Hi everyone,
I really don't know what to do anymore. I'm a huge animal lover and I spent a long time volunteering at a rescue centre. When I met my husband, he worked in a pet shop and was into fishkeeping (as am I). I had a cat at the time and he seemed to like it, but after a few months, I had an unplanned pregnancy and we ended up building a life together because everything was going so well.
Gradually, he started to dislike the cat; he's a bit of a neat freak and once he saw the cat rolling in the compost, he eventually couldn't stand it anymore. He completely ignored the cat for 10 years but never hurt it, which I wouldn't have tolerated. After the cat passed away, being so passionate about animals, I found the house far too quiet. It's almost vital for me to have a pet (animals were like therapy for me when I was young and dealing with family issues), so I got a dog because he didn't want another cat.
Now, he doesn't like the dog either. He spends all his time telling me the house stinks, that I've forced this on him, and that I don't realise how much the smells are a nightmare for him. He wants the dog to live outside, but I'm not having it—he's an old boy from a rescue. Has anyone else been in this situation? I hoover every other day, mop the floors twice a week with a strong-scented cleaner specifically for homes with dogs, I feed the dog a raw diet, and I wash the dog and his bed covers once a month. The dog only has access to the living room, dining room, hallway, and basement—he's not allowed in the bedrooms or on the sofa. I'm really sad and would love some advice. I'm definitely not going to rehome him or give him up, that's out of the question; I'm just looking for ways to ease the tension regarding the dog. Thanks.
