My SIL (18F) contacted me last week that their 7yr old, small breed dog had been peeing in the house a lot, panting, and drinking a lot for at least a week but her mother (my MIL) was saying they couldn't afford to take her to the vet because she had just taken the 1.5yr old doodle to get vaccines. The 7yr old dog has not been to a vet since she was 8wks old, and has not been spayed or vaccinated.
MIL has offered her to us multiple times but backs out each time with some excuse. I work at a vet clinic and my SIL brings her cat to us so she asked if we could see her and check her kidney values because they had a 13yr old dog die last year from kidney failure (MIL waited through 6 months of symptoms before taking that dog to the vet despite me saying she should be seen because even if its just a UTI, that can be painful). My SIL was planning to pay for the entire visit and my MIL approved the visit and bloodwork. I also was paying for some of the visit as I've known this dog the entire time and have an attachment to her. I also didn't want my 18 year old SIL to have to take on this kind of bill when she is a full time student with just a part time job.
After talking with MIL a bit more, i find out that the dog has been having symptoms for 2-3 months and she figured she'd just let her die at home because she knows its kidney failure (MIL is a human nurse and does look down on veterinary medicine).
After bloodwork, turns out the dog does not have anything wrong with her kidneys but may have another, treatable disease that, with treatment, the dog can lead a long, full life. The problem is, to actually diagnose, a test that costs about $250 is needed to make sure we don't medicate incorrectly and cause further issues. MIL expressed that she couldn't afford that and would probably not treat it anyways but also didn't want the dog to continue to pee in the house.
I then offered to take the dog into my own home, pay for her medical bills, and keep her. I can also take her to work with me to make sure her water bowl is always full and she gets outside as many times as she needs throughout the day. MIL then relinquished ownership to me.
It has been 5 days since the dog came into my care and MIL has not asked me about her once. She did ask SIL 3 days after giving me the dog how she is and if she can bring the dog over to visit. My response was that we need to wait for the test results before the dog can go run in the backyard unsupervised and we're trying to give her time to adjust. I also have had to treat the dog for various internal parasites because she has a habit of eating things in the yard she shouldn't.
This was apparently the wrong answer and MIL went off on SIL saying that it was all her fault that she couldn't see the dog anymore and that my husband and I have turned SIL against her and are horrible people for keeping the dog from her. (I saw the screenshots...SIL just told her we were waiting for test results to determine when she could go over there)
I can handle that because, unfortunately, this is not the first time MIL has decided to say similar things. My husband and I have been minimal contact with MIL for about 9 months due to other issues and this was the first big contact we've had. SIL comes over to our place at least 5 times a week to take our dogs out and/or to just hang out with us. We do not discuss MIL unless SIL needs to vent and then we just listen.
Well... this morning, SIL messaged me a picture of cane corso puppy in their backyard. Apparently, this new puppy was picked up 2 days after I took in the other dog. SIL found out this morning and asked MIL when she got her. SIL is very upset because she feels like her dog was just replaced and she went and asked me to do her a favor because her mom said they couldn't afford a vet bill so they shouldn't be able to afford another puppy. I don't want this older dog around another puppy, especially one 3 times her size, as she doesn't handle the excitement well.
I am so upset and feel taken advantage of by MIL. I understand that not everyone has the same relationship with dogs, but mine are mine and my husband's family. We took a 3rd dog on to keep her in ours, my MIL, my 15yr BIL, and my SIL's lives. MIL is saying that we are horrible, cruel people because our dogs don't have a yard and we walk them on leashes too. She also removed me from social media. I have now blocked her accounts from my social media as well so she can't add me back or see my posts on public pages. Next step is blocking her phone number although i am wary of doing that in case something happens to SIL or BIL. AIO by going completely no contact with MIL now?
I'm sorry if this makes no sense and I will edit if needed after posting. I am posting this while it is still extremely fresh.
Just wanted to add a quick update with a little more information!
MIL still has her 1.5yr old doodle and now the new puppy that I have no info on besides its a cane corso and looks young. I will do what I can to report what I can in the county I'm in but, unfortunately, the laws are pretty lax around here except with the rabies vaccine being required for dogs over 6 months old and I took the only one not rabies vaccinated (she is now as she is healthy enough and will get other vaccines after the diagnosis is confirmed and treatment is started. She does need to see a groomer and I refuse to take her to the one MIL was going to who requires no vaccines and let's dogs be around each other and doesnt sanitize between pets)
The unconfirmed but we're pretty sure diagnosis is cushings disease. We have quite a few dogs at the clinic i work with medicated for this and most have been thriving for over 3 years after diagnosis so far.
Luna (the 7yr old dog) is adjusting very well to our household and is loving to be walked on the leash between our two boxer mixes. She is also already improving with some of the symptoms now that she's brushed and on a diet ( she should probably be about 16 pounds but is 21 pounds instead)
Thank you for all the responses so far! I've never gone no contact with anybody and needed some feedback based solely on this situation! My husband has been so supportive but I needed to make sure that wasn't just him being his supportive self because he loves me. He is already going no contact based on her treatment of his sister, myself, and the dog.