Woman Refuses to Return Aunt’s ‘Neglected’ Dog After Saving Him from Being Dumped

A woman seeks advice from the Reddit community following a bitter family dispute over her aunt’s dog. Posting from an anonymous account, she details how she unexpectedly became the owner of the dog and why she refuses to give him back.

“My Aunt (K for short) has used me as a free dogsitter for years for her small dog,” she writes. According to her, the animal was “neglected” for years under K’s care, never receiving proper meals, toys, or vet visits.

The woman explains that things came to a breaking point in August of 2024. “She lost her temporary housing and I was forced to drive 2 hours in the middle of the night to pick up the dog before she dumped him at the pound,” she writes.

Faced with the possibility of the dog being abandoned, she made her stance clear. “I told her that if I was to pick him up, she would not get him back and I would claim ownership. She agreed over text,” she continues.

Now, she says the dog — named Vik — has transformed into a thriving and well-loved companion. “Vik is a happy, healthy old chihuahua mix, with toys and a warm bed and a little brother and vet care,” she shares proudly.

Despite her aunt’s unstable situation, conflict has now resurfaced. “K has not yet gotten stable housing, and is currently fighting in court with my mother for guardianship of my dementia-ridden grandmother,” she writes. She notes that she has stayed neutral in the family’s ongoing drama while continuing to care for both her grandmother and her rescue dogs.

However, she says her aunt has started to aggressively demand Vik’s return. “K has begun to harass me over text, demanding that I give back Vik or she will call the police because I stole her dog,” she reveals.

The woman explains that she had already taken the necessary steps to make sure Vik was legally hers. “Because Vik didn’t previously have a microchip, I essentially claimed him as a stray and registered him with my local shire,” she writes. In her view, her aunt never officially owned the dog since there was no prior registration.

Still, she admits the threats from her aunt are taking a toll. “Regardless, I am scared she may try to take him by force of some kind, and I do not know whether she has a legal right to Vik,” she confesses.

Attempts to meet her aunt halfway have gone nowhere. “She will not listen to my attempts at negotiation for visitation, and is telling me how I am stealing my cousin’s dog and my cousin is devastated,” she adds.

The poster insists her decision is rooted in protecting Vik from going back into a harmful environment. “I don’t want to put him back in that awful place. I am keeping him,” she writes firmly. Her closing question on Reddit is simple: “AITAH?”

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Readers quickly rallied behind her, assuring her she made the right call by keeping the dog safe. One commenter bluntly told her, “NTA. Send her a cease & desist letter. She’ll back off. If not, file a harassment claim with the police.”

Others advised her to preserve all communication with her aunt. “DO NOT BLOCK HER. You’ll need these texts and calls as evidence,” the commenter continued.

While the poster is “known for being neutral in all family drama” and simply wants to keep her focus on caregiving, her priority remains Vik’s wellbeing, even in the face of family pressure and the fallout that ensues.