I feel for you. If you take them it will be a never ending process. I took my step daughter's to the humane society once. I told her to "never ask me to do that again", the poor thing was scared to death and I was almost in tears before I left.

Be strong, Mom.

Puppies are very often adopted at shelters, so maybe that will make your DD feel better. I'm sorry if she is angry with you, but you have to think of yourself first. You will feel "used" and mad at yourself if you take any more animals.

They need to be treated for the worms - imagine what those poor pups are suffering through! Go get them and take them to the Humane Society asap or call animal control and they will pick them up!

Report HIM to the local animal control department of your city - he will be fined and forced to get the dogs neutered OR turn them over to the a.c. officer.

I was going to say exactly what Socks said. Stay strong (make that your mantra) and don't give in. It's not your problem. I'd be mad, too.

Lauren said he is getting them wormer medicine. When I asked her why she wasn't telling him to do what she wanted me to do, she said "because you are supposedly care about animals". Our Humane Society is closed and they don't open until Monday. I still don't want worm infected dogs around Emily. He lives in another town, not here.

I can see why he's your EX. I'd report him.

Kathleen, I'm just shaking my head here. YOU have come a long way baby!

About the dogs, this is where knowledge will come in handy. In my mom's community they have spay and neuter clinics about once a month. Low cost to all, practically free for those who ask for extra help. We have a clinic in our state, about 80 miles away. There are times during the year a few animal clinics give lower rates to spay and neuter. What I'm getting at is that Lauren or you, need to get on the phone and find out who can spay and neuter the dogs for less, then present these facts to your ex. Ok, I guess you don't need to do this but it will at least let Lauren know you have some concern for her and the dogs, without having to take them into your own home. You can't take care of everyone's dog, even if we wanted too.
I try not to talk about other peoples posts but Kayjones, I don't think at this point it would do Kathleen any good to report her ex. He as several dogs and a couple of puppies. Some Or all have worms, nothing new there. Maybe the animal control will do something , like tell him to worm the dogs but what will this do for Kathleen? Make her ex even more unbearable and the kids have to be with him at times. I think working with him if it's at all possible would be better for the kids and the dogs. Chances are whether it's these dogs or his next dogs, there is going to be some trouble. No need for Kathleen to put herself in the middle of his train wreck.

IMO Kathleen, since you don't know what kind of worms the dogs have, you could talk to your ex about the dogs. If he isn't going to do anything would he let Lauren give them a vet recommended wormer? It may not do the job but it's a start. I take it the pups are over 6 weeks? I know the worms the outdoor dogs get here are easily treated with 3 pills, unlike the powder for several days they used to take.
You shouldn't have to take care of your ex but this is a learning situation for Lauren and Alex. Give Lauren the knowledge for a plan b or c. Plan A, with you taking the pups is a no go, she needs to have some thoughts on how to take care of the situation. Plan b, inexpensive neuter/spay. Plan C could be to put up fliers for the pups, all around town. Give the puppies away or sell them and do I dare say here, hope for the best. Lauren needs to face dad with the sad facts that feeding several dogs takes alot of care and ask him why he keeps them. You have grown so much Kathleen. Give Lauren and Alex the smarts you have gained over the years.

Vent here. Calmly stick to your guns there. If you don't join in the *drama*, it will all slide by faster. SOMEBODY has to act like an adult on this.

Kath -- IMHO you need to grow more spine, for your self and for your kids. There can be great honor in the title, "Meanest Mom In The World".

Your ex and his wife (and his previous gfriends) sound like all around horrible people!! I would be so torn about this, on the one hand wanting to help the dogs, on the other hand being very resentful to be put into this position by a couple of irresponsible idiots. I feel for you.
Re. taking in the kitty, cats are really wonderful companions, and many non-cat people are converted after having a cat of their own. Hopefully, that will happen to you. :o)

Can't talk to the ex because he won't answer my phone calls or text messages. Friday I tried to find out what he had already gotten the kids for Christmas since we both already ended up getting Alex a violin. I didn't want to duplicate any more gifts.

Lauren got vouchers from the Humane Society here for their spay/neuter clinic for reduced prices so he can have them taken care of. That was about a month ago, and as far as I know he hasn't done a thing about it. The puppies are about a month old.

Kath,stick to your guns and don't take them.Let him deal with it,it's his dogs and his responsibilities.

My GS wanted a puppy and was trying to talk his parents into it,his mom said no,his dad said i'll think about it.Me i told them straight out,to get a dog wouldn't be fair to the dog as the kids go to school al day and both mom and dad work.Dad has his own business so he works late a lot of nights,and mom works a full time job and a part time job,and as i said the kids are in school,17 and 12 yrs old.

Told GS that the dog would have to stay home all day by himself cooped up in the garage,and he wouldn't be able to go out and run around as their yard isn't fenced.Of course GS with his quick thinking said"we can bring him over here to your house while we go to school"> I said no way,i'm not taking care of any more animals,been there done that for many years,and not going there again.

Here in S.Calif it's against the law to tie a dog up outside,if they are out there they have to be fenced in and when you walk them,they must be on a leash.
Kathi

Your ex is a great gaping a$$wipe - and there isn't any polite way to say that.

I know your daughter is distressed by the situation,and that is too her credit. She is a caring and sensitive young woman. But you still need to stand firm on this issue. Those puppies and their worms are not your fault, not your problem, and you do not need to take them in and pay for treatment!

Aside from anything else, if the jacka$$ is too cheap to spay the mother, this problem will be on-going for years. If you cave on this litter, how many more will be dumped at your doorstep?

The kids came home about an hour ago and Lauren didn't even mention it. They're going to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show tonight with her old girl scout troup...and Alex and Sola are going along.

I'm glad that she let it drop. I do understand her feelings, though. When I was a teenager, our next door neighbors left their female, pregnant dog when they moved. She had a huge litter of puppies out in back of our house in the desert. I fed her and then them and attempted to find homes for them. I remember my dad telling me the puppies were going to die, but he didn't stop me from feeding our dog's food to them. He is the one who used to bring home strays, not us kids. LOL!

Some of the puppies were given away but one I later saw running with a pack of other dogs. Patches bit some kid who was teasing her, trying to get to her puppies and the base police or animal control (whoever they were) came and took her away. I never saw her again and I'm sure they put her to sleep. She was the sweetest dog too. An Australian Shepherd. I think they took the rest of her puppies or some other neighbor came, can't remember now.