Wife Upset After Husband Brings Puppy Without Asking

We all love dogs, but having a dog around the house is a big responsibility. Bringing home a new pet is a big decision that should not be made lightly. Recently, one woman was taken aback when her husband brought home a puppy without her permission, even after she refused.

She asked the internet if she was in the wrong — read what people had to say…

The Reddit page r/AITA (an acronym for “Am I the A**hole”) is one of the most popular advice subreddits, with many people sharing their situations and asking others to weigh in on whether they’re in the wrong.

These stories generate a lot of debate, especially when pets are involved. Recently, one woman posted asking if she was right to be upset with her husband after he brought home what she viewed as an unwanted surprise.

Husband Brought Home “Surprise” Puppy

The poster says she is in her mid-40s and has been married for 15 years, but she and her husband have been split on whether to get a new dog. She wrote that their senior dog died a few years ago and she has been reluctant to bring home a new pet, as it might be too big a responsibility in their busy lives.

“Dogs are a huge commitment and I have no time. Kids activities 7 nights a week, and I work two jobs (50 hours total). Husband has a full time job too, but works from home three days a week,” the woman wrote.

She said that they have two kids aged 14 and 11, and would maybe be open to getting a new dog after the kids graduate high school. However, she was left stunned after her husband came home with a surprise — a new puppy.

While the kids and husband were apparently excited, the wife was upset because it was done behind her back and without her permission — even more so when her husband tried to spin it as a gift for her.

“He Flew Into a Rage”

“I felt angry because I made it clear I did not want a dog,” she wrote. “He said it was my birthday gift. I pushed back and said dogs are a family decision, and I felt that he disrespected me.”

The situation harshly escalated, as the husband responded by accusing his wife of mistreatment and threatening to leave her. “He flew into a rage, threatened separation, and spent the night elsewhere,” she wrote.

She said she later apologized to her husband for “suggesting he got the dog because he wanted it, rather than a heartfelt gift,” but also said he needed to return the dog. The woman asked for advice about whether she was in the wrong.

Reddit Sides With Wife

The post received hundreds of comments, with most agreeing that she was NTA (“not the a**hole”) and agreeing that bringing home a family pet is a huge decision and her husband should not have made it without her consent.

“You are NTA for not wanting the dog, as it’s a huge commitment. You didn’t ask for it and your husband didn’t consider your opinion on it,” the top comment reads.

Others also took issue with her husband trying to pass the puppy off as a present for her. “If it truly was a gift he would be apologetic he missed the mark so badly,” one user wrote. “It clearly was not a gift for you, it was something he wanted and opted to do without agreement or consultation. You clearly are not in a position to appropriately care for a puppy and his reaction is concerning.”

Many also expressed surprise that her husband would go as far as to threaten separation, suggesting that the puppy dispute might be part of a larger pattern of marital issues they need to resolve.

The woman has since deleted the post and her account (though you can still read the replies), so we have no update on whether or not the family kept the puppy.

Bringing home a new pet is a big decision, definitely not one you should make without your wife, especially not if she has said no to the idea before. We hope this couple has been able to work things out or rehome the puppy.

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