Dear Bubby,
My friend is going away on vacation and asked me to be her dogsitter. She told me that I would only have to walk the dog once at night.
The problem is that she told me that I have to leave the dog in a cage the rest of the time while she's away. I think it's cruel! I cannot imagine leaving this dog in PRISON.
Not only do I not want to watch the dog, I do not believe that the dog should be locked in a little cage for two weeks. I suggested that she leave the dog with the veterinarian, but she says they are cruel to the dog. I even suggested leaving it with family members, but she said that she doesn't trust anyone but me. I feel that she is putting a guilt act on me so that I'll watch her dog.
My question is, how can I get out of dog sitting, and still not let the dog be locked in a cage?
Sitting Sally
Dear Sally,
Your friend doesn't deserve to have a dog if she wants him to be kept in a cage for two weeks. And if you agree then you are a jailer also.
Tell her under no circumstances can you take her dog for two weeks -- she has a family to help out in such cases and if they don't want to be the jailers and she doesn't want to leave him at a shelter, she can take him to the animal shelter in Port Washington.
Maybe she feels she does not want to spend the money to send him to the vet or to a shelter who does this type of work. I have a neighbor who has a dog and when they go to work they tie up the dog for the day and that poor dog cries like a baby. I think that is really inhumane.
If your friendship depends on you taking the dog with her conditions, I would suggest the friendship isn't worth it. If you want the responsibility and friendship of a dog -- be kind to him. A dog has rights too.
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