should be made aware. Then all donations be made in product in lieu of cash - provide groceries, diapers, etc but no money, at all. Then next time they "need" home goods, tell them that if the money needed for family care is spent on the dog pack instead of the family, no more help will be forthcoming and Child Protective Services will be called.

It's called tough love - tell the family to quit enabling them. If they want the dogs bad enough, then 1 of them can get a night job to pay for them.

 Quote: lynne peck

I totally agree with everyone. Maybe if family hasn't been made aware of what is happening with the money they are so willing to "loan" for groceries, etc - they should be made aware. Then all donations be made in product in lieu of cash - provide groceries, diapers, etc but no money, at all. Then next time they "need" home goods, tell them that if the money needed for family care is spent on the dog pack instead of the family, no more help will be forthcoming and Child Protective Services will be called.

It's called tough love - tell the family to quit enabling them. If they want the dogs bad enough, then 1 of them can get a night job to pay for them.

I couldn't agree more!

Thank you for the input everyone...this is obviously a tough situation to be in the middle of. I love my sister and want the best for her, but I can't sit back and watch all of this keep happening. As far as the family help with their finances, we don't give them money...I will buy diapers, food, etc as I can but I know money would get wasted. The only people who routinely give them money are my grandparents but they are very generous with everyone in my family and also give money to everyone else (including us) quite often. I feel like that's not really my business so I stay out of that.
I saw my sister last night (without her husband) and told her how I was feeling. She was actually very receptive to it and didn't get upset like I was anticipating. She agreed that they didn't have the money for any more animals, and she was trying to talk her husband out of it. We still don't agree on the treatment of her current dogs, but at least maybe they won't get any more. I will cross my fingers that she can talk him out of it. If not, I will be contacting the authorities again.

Olivia,

You are extremely brave to take a stand against your sister's husband and the treatment of their animals. I had to take a stand against my sister's behavior a number of years ago and granted, it wasn't about animals, but it was still the most difficult thing I ever did.

Keep your chin up. You are doing the right thing.

Olivia -just wanted to check in -did this 'dozen dog' plan ever go forward?

I SOO understand what its like to deal with family who should not be owning any dogs! Its soooo frustrating. I feel for u!