Is it weird if pets keep disappearing under my niece's care?

[Anonymous]

My niece is a sweet 9 year-old girl. However, would you find this weird? Last week was the 4th pet that disappeared under her care. She said the same story as last time. She said the cat ran away while she on her tablet playing games.

There aren't any complaints about her at school. Though a classmate claimed she once said with a smile ''Accidents can happen after all. Even if it wasn't, they won't believe you''.

First it was a hamster that goes missing, then 2 puppies and now a cat. Pets go missing only under her care. Is this weird?

Updates

+1 y

She likes taking care of a pet but it ends up disappearing.

Updates

+1 y

This is the update now:
I'm afraid our worst fear has been confirmed. Her relative played her role so well that she fell for the set-up. She would throw the pets on a black bag and into the dumpster. If it was a bit larger, she would make it tired and drowsy (she didn't amitted how but said she did that) first and then throw it away. Her relative played along, said she'll throw the kitten herself and instead gave it to a neighbor to care of it and called us right away. The kitten is save.

[SteveSmith1985]

Ok... yes. Definitely yes. This wasn't 4 accidents.

That is WAY beyond weird. It would be "weird" for TWO pets to go missing under her care. By the time you're at FOUR... there isn't any question about "coincidences" or her being "inattentive or distracted".

I'm sorry, but those pets didn't run away. This little girl needs help. There is no question about what's happening here. (and I think deep down you know it). This... specifically is a 'classic' sign that a child is extremely (and I mean EXTREMELY troubled). Please get her some professional help if that's at all possible. 🙂

[Asker]

We're suspecting something weird is happening. It's that we just have no proof and she seems very smart for her age. She's sweet that it makes you seem like she's telling the truth. But yes my gut is telling me something else.

[SteveSmith1985]

You need to listen to your gut. "smart" and the ability to manipulate (acting sweeter... than she is) are both things you might sort-of "expect" in a child who is showing this specific sign of being troubled.

I can tell you, without being influenced by this girl's likeability or history or anything. This isn't like a "maybe" or a "well it could be" situaton.

This "IS" exactly what you hope it isn't. There really isn't any question about it. Honestly you should stop debating the "did she". She did. You are safe to move on to the: 'ok, so now what do we do to help her".

[Asker]

You're right. All the directions are pointing out to something bad. A secret video-camera will be installed early next week. It's definitely going to be something bad what we're going to see. This is sad. I wonder where would she learn those bad things. No one in the family has mental disorders and she was raised good with love.

[SteveSmith1985]

Ohh, that's just not how mental health problems work. It's more like an 'internal wiring thing' (I'm... no doctor). It's definitely not something that can be avoided by raising someone right, or loving them enough.

Now, I don't know if the video camera is the best way to handle this. (not that I DO know the best way to handle this).

What she needs is a professional therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist. This is WAY beyond the scope of anybody but a professional to help with.

My fear about the video-camera is this: She will have irrefutable proof thrust in her face, and all-of-a-sudden she is put in... a VERY VERY high-stress situation. Think about it, her deepest, darkest secret is found out, and now everyone must think she's a monster. I'm afraid you're going to cause her to go into some sort of crisis. Being confronted like this, about THIS, by her family, with video... That's a lot for anyone to handle (especially handle appropriately) Personally I think that's too much for a 9-year-old.

Ideally, you force her to see a therapist without confronting her about why exactly. Say whatever you gotta say. DO let the therapist (honestly, you really would benefit most from a psychologist. No therapist is trained to deal with something this serious).

Let someone who knows what they're doing be the one to bring it up, and to (whenever they feel is best) confront her about it.

This is something super serious in--and-of-itself. But is an INDICATOR (for the future) this is literally as serious as it gets. So serious, it's not a matter of "getting mad at her". Or doing ANYTHING YOU OR HER PARENTS know how to handle. THis is not a child who has done something very wrong. This is a child who has shown THE most worrying of all possible 'signs'. If it's at all practical, please get this girl in with someone trained. Doing anything a parent might try is almost certainly not going to work. And might be much much worse than useless 🙂

[Asker]

Actually we don't plan on confronting right there with the evidence nor reprimand her, nope. We would be keeping the evidence, talk to a professional about it and take her there.

[SteveSmith1985]

I am so relieved to hear that. I'm also really glad that you're able to get the help she needs. Best of luck to you and your family! 🙂

[Asker]

I have very bad news. Read the update.

[SteveSmith1985]

I am sorry your worst suspicions were confirmed. To be honest, I was already quite sure you would find evidence. I really hope that getting her help this early-on, will allow her to lead a happy, healthy life. Just keep-on loving her. Get her that professional help. 🙂

[lofii]

You better watch her. She could be a psychopath. You need to find out fast before this leads into adulthood and she starts killing actual people.

