Wife Insists On Second Dog To Improve Mental Health While In-Debt Husband Feels Unsure

"I told her that I'm not certain we can afford the dog."

May

• Published in Interesting
• June 22, 2024

Stability is the priority before taking home a dog. Sadly, some people out there don't think things through and disillusion themselves into thinking that a second dog would make them happier.

Over at the "Am I The A**hole?" (AITA) subreddit, a married man tells the community that he has a wife who's an employee at an animal shelter. She has fallen in love with a beautiful fluffy white dog at the shelter and wants to adopt it.

The man acknowledges that the dog seems well-natured, and their current Labrador would likely get along well with it. They have enough space, and the new dog would come spayed and vaccinated.

However, the man has financial concerns. He recently bought a new car with a $20k loan and is focused on paying it off quickly. His parents have also helped him financially, and he worries about their perception if he brings another dog home.

Additionally, his wife has been dealing with mental health issues, which led to a job change and a lower income. He feels that taking on another dog would add to their responsibilities and financial strain, especially since he has been more involved in caring for their current dog due to his wife's condition.

After expressing his concerns to his wife, she felt blamed for his reluctance, leading to an argument. The man seeks advice on whether he is being unreasonable in his hesitation to adopt the second dog.

The OP believes it's not the right time to get another dog. But his wife is upset over his refusal.

The dog at the shelter seems perfect for the OP's household.

But there's one problem. They don't have much funds to spare.

Firstly, the OP is paying off the car loan.

His finances were in bad shape, to the point that he received financial help from his parents.

It wouldn't look good to them if they get another dog.

Another problem is that his wife is having mental issues.

The OP had an argument with his wife over the dog he doesn't want to get.

She's less involved with the dog they already have and they wouldn't be able to afford another dog.

The dog is scheduled to be adopted soon. He wants to know if it would make him an a-hole not to adopt the dog.

If they take in another dog, the OP will take on more responsibilities. He needs to determine if he can handle them.

Have two dogs changes a lot of things.

It can be difficult to decide how to go about things if there are two dogs and the owners need to go on a trip.

The OP is going by this decision responsibly.

They need to prioritize stability before getting another dog.

The wife needs to understand where the OP is coming from. It's for the best that they don't get another dog.

Otherwise, the problems they're already facing will worsen. Finances will be tighter and there will be more responsibilities to take.

The more problems they have, the more stressful they become. The wife's mental health could even worsen.

May