How would you handle this

[MutherjuggZ]

YOU should have made sure the dog was being taken care of properly.

I'll say it again.... you gave hime a job and it's YOUR job to make sure he's doing it properly.

My children all have a list of chores to be done daily, including feeding the cats and dog. That doesn't mean that I solely rely on those dictated chores to ensure my animals are safe and healthy. I'M THE ADULT SO I'M ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE.


What stopped you from checking on that dog last night before you went to bed?

[forbes]

Give him a 15 day suspension w/ NO PAY!

i spit out my soda on that one

[Tyrone Biggums]

He needs to fully comprehend that he is the sole cause for the dog's death. He should spend the day (supervised) digging the grave and burying the dog himself, no gloves. Once the dog is buried, he needs to stand graveside, in front of the family and announce and apologize for what he has done. Give him breaks for water and rest so you don't end up on the news.

Edit: I'm going to edit this after thinking some more about it. Ultimately, you gave him a job to do and should have followed up that it was done. As a lesson to you both, you should share the digging and burying responsibilities and use this as more of a learning lesson than a punishment.

[papapepper]

He doesn't need to think for ONE MINUTE that this death was his fault. He's old enough to start learning about responsibility, but not old enough to be solely responsible for another living/breathing creature. That's YOUR job

Lol at 9 years old I was out killing whatever I could find. I always took care of my dogs though as well as they took care of me.


Ultimately though the blame is with the parent. You said your dog had water and was inside but your kids dog had no water and was outside? You'd think the dog would partially be yours and you would be aware of what was happening.

[Kenny_Stang]

While the circumstances definitley look like the dog may have passed away due to not having water, its going to be difficult to prove it. Could it be possible that he did give the dog water and that it evaporated in this heat? Either way, I wouldn't lay this on the child's feet... he had the "responsibility" but it's the parents responsibility to ensure that the kids are doing theirs, so in the end its the parents ultimate responsibility, not the child.

[Grimpala]

It's easier for two people to dig a hole in this clay we have around here. Granted this hole will be smaller than I normally dig, I would still make him help you bury the dog. Don't deride him the whole time, just make sure he knows why the dog died and that it's not 100% his fault, but that his actions played a part.

[ELVIS]

That's a tough one..... Both?

I would beat his ass, make him dig the hole to bury the thing and make damn sure he knew it was his fault that dog died.

<---Not a parent, so don't listen to me

Have him dig the grave site with no water. At 3pm today.

9 years old, he is not a baby anymore. He had a responsibility and because he acted in a selfish manner the dog died. I would drive that point home. On a side note in 108* weather the dog should be brought in regardless IMO.

I agree with the others make him dig the hole.

i agree with these folks Seb. I am attempting to raise a grown man, part of that is taking responsibility for your actions. I disagree with Kim on this, 9yrs old is not too early to place this on the boy. I believe he will thank you later for a lesson like this. I feel you cannot just let something like this slide, otherwise you get another piece of shit kid that turns into a piece of shit responsibilty shirking adult male. (obv. i am not calling a child this)

all that said i was raised by a fucking savage, so my viewpoint may and prolly should be a little different than most. i would have been beat, then had to go dig the grave and hope i wouldnt be joining the dog.

AND......... all that said i just had to put my rott to sleep so i am a tad bit sensitive to this subject right now.

god bless.

[MutherjuggZ]

Lol at 9 years old I was out killing whatever I could find. I always took care of my dogs though as well as they took care of me.


Ultimately though the blame is with the parent. You said your dog had water and was inside but your kids dog had no water and was outside? You'd think the dog would partially be yours and you would be aware of what was happening.

I'm sure at 9 years old your PARENTS provided the food you gave to your animals.... not you. That means, behind the scenes while you were growing up and having fun with old yeller.... your PARENTS were the silent responsible party to ensure your animals safety / survival. If one of your dogs got hurt, I'm almost positive your parents would have been the ones to take it to the vet and pay the bill.... NOT YOU @ AGE 9

That makes the parents/adults the responsible party everytime. You see where a childs actions got close to hurting an animal, you do something about it. You turn a child loose to solely provide care for an animal and it's lose/lose.

[Snatch Napkin]

If I had done that at 9, then my dad would have made me dig the hole to bury him. He would have also beat himself up for allowing it to happen.

I had the same responsibilities as a child, but I was also forewarned that my lack of action would result in the death of a living creature.

[mustangguy289]

You make Peyton sit outside with no water. It will be great for the news.

[papapepper]

AND......... all that said i just had to put my rott to sleep so i am a tad bit sensitive to this subject right now.

god bless.

Sorry to hear about your rottweiler those are some good looking dogs.

[Broncojohnny]

I don't want this to sound wrong because whatever your arrangement may be is your business but why are you the one scolding this nine year old when you aren't his dad? To me that is going to be sending all sorts of crazy signals to the boy. His mom should be the parent here shouldn't she?

[347Mike]

You're not making him accept full responsibility but I would make him dig the hole.

[MutherjuggZ]

I had the same responsibilities as a child, but I was also forewarned that my lack of action would result in the death of a living creature.

As did I, and if I didn't fulfill my roles and responsibilities I'd get an ass whoopin in a new york minute. My parents still made sure I was doing as I was instructed though.


It's awful that for whatever reason this dog died, but it's not JUST the kids fault. Him forgetting about the dog was a weighing factor, but what about the parent making sure it got done?

When there's something THAT important, I'll stand there with my hand on my hip and supervise if that's what it takes to ensure it's done, and done properly

[papapepper]

I'm sure at 9 years old your PARENTS provided the food you gave to your animals.... not you. That means, behind the scenes while you were growing up and having fun with old yeller.... your PARENTS were the silent responsible party to ensure your animals safety / survival. If one of your dogs got hurt, I'm almost positive your parents would have been the ones to take it to the vet and pay the bill.... NOT YOU @ AGE 9

That makes the parents/adults the responsible party everytime. You see where a childs actions got close to hurting an animal, you do something about it. You turn a child loose to solely provide care for an animal and it's lose/lose.

Actually your wrong, sorry. My mom passed away and my dad was giving me my social security check which was usually around $800 a month at 9 years old. I was paying for my own dog food and extras. My dad always took me to go get the food but I payed for it. If the dog got hurt the dog got put to sleep. Only had to put 3 dogs down. One a rattle snake took care of so technically two dogs total. I had to hold them while they were put to sleep then take them home and bury them out in the backyard in his favorite spot under the 79' T/A. The parent is responsible no doubt but at age 9 you know the the value of somethings life, IMO. You might not have a full understanding of it but being out in this heat you'd think the kid wouldn't want his beloved pet to die out there cause it sounds like a horrible slow death.


FWIW, My dad had an account set up for my brother and me separate and always put money back for us and also gave us "allowance" Do you parents not give that out anymore? I'd get my ass beat down if I did any wrong to our dogs.