I had a nasty break up with a boyfriend last year and since then he has been trying to manipulate me emotionally with anything he can find, and this has included harassing and almost threatening behaviour.

His recent attack has been to send me an email of pictures of "his" puppy which he has bought, who is apparently 7 weeks old. This is someone who lives in a first floor, fully carpeted flat with no garden, and has no experience of looking after dogs. In fact, he was afraid of my previous tenants dogs, and tried to threaten me by claiming that my own dog (7mths) had scratched him and the wound had become infected. He also is a student with placements that may take him to places where he may have to stay the week through.

Considering his recent behaviour towards me, I don't think he is fit to raise a puppy, though I appreciate this is not for me to judge. Is there any other way that I can stop this, or at least have the situation reviewed? I'm afraid I can't have a "cast away" puppy on my conscience.....

I had a nasty break up with a boyfriend last year and since then he has been trying to manipulate me emotionally with anything he can find, and this has included harassing and almost threatening behaviour.

His recent attack has been to send me an email of pictures of "his" puppy which he has bought, who is apparently 7 weeks old. This is someone who lives in a first floor, fully carpeted flat with no garden, and has no experience of looking after dogs. In fact, he was afraid of my previous tenants dogs, and tried to threaten me by claiming that my own dog (7mths) had scratched him and the wound had become infected. He also is a student with placements that may take him to places where he may have to stay the week through.

Considering his recent behaviour towards me, I don't think he is fit to raise a puppy, though I appreciate this is not for me to judge. Is there any other way that I can stop this, or at least have the situation reviewed? I'm afraid I can't have a "cast away" puppy on my conscience.....

are you sure it's his puppy???? from what you have wrote he appears quite the manipulater so it could just be a pic to try and get you to engage with him. he knows you like dogs as you have one of your own!!!

I don't know for sure but there are shots of the puppy definitely in his house and in his bed as I recognise the furniture. I am scared that he doesn't appreciate how frustrating it is to have a puppy and just how much attention they need....

This is a tough one, he certainly is doing it to get contact with you and I dont know what the answer is with regards the safety of the pup. Do you risk your own safety and make contact for the pups sake? or do you ignore his attempts to make contact with you and hope he gets the message?.

He could have borrowed the pup from a friend for the pictures. Is there anyway you could casually mention it to a friend of his, if you are in contact with them to check if he does indeed have a pup?

tell me about it. I have a 15 week old lurcher!!!! He may realise very soon how hard it is and then have the pup re homed!!!!! not ideal I know...or you could appeal to his kinder side and point out the difficulties of having a pup and how it's not fair if he can't look after it. thats if he has a kinder side??? sounds like a *** to me!!!

He propbably just got the puppy to annoy you cus he knows thats what will hurt you the most and he has just proved himself right, why are you still in contact him? change your email adress and let someone else worry about him.

Oh dear, i hope it is a case of he has borrowed someone elses puppy, even if he gets rid of the puppy after a certain amount of time and even though a puppy generally does not stay in the kennels wrong, its not fair for a young dog to be passed from pillar to post. :(

Thanks for your thoughts, everyone.

Gemima - I haven't been in touch with his friends for a long time, and they're a pretty tight group of lads. Think it would be a bit weird if I randomly messaged them about the pup.

ladyB - he does have a nice side, or did at some point, but I tried to talk him out of it when he first started threatening to get one a few months ago. I explained why in his current situation it would be a bad idea, but he clearly hasn't listened.

what-dot - I am not in contact with him out of choice! He bombards me with emails, and unfortunately, I cannot change my university address :( More importantly, it's not him at all that I'm worried about, but this little pup that isn't likely to get the attention she deserves.

I really am hoping that this is all a set-up - just hate the idea of a little bewildered puppy being left by herself, or as pointed out, being shunted from pillar to post.

Unfortunately (in my experience with such people), your concern for the pup can only serve to make matters worse for the poor dog - once he knows that this is the way to pull your heart strings

Ignoring him is the best way to ensure he gets bored of this game, and if it is his pup, either returns it from whence it came, or rehomes it before he does it any psychological damage. Your attempted input at this stage will only prolong the situation

I'd speak to the uni IT dept about the harassing emails, and see if they can put a block on his unsolicited correspondence

Unfortunately (in my experience with such people), your concern for the pup can only serve to make matters worse for the poor dog - once he knows that this is the way to pull your heart strings

Ignoring him is the best way to ensure he gets bored of this game, and if it is his pup, either returns it from whence it came, or rehomes it before he does it any psychological damage. Your attempted input at this stage will only prolong the situation

I'd speak to the uni IT dept about the harassing emails, and see if they can put a block on his unsolicited correspondence

totally agree with that Strix. whatever engagement you have with him, even if it's a negative one, he has got what he has set out to do...ignore him and lets hope the pup nurtures his nicer side!!!