Mum, Dad Was Right When He Said There’s Something Off With You! I Can See You’re Not Quite Right Now. Have You Ever Tried Getting Help?” – The Son Reveals

Mom, Dad was right when he said somethings wrong with your head! I can see now that youre not sane. Never tried therapy?
Antonina Petrovna stared at her son, surprised. Hed always been a difficult boy, but to say such things straight to his mother
She never imagined shed have to end a 25year marriage. Yet she was the one who started the divorce.
One day Antonina suddenly realized she didnt know him at all. After so many years youd think you could read a person inside out, but reality proved otherwise. Dmitry turned out to be a cold-hearted man.
When Antonina rescued a tiny, emaciated puppy from the streetso thin you could count every ribDmitry erupted in a fit of anger.
Tonya, what are you doing now, nothing left to do? he shouted through the whole flat. Why bring this wretched thing here?
Dimo, what are you even saying Antonina gasped. Look at himjust a skeleton, skin and bones. How can you ignore that?
Everyone walks past, but you cant? Mother Teresa or what? Youre the most serious of us, right?
That day Antonina wept for a long timeboth for the helpless pup barely standing on its legs and for the husband who revealed a different, harsher side.
Shed always tried to overlook his flaws, believing perfect people dont exist. But Dmitry crossed a line he shouldnt have.
How could you? Antonina sobbed. Is it so hard to be just human? How can you walk past that puppy and not try to help?
The argument didnt end there. Dmitry made it clear the wretched creature was a nerveracking nuisance.
When will you get rid of it? How long must we endure this mutt in the house?
He called the thin, trembling animal a mut simply because it was frail, even in a warm apartment.
Instead of helping his wife settle the puppy or finding a decent home, he retreated to the garage to hang out with friendsother statues whod fled their own homes.
He returned home late, drunk, and resumed his complaints about the poverty his wife had brought in.
Fine, you dont like animals, I get it, Antonina thought, sitting in the living room. But do you really not care about me? Cant you see how hard this is for me?
She often had to ask for time off work to take the puppy to the vet or simply walk it. She feared leaving it alone with Dmitry; after so many years she no longer recognized him. He now spent his days staring at bottles.
One afternoon at work Antonina felt a strange tightening in her chest, that invisible hand squeezing her heart. She excused herself, claiming illness, and returned home early, catching Dmitry in the act.
He was carrying the puppy toward the garage, apparently planning to dispose of it forever. She couldnt forgive that, so she filed for divorce.
Because of a dog? Dmitry shouted, waving his arms. Youve gone mad in your old age.
Antonina ignored his outburst. She didnt consider herself old or insane; she simply realized she could no longer live with him.
They had an adult son who, at that time, lived with his girlfriend in another city and sided with his father.
Mom, are you okay? Can you really wreck a family over a dog?
Theres no family left, son, Antonina sighed heavily. Im not divorcing because of the dog, but because your father lost his humanity.
You can ignore animals, but you cant cause them pain. A decent personespecially a husbandwould never act like this!
Her explanations didnt sway him. He cut off contact, claiming his father had lost his human likeness because Antonina had thrown him out, leaving him homeless.
The apartment belonged to Antonina, so Dmitry couldnt claim any share of the property in the divorce. He still owned a country house inherited from his parents, but he rarely visited it, and its status was uncertainstill standing or notyet Antonina didnt care.
Dmitry made his choice; no one forced him to become a heartless monster. It was terrifying to imagine what he might have done to the puppy if she hadnt intervened.
In the end she stayed with the puppy, Bim, and helped him stand again, restoring his trust in people.
Initially she planned to find a good home for him, but eventually kept him herself.
If I adopted you, I must now take responsibility, she told the fluffy creature.
Woof! Bim wagged his tail happily. He didnt want to leave her.
A while later, as Bim grew, Antonina began volunteering at the local animal shelter during her free time, helping those abandoned by ownerspeople much like her exhusband.
The shelters finances are tight, the director, Tonya, said sadly. We cant even pay staff salaries.
Even if we scrape together a few pennies, its barely enough. I dont know if these conditions will work for you
Dont worry, Antonina replied. Im here for the cause, not the money.
She started visiting the shelter several times a week with Bim. There she met another dog, introduced to her by Bims new owner.
She noticed an old dog spending most of its time near the enclosurea senior dog the staff called Burkun because he often grumbled when anyone tried to lift him for a walk.
Antonina had seen Burkun before and even cleaned his pen, but this time she looked more closely and felt deep pity.
