4 years ago I invited my mother on an all expense paid trip to her favorite city, Rome, for Christmas.
As part of my gift I also offered to pay all of her bills for December, any lost wages and dog sitter.
She said she couldn’t go because she couldn’t leave her dog as it was her only family.
We haven’t spoken since.
You have my sympathies. She probably didn’t realize how extremely offensive that was, but then, people who get into this pet mania never do seem to realize that their actual children might find it offensive to be made equal to or even replaced by a dog.
You’re very understanding.