Hubby Dotty For Doggy

Dear Dog Lady,

My best friend's new husband seems obsessed with his two year old Golden Retriever, Dottie. Is this possible?

My friend has severe allergies and asthma and her new hubby is unwilling to move his pet outside or give her to another family. I don't mean to pry but it seems odd that he dotes on his dog, but his new wife is suffering. It’s as if he is using his dog as a crutch to avoid discussing these things with her. He accuses my friend of hating Dottie, and he is no longer sleeping in the same room as my friend. Of course, he's still letting Dottie sleep in the bed and the dog has the run of the house.

My friend is a beautiful, intelligent, funny woman, but her husband says she is being inconsiderate of his feelings. Is he being a brat? Or am I just taking sides?

Josephine, Amarillo, TX

Josephine, good heavens. Why didn’t your friend and her dotty husband work out these issues before they got married? C’mon, severe medical conditions and the consequences thereof are supposed to figure into the romantic equation when a couple is in the dating dance. These newlyweds walked down the aisle without crossing their “t’s” and Dottie-ing their “i’s.” It’s a depressing lesson in dysfunction.

Yes, you’re taking sides and he is being a brat, but what’s a meddlesome friend to do? You can give support and comfort to your best friend whenever you see her. You might suggest therapy for her. Otherwise, keep your distance. This couple must figure out things privately. When a dog in a marriage is this divisive, there’s other stuff going on under the surface.

Posted by Dog Lady at June 8, 2008 12:59 PM