Woman Says She and Her Husband Fought After His Mother Prioritized ‘Giant Dog’ Over Their Daughter

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A mother says she was left angry and hurt after discovering that her daughter could not spend her usual summer stay at her grandmother’s house because of an untrained family dog.

The woman shared her story on the parenting forum Mumsnet, explaining that her 7-year-old daughter typically spends at least five days every summer with her grandmother. In previous years, her brother-in-law’s “giant” dog, which lives at the home, would be sent away during the visit.

But this summer, the grandmother refused to make arrangements for the dog to leave, forcing the woman to find an alternative plan.

“She has to go and stay with a relative that she’s never stayed with before and sees maybe twice a year,” the woman wrote. “The dog is being allowed to stay in the house and my 7-year-old daughter has to move out because of it?”

The woman recalled that the dog had previously scratched her daughter’s chest when she was about four years old. Since then, she has felt uneasy about her child being around the animal, which she described as “untrained.”

“I might be overreacting but it really pushes my buttons,” she admitted.

The decision led to conflict between the woman and her husband. According to her post, the two argued when she voiced her frustration. Her husband felt their daughter could still stay at the house alongside the dog.

“I don’t want to put her in a position where she feels unsafe,” the mother said, standing by her decision.

Reactions on Mumsnet were mixed. Some commenters argued that the mother was being unreasonable, since the dog lives at the house permanently. Others suggested her concerns were justified given the past incident.

“Your MIL has honored your wishes by arranging for her to stay elsewhere,” one commenter noted, adding that the grandmother was still making an effort to spend time with her granddaughter.

But another person sympathized with the mother’s concerns, writing, “If the dog is dangerous, I’d be worried for MIL to be honest.”

For now, the daughter will stay with another relative, and her grandmother plans to join them so they can still spend time together. Still, the mother admits the situation has left her feeling upset.

“God forbid anyone asks a 40-year-old man staying at his mom’s place to take his dog elsewhere for a week,” one commenter remarked, highlighting the ongoing family tension.

The story underscores the difficult dynamics that can surface when family traditions, personal safety, and beloved pets collide.