I Excluded My Stepson From Our Trip — My Husband Made Me Regret It

Animals have an amazing way of teaching us how to love. But sometimes the relationships we get into have no place for our pets, and that leaves us with a tough decision. One of our readers told us what her husband did to her dog while they were on vacation.

This is Gemma’s story.

Dear Bright Side,

I got my dog, Max, a few years ago after a nasty breakup, and he has been a great source of support for me since. When I got married to my husband, there was a discussion about Max, and I explained how much he meant to me, so my husband came to terms with his presence, or so I thought.

Last week we went on a family trip for 7 days with our kids (10 and 12). My stepson, 16, started to pack, but I said, “Stay home and watch Max. I’ll pay you!” He rolled his eyes at me and walked off, so I thought it would be okay.

Before we left, I told my husband that I had asked my stepson to stay behind because I couldn’t find a pet sitter and I didn’t have enough time to book him into a kennel. I also told him that I’d pay my stepson $50 per day to watch Max.

My husband smiled gently and said nothing else for the entire trip. Once we got to our destination, my husband pulled me aside and said, “You really thought this trip would make you feel better?” A sense of fear overwhelmed me, but I wasn’t ready for what he said next.

“Your dog is at the local shelter.” My body went cold, but my husband didn’t stop. He told me that his son called and said he didn’t want to stay home just to take care of my dog, so my husband told him to drop Max off there.

For the first time in years, I had a panic attack. That dog meant everything to me. He helped me through some of my darkest days, and my husband just let him go to a shelter like he meant nothing at all. That was enough for me to destroy everything we had between us.

As I started crying, my husband looked at me and said, “Maybe now you’ll stop choosing a dog over my child.” That was it. I couldn’t stand looking at him for a second longer. Our vacation, our peace, everything, was gone in a second.

So I grabbed my bag, got on the next plane back home, and took a cab to the shelter where they left Max. Luckily, my boy was still there, and I was able to take him home after explaining the situation. But that didn’t fix the problem between me and my husband.

This morning I received a letter from a lawyer. My husband is filing for divorce. So, Bright Side, did I really just give up my marriage for my emotional support animal? Or is my husband overreacting?

Regards,
Gemma T.

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your story, Gemma. We understand how difficult this situation must be for you. So we’ve put together a few tips that might help.

Recognize that this was about control, not the dog.

Your husband’s decision to send Max to a shelter wasn’t a misunderstanding. It was a deliberate act of control. He didn’t just disagree with your choice. He wanted to punish you for making a decision he didn’t approve of. That kind of emotional manipulation and disregard for something and someone you love deeply isn’t about a pet; it’s about power. Before questioning if you “gave up your marriage for a dog,” ask whether that marriage was safe, respectful, or emotionally healthy to begin with.

Don’t let guilt rewrite the narrative.

You didn’t choose your dog over your husband. You chose compassion, responsibility, and emotional stability over cruelty. Guilt can make you question yourself, especially after such a shocking betrayal. But protecting Max wasn’t selfish. It was an act of self-preservation. Reframe the story in your mind; you didn’t “give up your marriage.” Your husband chose to end it when he weaponized your dog against you.

Prioritize emotional healing before any legal or practical steps.

You’ve been through multiple emotional shocks, betrayal, fear, loss, and now divorce proceedings. Before diving into legal responses or logistics, give yourself space to breathe and process what happened. Whether that means therapy, support groups, or leaning on friends who understand how much Max means to you, stabilize emotionally first. Once you’re grounded again, you’ll be in a much stronger position to handle the divorce and rebuild your life on your terms.

Situations like these are never easy, but they’re even harder when the person you thought you knew turns out to be the complete opposite. Gemma did the right thing by walking away, but her struggles are just beginning.

She isn’t the only one who is having relationship issues, though. Another one of our readers reached out. Read their story here: My Husband Blamed Me for Ruining Our Holiday, and I Served a Sweet Revenge.