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Teen Asks If She Was Wrong To Run Away With Her Cat After Her Stepdad Attempts To Secretly Euthanize It
There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for our four-legged friends. Especially if they have special needs. But this heartbreaking story from a caring teen girl shows that some human hearts are just too cold for animals.
“We have a special needs cat, Muffin, and she’s quite financially demanding,” the author started her post on the r/AITA subreddit, and continued: “Money is tight but I’ve saved up a pretty decent amount.”
Recently, her stepdad got an idea to euthanize Muffin, claiming that “if we were stranded on a desert island she’d be the first one to go.” Horrifyingly, the spine-chilling scenario almost turned into reality when the teen caught dad trying to sneak out the poor cat to euthanize it.
As you can imagine, the teen couldn’t risk the life of her beloved Muffin, so they ran away. She asked the internet if it was the right thing to do as the fear of ruining the bond with her mom started creeping in.
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This teen was forced to run away with her special needs cat after her stepdad tried to sneak out and euthanize it
Image credits: barnimages (not the actual photo)
So she shared her heartbreaking story on r/AITA amid the fears of jeopardizing the close relationship she had with her mom
There are around 1.3M stepfathers in the United States. Fatherlyreports that more than 1,300 new blended families form each day, and more than 50 percent of children under age 13 live with one biological parent and one stepparent. The current divorce rate can be to blame. Various studies showed that on average, a marriage in the US lasts seven years and roughly half of all marriages end in divorce.
It’s no secret that the formation of blended families affects kids of all ages, and while for some the transition is smooth, many struggle. Researchers have suggested that kids who have experienced the divorce of parents have twice the risk of developing behavioral problems than kids with both parents.
James H. Bray, a former president of the American Psychological Association, toldFatherly that “Most research shows that 15 to 20 percent of kids in stepfamilies do not develop within normal limits, compared to about 10 percent of kids from non-divorced families.” Having said that, he added that “the vast majority of kids in stepfamilies do quite well,” so it all depends on the particular situation.
And this is what people had to comment on this whole incident
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Katie Lutesinger 4 years ago
Stepdad is a right heartless bastard. If you want to get the measure of a person, look at how they treat those weaker than themselves and it will tell you all you need to know.
Brian Bennett 4 years ago
Everything has a right to live. And we have to speak for the ones who can't. Heartless bastards cannot be dealt with. I think you did the right thing,
Load More Replies...
Monday 4 years ago
Imagine choosing your crappy husband over your hardworking daughter...and then being brazen enough to give said daughter an ultimatum.
Not Proud British 4 years ago
Sounds like the mother is being bullied herself by this man. I would ask the girl if she has any aunts or any friends of her mothers she can confide in? They need to know what is happening in this relationship and offer the mother some help and support to leave this a-hole. As for their relationship as mother and daughter. I dunno, my mother did something similar to me and chose her husband over me. Our relationship never recovered, partly because I know she would do it all over again. My mother wasn't being bullied either, she just chose her happiness over our safety and wellbeing. It sucks but at the end of the day, they are the ones missing out. Hold your ground.
Natalia Maciel 4 years ago (edited)
Also threatening the life of a beloved pet is a sign of domestic violence or could escalate into that. Also this situation made the mom lose a significant relation. This is how abusers function. They corrupt the bonds of their partners to other people. The girl is very brave and thank God she has a suport network herself.
Load More Replies... iblowsheep 4 years ago
need to euthanize stepdad. if he is justifying his position based on financial strain, then i am pretty sure he costs more to support than the cat. And what Mother did is at minimum two fold, first by threatening financial blackmail, and second by choosing to punish her daughter's ethical actions, and then siding with the idiot stepdad. Not much else to go on besides what's in the story, but it points to a toxic home so i think she should stay away if she can. Assuming that she lives somewhere where 18 is considered an adult there may be complications, but for sure Mom is a bitch and psycho Stepdad cares for nothing but himself.
Duchess Raven Waves 4 years ago
I would look him dead in his eyes and tell him. Old people are special needs too. Someday I might be in charge of whether or not you continue to live beyond being useful.
