I’m 28, married to my husband who is 32. He has never been cruel to my dog, but he is not a pet person. I knew that before marriage and accepted it. His only responsibility was to open the yard door when I worked long shifts, which he often complained was stressful.
Recently, I had to travel abroad for three weeks because my mother needed surgery. A friend helped the first week, but my husband agreed to care for my dog the last two weeks. When I returned, I found my 17-pound dog had lost 5 pounds—nearly a third of his weight. Stress plays a role, but I was upset.
I tried to calmly tell my husband he hadn’t done a good job. He responded that caring for the dog was “like a second part-time job,” constantly worrying about feeding and bathroom breaks. I reminded him the instructions were simple: feed twice daily, keep water filled, let him out regularly.
He grew frustrated, saying I didn’t appreciate his effort. Then he began yelling, insisting he was under “so much stress” and that I was ungrateful. The argument ended with him angrily telling me to “leave him alone.”
I wasn’t angry about the dog losing weight as much as about his reaction. I wanted him to learn to ask questions if unsure, not lash out. His yelling made me consider divorce more than the dog care itself.
I know he fed the dog at least sometimes—the food bag was lighter—but I suspect he skipped meals. I don’t think he meant harm, but he neglected the basics.
I still want to fix this, but I don’t know how to respond to his arguments. I love my dog, and I need my husband to understand that neglect and yelling are unacceptable.
