How can I get my husband to get his dog away?

We can't take care of it at all. He bought it after we got married. Melissa, whether you like it or not, you are okay with getting a dog. The dog is a living creature and you now have a responsibility to it. Unless you have found a loving home for it, it would be cruel to evict it. Not only for the dog, poor guy, but for your husband as well. I can't imagine telling someone I love to go through this without having to.

You said in the comments that you could only get a dog if your husband would take care of it, which he did in the beginning and now he is too tired to take care of it. It sounds like your husband's situation has changed, perhaps his health has worsened, or he has had to spend more time at work. If that's the case, wouldn't it be cruel to ask him to abandon the dog when he's already under stress? Wouldn't you want to help him? If that's not the case and you don't know why he can't care for the dog anymore, Then talk to him. Explain to him that you can't take care of the kids and dog on your own and that you need his help. Don't get angry and give ultimatums if you don't know why (it will only backfire in the long run; either he'll get your deal wrong, or he'll get rid of the dog and resent you forever, - I know I will).

You said you have three small children and can't take care of the dog, and your husband is too tired to take care of it. You have to sit down and have a good talk with him and work out a schedule without arguing (because that never solves the problem). Maybe he can take care of the kids for an afternoon and you can take the dog out. Maybe you can compromise and say that you two share custody of the kids and the dog.

If all else fails, you can hire a dog walker or ask someone you know and trust to walk your dog for you. Think about it, your children will most likely want a dog when they grow up. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an older, already trained dog grow up with them instead of going through puppyhood all over again?

Also, growing up with a pet is good for children There are many benefits. First, they are less likely to be allergic and have greater natural resistance to viruses. Second, they are less likely to be afraid of dogs and know how to treat them. Instilling a love for nature and animals is the best gift you can give to children growing up in this consumerist society.

They also help with exercise. When your children grow up, do it for yourself too. From the time we were seven or eight, my mom would often send my brother and I out walking the dogs, which felt like a big responsibility and it got us out of the house. You can take your dog for a jog, which is cheaper than a gym membership. You could go on outings, my earliest memories are of walks in the woods with my family, something we might have done without the dogs, but not very often.

Dogs are great protectors of your children and your home. They are loyal, intelligent creatures. I can only think of a few instances when you would be forced to give up your dog if the dog was aggressive or if you didn't have enough money to care for it or otherwise think the dog would have to pass if you took it to a shelter. What if this wasn't a no-kill shelter? Would you be willing to give up your family members? Would you be willing to put your husband through this?

I got the feeling from the comment you wrote under the other answer The outrage made me think it wasn't just about the dogs. Maybe you and your husband are arguing more and more, maybe you resent him. Maybe it's something else; I'm not an armchair psychologist. You sound angry, not annoyed. These issues should be discussed openly before they worsen. If there's more going on, if you're stressed about the workload at home, don't take it out on the dog.

Just saying. Compromise, even if you don't want the dog, it's here now. It sounds like he means a lot to your husband. Maybe you'll never care for him the way he does, but think of the grief it would cause if you let him get the dog away.