A man has found himself in a difficult situation at home where he feels he has to choose between a dog he’s raised since he was a puppy, and starting a family.
The owner shared his story on Reddit and explained that his wife wants him to “commit” to re-homing his dog before they consider children. He explains that he has had his pet since it was a 10-week-old puppy. The poster claims that his wife requested the dog be restricted to certain areas of the house before they got married. He’s allegedly only allowed in the study room and a pen in the living room.
He claims that the adjustments were uncomfortable, but now his wife wants the dog re-homed entirely before they have children. She allegedly said it’s too stressful and he should be willing to let him go for the family’s sake. The poster says he loves his wife and is keen to have children. However, he feels like he is betraying his pooch and himself by considering re-homing, especially since he’s already compromised previously.
The Dog Owners Story Draws Mixed Reactions From Readers
Comments are very mixed on whether the poster should consider re-homing his pet or not. Many also have choice words about the alleged home arrangement. The top comment with over 4000 likes blasts the poster for the dog’s treatment, “YTA for allowing your wife to abuse this dog. This speaks volumes of who she is as a person. Please give your dog to someone who will actually care for the dog the way the dog deserves to be loved.”
Many believe that getting any pet is a commitment until the end of their lives. One user says the poster isn’t in the wrong for refusing to re-home his dog. However, they also clarify that these boundaries should have been set before marriage. “This was clearly going to be a source of tension. And pets are supposed to be a commitment for the entirety of their life,” they add.
Another commenter says the owner shouldn’t have agreed to restricting the dog’s living space in the first place. They point out, “Your dog is with you for a short period of your life. You are the dog’s entire world for their whole life.”