These kids are being exposed to crazy shit like that huggy wuggy garbage telling kids to kill their parents

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/sheriffs-office-warning-parents-about-controversial-e2-80-98huggy-wuggy-videos/ar-AAWe47F

[Mynameisbobby]

There was a movie about a 10 year old girl that was like that. She killed her grandmother by pushing her down the stairs. It was called the Bad Seed. Really creepy movie

[Asker]

If she is then it would be very sad and horrible news. That would mean she'll likely never get cured from that because they're born like that even if they're raised with love.
We're going to have a video camera installed tomorrow and she doesn't know this is a set-up. I'll keep you posted but I already know it's likely going to be terrible what we'll see.

[lofii]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[Asker]

I have the update. It is bad.

[lofii]

Did she kill them? I'm confused by the update

[lofii]

Nvm. Sounds like she was torturing them. It's very bad.

I honestly dont know what to say. Maybe counseling. Then again telling her it's wrong could make her find a better way to hide it.

Man, if that was my kid I'd probably lock my door.

skeptics.stackexchange.com/.../do-children-who-kill-animals-turn-out-to-be-violent

www.bundoo.com/.../

[Biancam13]

Please don't leave animals your neice's care any longer. Protect those animals, even if your niece isn't doing anything nefarious to make them go "missing" in her care. This is very alarming oh my gosh.

Has she shown any other strange habits? Sorry to be horrible but this is worrying. Please don't leave animals in her care! Even if she likes it!!!

[Biancam13]

*Animals in your niece's care

[Biancam13]

Just to be safe, I would ask a professional about what's been going on, honestly. Like a psychologist. It might not be anything but it also might be. Seriously

[Asker]

We have a good plan for the week. We have the video camera by now and it'll be installed tomorrow. Then she'll be set-up. A family relative that's 2-3 older than her is coming with a kitten but the pet won't be harm at all. Our plan is for her to reveal herself while the relative pretends to go along with it, pretends to have her same likes but secretly informs us.
She hasn't shown any strange habits, not that we know of. She seems like a happy, normal and very sweet little girl. Yet deep down my gut instinct is right now telling me that it's going to be bad what we're going to see on the video camera.

[Biancam13]

Not to be rude, but is the relative leaving her alone with the kitten? That would be really irresponsible, the kitten shouldn't be put in harms' way!

[Asker]

Thank you for the opinion. She's not going to be left all alone with the kitten. The female relative will be with her the whole time. She'll be playing along, get her in conversations, pretend to share her same interests (even if it's bad) and the moment she wants to do something bad... the relative will come up with some excuse or something, take the kitten to safety and inform us. She's been instructed to play on.
That's when we'll have the evidence needed to know what's been happening and speak with a professional about it.

[Asker]

She doesn't know it's a set-up.

[Biancam13]

Okay good, sorry if I came off as rude there. Hope everything goes okay for you guys!

[Asker]

The set-up worked but I have bad news. It's exactly what I imagined. My gut instinct wasn't wrong. It's on the update

[mermaidcancermoon]

she's too young for a personal pet. Theyre for ages 12+

Its likely that she let them all outside.

[Asker]

My gut instinct is telling me something sinister happened. Whenever I have a gut instinct, it's almost always right. But I still have hard time accepting my very sweet niece would be capable of that.
I'm not feeling good about what I'll see on the video camera.

[Asker]

It's very bad. It's on the update

[Sparkie460]

It's not weird, it's upsetting. Why is a 9 year old girl by herself and what is happening to the animals? Is there any fresh dirt in the yard somewhere? They should have set up cameras after the first 2 animals " disappeared".

[Asker]

A video camera will be installed by tomorrow and this will be a set-up for the whole week until we catch her. There isn't any fresh dirt, not that we know of.

[Sparkie460]

Regarding update. That child needs therapy. What is she going to kill when she gets older.

[exitseven]

Yes, she is probably a sociopath. She is killing small animals and getting away with it because nobody would suspect a little kid would strangle a puppy. I would get a video camera setup and invite her to take care of a new kitty.,

[Asker]

This would be so terrible. My aunt and uncle have been talking about installing a secret camera this week so yes that's our next step. She can be very smart for her age.
Even though there is no proof at this moment, my gut instinct is telling me what I don't want to believe.

[TheMajesticKing777]

Animals stick around, animals pick up vibes, if you can't find them then it's cause they are hiding from her and avoiding her and that's for a reason, animals always find you at some point if it's even just so you can feed them, mostly if she is just playing games on her tablet then it's logical the animal will want to be fed at some point, unless she let's them run away on purpose, she either let's them run away and leavea window or door open or she's killing them mfs and getting rid of them

[Asker]

The issue is the pets don't ever come back after they went missing. The 1st incident with the hamster was last year (not to be seen from again), then the two puppies are missing for 4 months now and now the cat is missing for over 2 months.

