please help me understand

[Regina]

I hope no one takes offense to this, but i am asking becuase i know many of you are animal lovers and i thought you might shed dome light on the situation; and just maybe, i will understand more.

My mom and dad have a dog; i can't stand the dog...not because of the dog, but because of how they treat it...as though it is human. They were complaining to me about how they couldn't afford anything because of their limited budget, but went out and bought this dog that was over 500 dollars. When i say they were complaining about not affording stuff, i mean they were talking about not being able to afford milk and pay bills. So, here they go buy this expensive dog that they buy speciality type food for, vitamins, special toys, etc. They feed the dog twice a day this food that costs at least a few dollars a day. My parents are semi-retired...meaning they have full time jobs driving buses, but are retired from my dad's career job which payed over 3 times the amount he is now making. so, my parents have at least a 3 hour break between pick-ups in the afternoon. They drive over 30 minutes to get to their job (work at the same place). Before gettint this dog, they were going to join the ymca to exercise between their sits. After getting the dog, they instead drive home to take the dog out and make sure she isn't lonely. My parents are overweight. My dad has high blood pressure and has to take medication. So, the exercise would have been good for them.

So, here's my problem: they are obsessed with this dog. I am not nearly obsessed with my own children. They take the dog everywhere, and then complain if the store won't let them bring the dog in (it's a small dog). My own brother is highly allergic to pets, so i have tried to explain that it is inconsiderate for them to take the dog into stores that have rules against it because then everyone would do this making it difficult for people like my brother. They take dog to blockbuster, lowes, etc. Because of the attention of how cute the dog is...my mom is obsessed with talking about the dog, even though i told her politely that i am not a dog person anymore. I don't mean that she says a few things about the dog in a conversation; i mean that she won't stop talking about the dog. I am sick of hearing about the dog. She even tries to make my kids treat the dog as a human; which is against what my husband and i believe. She won't even take the dog out for a walk because she says a hawk will swoop down and carry her away, she'll eat a tree frog and die, another dog will sneak up and pounce on her,etc. We have had dogs my entire life, and my parents have never ever treated any of the dogs like this. My mom was all goofy about 2 years before the last one past away, but nothing compares to this. After the last dog passed, she had her cremated and would talk to me about how she talks to her dead dog and how she put the ashes next to her bed because that's where she slept. This is a dog my parents kept in the garage for about 13 years of her life until i made them bring it into the house. She told my kids that the dog is in heaven,which is against what they were learning in catechism class. I told my kids just to not talk to my mom about the dog, but my mom wouldn't quit digging into my kids what she felt they should believe about dogs. Finally, my two oldest told her that the dog is dead and such. I told my mom she was freaking out my kids and to move on or at least not talk about it in front of them. This is after a year of hearing about the dog that died and about how she still talks to the dog, etc.

Okay, so back to the current situation. I know pwople love their pets, consider them family, some treat them like their child, etc, but how can i get it through to my parents (especially my mom) that i don't think i can handle hearing one more thing about this dog? I have to hear about the dog gaining an ounce or two, the new clothes the dog got, how she got a hold of a peice of paper and almost died, her ear infection, how the dog is feeling that day, etc. I have tried to change the subject, but 2 seconds later, it is back to the dog. I told her bluntly that i don't like dogs (which i guess i stretched the truth because i like dogs, just not her obsession with dogs). I have gotten off the phone when she begins to talk about the dog. I just can't get her to quit. I don't tell her about evry ounce my kids gain,etc. I have thought about bringing up my church evertime she brings the dog up (because she doesn't like the church...so, i try to avoid talking about it with her for that reason). That way, she might see that everytime she brings the dog up, i will bring up something that annoys her. I have tried telling myself maybe she is just lonely and doesn't have too much else, but that only works so long in my head. They live right down the street from us and don't even stop to see my kids because they have to spend time with the dog. When i take my kids down to see them, my mom flips out that the dog is going to get hurt. They followed me down here from ohio; i even suggested to them that maybe they should look in another neighborhood, but they couldn't stand the fact that hubby's family would be closer to the kids than them...but they barely want to see my kids because of the dog! Am i jealous, probably some due to the fact that they care about the dog more than my kids (and no, i am no exaggerating). But mostly, i just don't want to be buying my parents groceries, so they can spend money on spoiling this dog. I don't want to hear about the dog at all. I don't want my kids to believe this nonsense about talking to dead animals or treating the dog as it is a human. I actually got into a fight with my mom because she insisted the dog was human and not an animal. I teach my kids to treat all animals with repect and kindness, but this has just gotten out of hand. I am ready to kidnap the dog and give it away (no, not really, but i just don't want to hear about it or it to be talked about to my kids anymore).

Someone please shed some light on the situation for me, because i simply do not understand.

By the way, my brother just came visiting and he too thinks she is out of control, and both of us like animals.