Nephew feeding dog when no one is looking but no one wants to admit it, WWYD??

I'm not sure what I should do...

On Christmas Day, the last day my nephew was around my dog Reagan, she SOMEHOW ingested SIX olives (with pits). I had no idea on the day that this happened -- for two days following she wasn't herself. She wasn't going to the bathroom normally either. Then, two days later, she threw up FOUR olive pits and TWO whole olives.

When I approached my mom about it she said that Reagan must have gotten up on the table. Umm, no. She is twelve pounds - how can she get on top of a dining room table ON Christmas with a house full of people not noticing?

Then, last night, we had my brother's birthday - my mom made a chocolate cake. This was the first time my nephew was around Reagan since Christmas. Somehow, she ingested a pretty large amount of chocolate cake. Now, she has diarrhea and DH thinks she is going to throw up.

Now, this morning, when my mom and DH were questioning WHY she might be sick my nephew says "I think I saw her eat some cake that fell on the floor last night" Yet didn't say anything then.

My nephew is old enough to know this is wrong, we tell him all the time to NEVER feed the dogs anything, and he is WAY smart enough to know that people food isn't good for them - I have also discussed with him how chocolate can be FATAL.

Yet I can't go directly to him and speak to him about how he is feeding her b/c my family likes to live in the delusional world where he doesn't do anything wrong unless they SEE him do it.

What would you do? This is so upsetting.

Re: Nephew feeding dog when no one is looking but no one wants to admit it, WWYD??

Yes, you can speak to him, just pull him aside and have a "reminder" talk about how your dog got sick after eating things that are bad for it on Christmas and yesterday, and how he shouldn't feed it anything at all, ever.... even if your family doesn't believe he's doing it, he knows he is so your talk may scare him a little into not doing it again.

And then you can try to convince your mom, but if you can't, what can you do... I would always keep the dog away from the group and the table when he's over and people are eating for the dog's own safety. It's not worth it to have the dog around if the people in the room can't be trusted to not feed it food that can hurt it. Sorry your poor dog has been getting sick!

Re: Nephew feeding dog when no one is looking but no one wants to admit it, WWYD??

I don't know how old your nephew is but maybe after having another talk with him you can show him where the doggie treats are. This way if he really wants to give your dog something, he can do it openly, and something that won't hurt the dog.

Re: Nephew feeding dog when no one is looking but no one wants to admit it, WWYD??

I would tell my relatives that he can't be at your house until he can respect your rules.

If he is old enough to understand then I just wouldn't let him around my dog.....harsh yes but people need to take responsibility for their or their children's actions

Re: Nephew feeding dog when no one is looking but no one wants to admit it, WWYD??

thanks for the feedback.

even though my family all said there's no way he did this they are going to still talk to him about it and tell him that he shouldn't ever feed any of the dogs... even though he didn't do anything wrong.

over 300 dollars at the vet later i'm beyond angry

Re: Nephew feeding dog when no one is looking but no one wants to admit it, WWYD??

Wow. I can see how upsetting that must be. My family would be the SAME way I assure you, unless they see it they would think I am nuts or exaggerating.

I think you need to have a talk with your nephew and try to get him to admit what he has been doing. When he said the dog ate cake off the floor, you could have said "Why didn't you tell us, you know the doggies can't have chocolate. They could get very sick and die. It's very serious that you tell us that and make sure you always tell us if something "falls" (wink wink) on the floor so they can't get it".

If none of this works, I would try to set him up so that your parents see it and they can maybe talk to him. If he keeps doing it, you have no other choice but to not trust him around your dogs.

ETA - in addition, whole olives with pits, what a choking hazard.

If it were my nephew and he continued to disregard when he clearly UNDERSTANDS and comprehends, I would really put a scare into him to whip him into shape (what I would do all would depend on the child).

Message edited 1/22/2011 5:50:47 PM.

Re: Nephew feeding dog when no one is looking but no one wants to admit it, WWYD??

I've had this situation with my brother's girlfriend who obviously has no excuse and although I've had conversations with her about it, she doesn't really care.

So DH and I resolve ourselves to the fact that we have to watch her like a hawk when she's in our home. Which isn't very often, thankfully. It sucks that we have to do that, but it's either that or separating the dogs from company, which I refuse to do because it's their home also.

Especially given his history, I wouldn't trust him around your dog at all since he's proven that your conversations haven't had the effect you've wanted. If you do catch him in the act, that's when you have the talk with your family and transfer the responsibility of punishment and watching your nephew to them (if you can).

Re: Nephew feeding dog when no one is looking but no one wants to admit it, WWYD??

Wow this is terrible I pray this is resolved and your fur baby is back to normal very soon.