[TheMajesticKing777]

Does she let them go outside tho, cause if so then the chances are that they did run away, if not then she's doing something to them if she isn't letting them go on purpose

[Asker]

We don't know what really happens. She claims to have accidentally left the screen door open or that she was distracted, playing games and didn't know and the pet leaves, not to be seen from again.
We're going to have video cameras installed early next week. I want to believe her but now I'm having a gut instinct I'm not getting the real story and she's lying.

[Asker]

I'm starting to feel that what I don't want to believe... is what is happening... something bad.

[TheMajesticKing777]

Yep get those cameras and whatever you do, don't tell her

[Asker]

I posted the update.
It's super bad and I'm disturbed by what I just learned. Unfortunately my gut instinct was right.

[TheMajesticKing777]

Stop buying her pets

[TheMajesticKing777]

Or whoever is and get that girl some therapy

[Asker]

That's exactly what we're going to do. There will be no more pets at all. We're setting up an appointment with a professional ASAP. Our focus right now is getting her help.

[TheMajesticKing777]

Hopefully it all works well

[TheMajesticKing777]

Best of luck

[Guy13]

Jeffrey Dahmer started with pets disappearing “on his watch”. I think he was antisocial personality disorder and dissected household pets. Are you sure it is her? Did you ask a mental health professional?

[Asker]

The video camera will be installed tomorow and we're setting her up for the whole week until catching her. I have a bad feeling that it's going to be very bad what we're going to find out. I hate to think that such a sweet girl would be so troubled to that level.

[Guy13]

How frightening. I’m really sorry. Be safe. This is sooo sad 😢

[Asker]

Yes it is very bad. Now the truth has been confirmed. It's on the update.

[driven159]

something is going on and the three strikes you out are in play no more pets

[Asker]

A video camera will be installed by tomorrow and she doesn't know this is a set-up. This is what our plan is so far:
Have a family relative (2-3 older than her) visit her with a kitten and pretend to go along with what she says but secretly she'll keep us informed. This time, there won't be a pet harmed nor gone; it's a set-up.
I don't feel good about what we're about to find out. My gut feeling tells me it's going to be something bad but we have to find out so that way she gets help.

[RedStealthOperative]

This sounds like a lifetime movie. Secretly evil child that gets away with making animals "disappear".

[Asker]

The thing is there is no proof other than just her words of the pet running away and what her classmate supposedly claimed she said. Though I'm finding this weird.

[RedStealthOperative]

I'm so glad you were able to find out the truth and save that kitten!! We were all right all along. It was so obvious!

[Sonorous]

Hmm 🤔 has she had any recent abnormal weight gain?

[Asker]

Not that I know of, nope.

[Sonorous]

Ahh okay. ✍ while you're here, what's her bmr? It's nothing important. Just random info that doesn't matter.

[Asker]

I don't know what it is. How does this relates to the issue?

[Sonorous]

Oh it just stands for "basic metabolic rate"

[Mynameisbobby]

She sounds creepy as f!

[Asker]

The video camera will be ready by tomorrow. This is our plan so far:
Some family relative that's 2-3 years older than her will be visiting her with a kitten for the week and pretending to go along but secretly keep us informed. She doesn't know that this time the kitten will not be harmed and this is a set-up.
I'll be posting the update. I have a gut feeling it's going to be bad what we're going to find out.

[Mynameisbobby]

Can't wait for the update!

[Asker]

I have the update now. It's very bad. It's disturbing.

[JohnK123]

She probably taking them home or leaving a door open
lmao u just keep getting more pets huh?

[Asker]

She seems worried and supposedly sad whenever she said the pet ran away. Though now I'm finding it weird.

[JohnK123]

Worried could be guilt…
I swear if u have a recreation of pet cemetery…….

[Asker]

We're going to install a secret video camera next week. What I'm scared is that it's probably bad what we're going to see.

[JohnK123]

Yeah…
Damn like a animal cam thing on those discovery channel shows haha
Let me know how it goes…

[JohnK123]

So she killed them?

[Asker]

I posted the update. I feel like I'm going to puke. It's very bad.

[JohnK123]

Ya I saw it was a rhetorical question… lol
But damn whyyy tho that’s so sad

[Asker]

yes.. she killed them by letting them suffocate on a black bag and throwing them in a dumpster. That's disturbing.

[JohnK123]

Like I said… pet cemetery
How r u gonna get her to talk and say why she did it

[Asker]

According to what she told the relative, she had no reason other than because she gets bored or for thrills. She basically did it for no reason.

[JohnK123]

Couldnt that be like a fine or punishable by law?

[Asker]

Yes it would. Though now what you're focusing on is getting her help. We're going to schedule an appointment with a professional ASAP.

[JohnK123]

Yeah

[Anonymous]

Start digging in backyard

[Asker]

The video camera is now installed and the set-up has began. I'll keep you all posted. All I can say for now is I'm not going to like what I'll see. My gut instinct is telling me it's going to be bad.

[Smashingdoozy]

That is weird

[Asker]

A video camera will be installed next week. I have a gut instinct it's going to be bad what we're going to see.