Dad should doggedly insist on help

DEAR AMY: Almost two years ago our son (youngest of four) who is now 171/2, pleaded with us to get a dog until we finally reluctantly agreed. I was against this idea, unless certain conditions regarding the daily care of the dog were met by our son. I wanted to create a contract with written rules and regulations regarding the dog that my son would sign and have to live by. My wife strongly disagreed and after further pressure and promises that our son and my wife would be responsible for taking care of the dog, I agreed to get one if they would hold up their end of the bargain. Fast-forward to today. Yup, you got it, guess who is not fulfilling their end of the bargain and guess who gets stuck with taking care of the dog on a daily basis? Me. Because I work from home, I have inherited this big and shaggy problem. I made it crystal-clear before we got the dog that I absolutely did not want one, and was overwhelmingly assured I wouldn't have to deal with it. I want to keep the peace within the family and if I get rid of the dog that would cause some trouble. If I could only travel back in time.

Desperate Dad

DEAR DAD: Actor Ben Affleck said in an interview that when he begged for a dog as a kid, his mother made him "walk" an imaginary dog for a week. When young Ben missed two days of walking his phantom dog, she didn't let him get a real one. Smart mom.

Say, "This isn't working out. This poor dog is not getting the attention he deserves, and you have not stepped up the way you agreed to before we got him. Unless things change radically I'll have to find a new home for him with someone who will really lavish attention on him." Take a month to see if the family can adhere to a schedule where you all share dog duties. If they don't care enough to step up, they are basically turning stewardship of this animal over to you. And you will have to do what you think is best.