Problem

[Miss_Stress]

Right, my dog is 15 years old, and recently he's started walking up and down the room all the time. Yes, it's annoying, but my dad's taking it too far.

He shouts and screams at the dog, throws things at him and kicks him I ask, no, demand that he stops, and he tells me to shut up and that he doesn't answer to me. My mum doesn't even make an attempt to stop him.

What should I do? I'm planning to enter into Animal Law in less than 3 years' time and cruelty is happening in my own house.

[surreal20]

the comment "shut up, i don't answer to you" is a clear sign of how immature he is. Even if i were 10 and my father was doing something bad to an animal or person (which he never did, it's just an example) and i told him to stop and say "STOP IT! YOU'RE HURTING HIM!" He'd stop...he may get pissed off at me because i'm "talking back" to him, but he'd NEVER make a comment like that. For the most part, i know he'd at least stop his actions for the time being.

And my mother would back me up on the issue too...

If you really feel that what your father is doing is very close to animal cruelty, or have really good evidence of it..i'd call the athorities. That poor dog is too old to deal with that kind of BS, and he has at least one human (you) that cares deeply about him, so do what is right. Call him out on it.

If you aren't wanting to go that rought, get those child protection gates and put it at one end of the room and keep him out of it. He wont be hurt by the fact he isn't allowed in a room, so long as you do it without any physical harm to him.

We don't like our dog on the couch at my parents house. She makes it smell really bad, so we have a gate up in the room with the nice couch and it's only got one entrance from the up stares and she's completely calm and cool about it.

[MaggieTheCat]

From your original post, it seems clear to me that your father doesn't respect you, and your mother either doesn't care or is too scared to do anything. The best long-term solution is to move out, as soon as possible. If you think that having a serious discussion with your dad about respect would do anything, you could try that, but if he's already yelling at you that he doesn't have to listen to you regarding the dog, I have my doubts that he'll listen to you about anything else.

Sorry you're going through this...I feel bad for your dog, too. Is there someone else who can take care of him until you can find a place of your own, where he won't get hurt?

[tollbaby]

Wow... that's the house I grew up in. And moved out of at age 17. Sorry, can't offer any advice other than "get out of there!"

[csquared]

If you are concerned about the dog, get it out of the house. Either that or file an animal abuse complaint.

Has your father always been abusive? If so, you need to do more than get the dog out of the house.

If this is something that has recently started, you should contact your dad's doctor and have your dad get a physical. Your dad may need help.