Parenting advice: What should you do if your kid is a bully? My wife has an idea, but I think it's cruel

Care and Feeding is Slate’s parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here .

Dear Care and Feeding,

My 12-year-old daughter, “Ayla,” has had it in for a girl she goes to school with, “Katarina,” also 12, for the past two years. Numerous conversations about bullying and its effects—coupled with grounding and taking away privileges—have had little impact.

Two weeks ago, my wife, “Dawn,” received a call from Katarina’s parents requesting an in-person meeting. When we arrived at their home, they showed us security footage that captured Ayla opening the gate to their side yard and letting Katarina’s pug out. Sadly, the dog has not been recovered, and Katarina is devastated.

In response, Dawn has devised a punishment that I believe is completely out o