Friendship Breaks Apart After Man Rehomes A Friend's Dog
Some favors come with a deadline, even when nobody says it out loud. In this Reddit story, one man took in a friend's dog, Max, and tried to do right by him when the original owner seemed to disappear.
What started as a temporary act of kindness turned messy after months of no real contact, a new home for the dog, and a friend who suddenly wanted Max back. The situation left OP stuck between loyalty to a friend and doing what seemed best for the dog.
By the time the dust settled, the friendship was already in trouble. Here's the full story.
OP asks:
OP took in Max out of the goodness of their heart
However, it didn't seem like Max's dad was interested in getting him back
Rehoming a pet can be an emotionally charged decision that significantly impacts both the pet and the owner.
Research in animal behavior and psychology indicates that pets often experience stress and confusion when facing changes in their living situations.
Moreover, owners also face a complex mix of guilt and relief, which can lead to long-lasting emotional effects.
So OP found the best home for Max
However, now Max's previous owner is back and angry that his dog was given away
Understandably, anyone would be upset if the person they trusted with their dog gave away their precious pet. However, in this case, it's much more complicated than that. OP had a valid reason for believing that Max's original owner wasn't coming back for the dog anymore, and many people in the comments section of the post seem to agree.
Here are some of the best comments.
1. Max's previous owner should have at least provided another number or an emergency contact
That missing contact detail made all the difference.
2. As it seems, Carl's excuses also have a lot of holes in them
3. There were several ways the friend could have ensured Max was well taken care of
4. It's easy to see why OP thought Carl wasn't really coming back for Max
The comments were not exactly subtle about whose side they were on.
Just like the Redditor who rehomed their late father-in-law’s dog and sparked a family dispute.
5. It was the best decision for everyone involved, really
6. OP still did the right thing rather than allowing the dog to go without its needs being met at their home
7. OP did everything they could to ensure that the dog was receiving the best care, even if it wasn't their own dog
8. If Carl truly cared about Max, he would have thought about the dog frequently and would have found a way to contact OP
That silence from Carl is doing a lot of work here.
9. As it seems, Carl needs to focus on himself first before anything else
10. Six months is too long a time for it not to be considered abandonment
11. There are limits to helping others, too
12. Carl is completely out of line expecting OP to still be waiting for him after those six months
13. It would never have been OP's fault because they did the best they could for the dog
14. OP even went above and beyond to care for the dog
15. The dog is better off in its new home
16. That's good advice
17. Given how the dog's previous owner is acting, it's better to be on the safe side
18. After such a long time with no contact, the dog isn't even considered to be Carl's anymore
19. People who aren't truly responsible dog owners could do such a thing
20. Carl needs to focus on himself first before taking on another creature to care for
In this situation, OP's hand was forced to give the pup away. In another scenario, if they hadn't faced all those issues with the neighbors and the cat, they might have kept Max, but that's simply not the case.
Additionally, there are numerous ways Carl could have contacted OP. However, he didn't, which suggests that he might not be interested in the dog after all.
Do you think what OP did was right?
The friendship fallout says as much as the dog drama does.
Want the “abandoned it” twist too, read how a pregnant woman tried rehoming her friend’s dog.
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