Hello everyone!

I'm not a native English speaker, so please excuse any grammatical mistakes.

My mom planned a New Year’s trip to the beach, but with us having a cat and a dog, and my parents being divorced, I chose to stay with my dad, leaving my mom to celebrate with her side of the family. However, my dad and stepmom are quite fastidious and weren’t keen on handling the pets – they believe it’s not their job to manage such tasks.

I suggested my mom could take the dog with her, while I looked after the cat. She refused, explaining that my grandfather, whose house they were visiting, wasn't fond of dogs, and she didn't want to leave my cat all alone. In the end, she arranged for the neighbors to provide food and water for the pets during her absence. Although I wasn't comfortable with this plan, I felt my hands were tied and reluctantly agreed.

Time passed, and although I wanted to visit the pets, my dad’s packed schedule made it difficult. Five days into my mom's trip, a distressing message came through from her. “Hanna is not eating well”, it read. Alarmed, I pushed to check on the pets immediately.

Arriving home, I was met with a heart-wrenching sight. Hanna, my two-year-old dog, was covered in filth, having apparently consumed trash. I hurriedly bathed her and even trimmed her fur to clean her up as best I could.

My cat, however, was in worse shape. I broke down crying when I found him injured and struggling to breathe, his body bearing scars. The vet later speculated he might have been hit by a vehicle. Now hospitalized, the thought of him suffering gutted me. This felt like neglect; the neighbor's goodwill was not enough to ensure the animals’ safety.

Upon their return, instead of taking responsibility, my mom and several aunts placed the blame squarely on my shoulders for not visiting the pets more frequently. Frustrated, I defended myself, pointing out I didn’t have access to a vehicle or any way to intervene more than I did. Thankfully, my dad supported me, yet I still felt like I let everyone down, including the pets. Despite my warnings, this disastrous scenario unfolded, and now my dad is footing the vet bills, an expense that could have been avoided had my mom listened.

Now, all communication about this incident has ceased on my mom’s end, yet I can’t help but feel resentful. Am I wrong for feeling upset with her over this?

Imagine if this scenario unfolded on a reality show. The drama and tension would certainly draw viewers’ attention, with cameras focusing on the heated arguments and teary confessions. How would the audience react to seeing the neglect the pets endured and the subsequent family fallout on screen? Would they sympathize with me or label me the villain of the episode?

Who is more at fault for the pet's condition?