Carol Emory 4 years ago
If mom isn't willing to stand up to stepfather about this, then she gets what she gets. Personally...if it were my daughter and her cat, I would have told the jackass that if he step one toe towards that cat, he will be on the front lawn with all of his clothes and he can go find some other place to live. As far as the expense situation, call around. There are plenty of vets out there that will help you with the cat at a discount if you are willing to volunteer time at the clinic.
Vicky Z 4 years ago
The comment she gets what she gets is really cruel for me.... saying what you would do in this situation has no point.. some women can't leave for a million reasons! Better to have more sympathy in this case
Load More Replies...
lara 4 years ago
You are doing what is right for yourself and for Muffin. So what if your mom is pissed. Love is not conditional. She has made it so. Your step"dad" is an A&&, not you. Stay with your boyfriend's family. You will lose everything if you go "home." You gain everything if you stay away.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Thank goodness she got out. If he'd euthanize a cat, and scares his wife, then it's time to go go go!
Katie Lutesinger 4 years ago
Stepdad is a right heartless bastard. If you want to get the measure of a person, look at how they treat those weaker than themselves and it will tell you all you need to know.
Brian Bennett 4 years ago
Everything has a right to live. And we have to speak for the ones who can't. Heartless bastards cannot be dealt with. I think you did the right thing,
Load More Replies... Monday 4 years ago
Imagine choosing your crappy husband over your hardworking daughter...and then being brazen enough to give said daughter an ultimatum.
Not Proud British 4 years ago
Sounds like the mother is being bullied herself by this man. I would ask the girl if she has any aunts or any friends of her mothers she can confide in? They need to know what is happening in this relationship and offer the mother some help and support to leave this a-hole. As for their relationship as mother and daughter. I dunno, my mother did something similar to me and chose her husband over me. Our relationship never recovered, partly because I know she would do it all over again. My mother wasn't being bullied either, she just chose her happiness over our safety and wellbeing. It sucks but at the end of the day, they are the ones missing out. Hold your ground.
Natalia Maciel 4 years ago (edited)
Also threatening the life of a beloved pet is a sign of domestic violence or could escalate into that. Also this situation made the mom lose a significant relation. This is how abusers function. They corrupt the bonds of their partners to other people. The girl is very brave and thank God she has a suport network herself.
Load More Replies... iblowsheep 4 years ago
need to euthanize stepdad. if he is justifying his position based on financial strain, then i am pretty sure he costs more to support than the cat. And what Mother did is at minimum two fold, first by threatening financial blackmail, and second by choosing to punish her daughter's ethical actions, and then siding with the idiot stepdad. Not much else to go on besides what's in the story, but it points to a toxic home so i think she should stay away if she can. Assuming that she lives somewhere where 18 is considered an adult there may be complications, but for sure Mom is a bitch and psycho Stepdad cares for nothing but himself.
Duchess Raven Waves 4 years ago
I would look him dead in his eyes and tell him. Old people are special needs too. Someday I might be in charge of whether or not you continue to live beyond being useful.
Carol Emory 4 years ago
If mom isn't willing to stand up to stepfather about this, then she gets what she gets. Personally...if it were my daughter and her cat, I would have told the jackass that if he step one toe towards that cat, he will be on the front lawn with all of his clothes and he can go find some other place to live. As far as the expense situation, call around. There are plenty of vets out there that will help you with the cat at a discount if you are willing to volunteer time at the clinic.
Vicky Z 4 years ago
The comment she gets what she gets is really cruel for me.... saying what you would do in this situation has no point.. some women can't leave for a million reasons! Better to have more sympathy in this case
Load More Replies... lara 4 years ago
You are doing what is right for yourself and for Muffin. So what if your mom is pissed. Love is not conditional. She has made it so. Your step"dad" is an A&&, not you. Stay with your boyfriend's family. You will lose everything if you go "home." You gain everything if you stay away.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Thank goodness she got out. If he'd euthanize a cat, and scares his wife, then it's time to go go go!
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