Man Considers Divorcing Wife Over Her Treatment Of His Dog

"My wife isn't a bad person, but she has very old fashioned views about animals"

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• October 3, 2023

When considering whether certain pets are suitable for apartment living, it's essential to take into account various factors, including the pet's size, energy level, and specific needs.

OP never expected this situation to unfold. His wife, who held old-fashioned beliefs about animals, categorized dogs as "outside" or "inside" dogs.

They had two dogs and a cat, with Cabo, a large pit mix, falling into the "outside" category. When OP wasn't around, his wife would put Cabo outside, causing him great distress. They also had a 3-month-old child.

During a weekend when OP was away, a series of unfortunate events occurred. Cabo ingested antifreeze on Friday, which went unnoticed. On Saturday, Cabo exhibited strange behavior, and although OP's wife intended to take him to the vet, she had to work from home due to urgent contracts.

Later that night, the baby had an allergic reaction to a new body wash, prompting an emergency visit to the hospital. During this crisis, Cabo was left outside.

On Sunday, Cabo was found dead on the porch. OP was furious, believing that his wife's categorization of "outside dogs" led to Cabo's tragic end. Their argument escalated, with accusations about priorities, particularly regarding the baby's health and OP's job in animal welfare.

Now, OP faced a difficult decision, torn between his love for his wife and the potential repercussions of her actions, including the threat to his job and the likelihood of giving up primary custody of their child due to work constraints.

OP's wife has traditional views about pets, considering larger dogs like their pit mix, Cabo, as "outside" dogs

At a certain point, the dog consumes antifreeze. However, OP's spouse is burdened with numerous responsibilities, preventing her from being able to bring the dog to the veterinarian over the weekend.

The dog died alone the next day, and in pain on the porch.OP blames his partner for her neglect and her belief in "outside dogs."

OP is being overly critical

Both of the partners are at fault; they should've provided outdoor accommodations for the dog.

OP's wife's neglect of the dog is wrong, but considering OP has a child and a shared life, professional help is needed.

Both of them failed to prioritize an animal's well-being.

OP's wife seems swamped balancing work, a baby, and dogs

OP's anger is valid, but he has a child, and divorce isn't the answer.

OP's child's health is a priority, but the situation shouldn't have escalated to this point in the first place.

They both acted irresponsibly and didn't deserve to have pets.

In the future, OP should only consider getting a pet if he is able to provide personal care for it.

Both OP and his wife share some blame for what happened with Cabo, the dog. OP was worried about Cabo and thought his wife's idea of "outside dogs" caused problems.

But he needs to understand that his wife has a lot on her plate. She was looking after their baby, working from home, and taking care of two dogs.

When their baby had a scary allergic reaction, it made sense that she focused on the baby's health. That's the right thing to do.

In the future, if OP wants a pet, he should be ready to take care of it all by himself. Blaming others when things go wrong doesn't help. Instead, it's better to learn from this and make sure pets get the care they need.

Understanding each other's responsibilities can make life with pets happier and avoid problems like this one.

Damjan