My Infertile Sister Adopted a Dog and Insists We Treat It Like a Real Baby

One of our readers was super happy about having a baby after waiting for a long time. But things changed when their sister, who couldn’t have kids, adopted a dog instead. Now, the issue is that the sister wants everyone to treat the pet like it’s a real baby. The situation is not that simple, so both sides need to take some actions towards understanding each other.

One of our readers shared her problem with us.

Thanks for opening up about your situation and reaching out to us. We’ve got some tips that might be just what you need!

Have a hear-to-heart talk with your sister.

Your sister might be trying to cope with the heartbreaking news about her infertility. Lola is her emotional compensation, and your sister’s behavior is a coping mechanism. You might want to suggest that she should go to therapy, maybe even with you.

It’s okay to love your pets, but it’s not normal when it happens in such an extreme way. Have a heart-to-heart talk with your sister. She needs your support and attention.

Accept their decision but comment on their “parenting”.

You might want to ask your sister to “parent” her dog properly because Lola always steals food, barks and bites people. If they choose to treat their pet like a baby, they should also assume similar responsibilities.

Besides, mention that there are some places that aren’t pet friendly (or child friendly), so it’s no big deal to go out without their dog. They can hire a pet sitter if they’re so worried about leaving their dog alone for a while.

Lola might feel worse because of their behavior.

No doubt your sister loves their dog. However, Lola might actually feel bad because they treat her like a human. They might interpret her actions incorrectly because their conclusions are based on human, not dog behavior.

Dogs can also struggle with developing their natural canine instincts when treated like this. It’s probably the reason why their dog is so unruly — they give it too much freedom.

Learn more about pet therapy to better understand her.

Not being able to have children naturally can make people feel really bad about themselves. It might lead to sadness, worry, depression. So try to support your sister and help her cope with the initial problem.

And you can try to take benefits from being a pet “aunty”. Having pets is good for you in many ways! They can be friends and give you a reason to do things. This helps you feel less lonely and more connected. Pets also make tough times easier and can lower your stress. If you have a dog, taking them for a walk is not just good for them — it’s good for your fitness and heart health too!

Of course, there are people who decide to stay childless on their own. And they also need to get respect for their choice. But when people can’t have babies, they deal with it in different ways. Some get help from doctors, some adopt, and others find unique paths. It’s important to be understanding and supportive. People handle things in their own way, so offering care and being there for them really matters.