Parents' relationship goes to the puppy
Dear Amy: What do you do if one parent in the family wants a dog (as do all of the children), while the other parent (the one who does 95 percent of the housework) does not?
I am in a 19-year marriage. My husband and I have four children. Our oldest (twins) just left for college.
My husband is now insisting that we get a dog, (a puppy!) for him and our two sons, who are still at home.
Amy, we had a dog for six months, about five years ago. It ran away.
Guess who took care of it, completely? Yes, me.
I do not want this responsibility and the burden of taking care of another dog. I am finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel regarding the amount of housekeeping I do. I also see a future with increasing freedom to go out more and travel as our kids leave the nest.
My husband says he plans to go against my wishes and get a dog, regardless of what I say.
What can I do?
-- Dogless
Dear Dogless: Bringing an animal into the home is adding a member to your family. Your household is looking at potentially the next 15 to 20 years of dog care, unless this dog, like your other dog, follows its better instincts and takes off.
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