Dear Aviza,

You should stress to your mother that taking care of her dog for so long is a burden and ask her to pay to put the dog in a boarding place. If she refuses, then send her the bill after she returns. I would try to tell her you are in no situation to look after her dog for so long. She is your mother and it is probably best not to antagonize her. You said you have a brother? Where is he in this situation? Just be firm and gentle with your mother. And, tell her you need to take care of yourself first otherwise you will become sick and fall apart. You need to stress that your health is a priority and that she should help you defray the cost of taking care of her dog while she is gone enjoying her life. I think she will come to her senses after awhile. Sometimes repeating the important part about taking care of yourself first could make an impact on her. She knows you have to take care of yourself so negotiate with her and see how she responds. May be, after the third time of hearing from you that you need to prioritize your health, she will bend a little. I don't think she wants to see you fall apart.