Where shed once seen a mere old dog, now she saw a creature with sorrowful eyes that had lost faith in peopleeyes similar to Bims early on. She hadnt noticed this before.
She entered the enclosure, sat beside him, stroked his head, then hugged him. She wanted to spark even a tiny flicker of joy in those eyes, but none appeared.
She then spent more time with him and eventually learned his tragic backstory from a staff membera tale of betrayal.
We found him about three years ago, wandering the streets, staring at passersby, searching for someonehis owner, the worker explained.
The owner once tied him to a street lamp and left, hoping hed return. He never did, so they untied him, and hes been roaming ever since, looking for the man who abandoned him. Thats why hes always sad.
Did anyone want to adopt him? Antonina asked.
No. We only took him because a cage became free. Hes small, calm, and healthy. A man showed interest, took him, but a month later he returned him, saying he wanted a normal dog, not this vegetable.
Its been three years, and no one claimed him. Old dogs often end up like this, unfortunately, the worker sighed.
Not on my watch, Antonina decided. Ill find him a good home.
She posted Burkuns photos everywhere, hoping to locate an owner.
Is this a beagle? a woman called one day. Ive wanted that breed for ages.
Its a beagle, but not purebred, Antonina replied. Still, the dogs wonderful despite his age.
The only thing is, he was betrayed by someone he loved, so hes a bit melancholy. But Im sure love can melt the ice in his heart and bring back his joy.
The woman agreed to adopt him, and soon Burkun moved to his new home.
Good luck, Antonina whispered, wiping tears. May everything be fine for you.
Burkun didnt bark or wag his tail; he just gave a sad look, already accustomed to her.
Later, Antonina received a call from the same woman.
Hello, could we temporarily bring the dog back to the shelter? she asked. Were going on a seaside trip with the kids and have nowhere to leave him.
Were at capacity right now, Antonina stammered. Theres no space.
What should I do? I cant skip the tripI promised my children.
How about I look after him while youre away? Antonina offered. Two weeks? More?
Two weeks, the woman confirmed.
Perfect!
When Burkun was brought in for a short stay, Antonina barely recognized himhe was gaunt, as if fed once a week.
Whats happening to him? Antonina asked the owner. Did you stop feeding him?
No, I fed him. He just didnt want to eat, and I didnt force him. You cant force a dog.
That same day, while the woman and her kids headed to the sea, Antonina, Bim, and Burkun went to a veterinarian. He indeed had serious health issues requiring treatment.
Antonina called the woman, explained everything, and asked for a bit of money for his care. The response was abrupt.
I have no money right now, the owner said. And you never warned me he was ill.
So he wasnt sick when you took him? Antonina retorted.
Youre saying I made him sick? Fine, keep the dog. I dont need him. Dont call me again.
Antonina hadnt expected this turn. She thought shed just look after Burkun temporarily.
Now she faced the reality of caring for two dogs, both physically and financially demanding, especially as she was about to retire next year.
But gazing into the animals eyes, she realized she could no longer give him away.
How many times have they abandoned him? How long must this poor creature suffer?
When Burkun realized no one intended to rehome him, his eyes finally lit with a small spark of joy that grew brighter each day, despite his failing sight and trembling paws from arthritic joints.
That meant shed done the right thing. It was hard at first, but she became immersed and ultimately the happiest person on earth.
Even though she was divorced and her own son had turned away, he did visit once, hoping to discuss his father and perhaps persuade his mother to let him back in.
Seeing two dogs instead of one, he couldnt hold back:
Mom, Dad was rightsomethings wrong with your head! I see now youre insane. Never tried treatment?
Antonina stared at him, shocked. Hed always been a tough kid, but to speak to his mother like that
What are you saying, you fool?
Its the truth! One dog wasnt enough, so you got another starving one? No brain at all?
Yes, I decided because nobody else will help them now! I wouldnt even let your father back in, even if I had no dogs.
So live alone now!
He slammed the door. Antonina whispered after him:
Not alone, son. I have loyal friends beside me who will never leave, betray, or hurt you.
Tonya, if youre struggling, we can take Burkun back and find him a town, the shelter manager said after hearing the dogs story.
Thanks, but Ill keep him. I wont hand him over againlet him spend his old age peacefully with me.
Thats the story. Those who love animals will understand Antonina; some may condemn her for breaking up a family. What do you think of the husbands and sons actions? Share your thoughts in the comments and like if you agree.