im crying
Do you know how many dogs I’ve met that get scared or anxious around men because in their previous home men hit them? A lot, and they are very protective of the women who have adopted them now.
Men who are violent towards women are often violent towards animals as well. They think we’re all chattel. If a man wants you to choose between your dog or cat or him, dump the guy. Those animals will love you for the rest of your life, loyal and true.
Actually, I have something to add.
The other day I saw a story where a woman was asking why her dogs had suddenly started growling at her boyfriend whenever he was in the same room as her son.
And my immediate thought was ‘that boyfriend has hurt the kid somehow.’
Spoilers: that was exactly the case.
Trust ur dogs when they say something is off.
The first time my sister came to visit, via plane, after I got my dog, pupper growled at her and wouldn’t go near her for the first day. Next visit was by car (two day drive)and pupper LOVED my sister. They snuggled and played and none of us could figure out why the change. We thought maybe the scent of my sisters cat had lingered on her clothes, making that first visit a rough one. Whereas when she came by car, the scent had had time to wear off. Well that was partially true…
Fast forward about six months when I went north to visit my family. My sister walked into my parents’ house and pupper ran to greet my sister. Stopped dead in her tracks and started growling and barking. Hackles raised, full protection mode. My sisters husband had just walked in behind her.
My precious puppy wanted NOTHING to do with him. She barked, growled, ran away, and sat between him and my sister. Y'all my dog had spent maybe a weekend a half around my sister but protected her like this was her flesh and blood.
Eventually, my sister filed for divorce on grounds of “Extreme and repeated mental, emotional, and sexual abuse.” Divorce was final in less than a month because her claims were substantiated.
Trust the dog, honey. They KNOW.
I’ve never owned dogs, but I used to work with horses (which are a lot like big dogs).
There was this one horse I worked with named Tonto. He was a doll. He followed me like a puppy, snuck treats out of my pocket, he was the sweetest thing. We were practically inseparable.
A guy I was considering dating came to visit me one day, and Tonto wanted NOTHING to do with him. Normally well behaved, he shoved himself between us and would NOT let this guy near me. He was stomping, acting really aggressive, and tried to bite the guy. This horse was practically dragging me back toward the barn. At that moment, despite being like, 17, I knew something was up, and ultimately things didn’t pan out for guy and me.
A year later I found out he had lied about his age (he said he was 18 but he was actually 27) he was arrested for sexually assaulting an 11 year old girl.
TRUST THE ANIMALS.
Years ago my first boyfriend went to hit me outside my parents house when I was 17. Our German Shepard Angel got in front and bit his arm and he left. She was always nice and kind to everyone but not him. She then preceded to let me cry all over her even though she regarded me as her litter mate and never obeyed me. After that(It was about three months before I turned 18 and left both the emotionally abusive home and the boyfriend behind) any time she saw him she’d glare and growl.
Dogs are great. As soon as I live in a house not an apartment, I’ll get another dog.
Reblog to save a life
The animals know, man. They always know. Trust them.
In my public speaking class we were supposed to give a speech about someone we admired. Thirty-something female classmate mentioned her cat in hers (can’t remember if it was about the cat). She said she finally left an overbearing, emotionally abusive relationship when she noticed her cat hid under the furniture every time her bf came home from work. She would’ve stayed, thinking she could handle it or could change him, but her cat’s unhappiness made her realize they both deserved much better.
Taking my dog for a walk back in college. She was just sniffing some grass, thinking doggie thoughts, when this guy passed us on the sidewalk and she twisted around in a heartbeat and went BALLISTIC. She was lunging on her lead, trying to attack him. He looked like a normal 90s surfer type dude, and I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I appologized for her aggressiveness and pulled her away, fearful of whatever had come over her.
Flash forward to about 2 in the morning. Dude showed up at my house asking to be let in because he’d “lost his car keys.” He’d been casing me! He knew where I lived! Needless to say, doggy was not happy, and was trying to lunge through the door. Called the police. Guy never seen again. But yeah, trust your doggo (the police said so too) and always take the pets over the person who makes an ultimatum.