Anyone else hate going to places where pets are treated badly?

I’m at my cousin and his boyfriend’s house right now, and it’s really upsetting to see how they treat their dogs. I can’t even say hello to them because they get too excited, which makes the boyfriend yell at them to shut up. They’re stuck in the kitchen all day unless they need to go out. One dog is in a cage, and the other is on a hard floor with no bed. It’s just awful. The one in the cage doesn’t even have water available all the time; he only gets it at meal times. The other dog has access whenever he wants, but it’s just not fair. They’re such friendly dogs and all they want is some love and attention, but I feel like I can’t even give that to them. It makes me feel terrible and I worry they might hate me for it. But what can I do? The boyfriend is so controlling, and my cousin won’t stand up to him. He just lets him take over to avoid conflict. I really dislike people like this. What would you do?

That sounds really frustrating. It’s hard to see animals treated poorly, especially when they just want love. Have you thought about talking to your cousin about it, maybe in a gentle way?

I totally get it. I’ve been in similar situations before. It’s tough because you want to help the dogs but don’t want to create any issues. If it were me, I’d probably try to sneak in some quick pets when the boyfriend isn’t around.

You have a kind heart for caring. Just remember, you’re not responsible for their situation. It’s tough to see, but sometimes all you can do is be there for them in small ways.

I hate that too. It’s heartbreaking. Have you thought about maybe reaching out to a local animal welfare group? They might have resources or advice.

It’s super frustrating to see animals in that situation. Have you thought about documenting things? Like taking notes or pictures to share with your cousin later?