'AITA for being angry my wife put down our dog without telling me while I was out of town?'

A recent Reddit post by PeterGibb832, a 38-year-old man, shared an incredibly emotional experience he had when his wife made the decision to put down their beloved dog, Bella, while he was away on a work trip.

The post on Reddit's popular 'Am I the A**hole' has sparked a heated discussion about communication and decision-making in relationships, especially when it comes to a pet that’s considered family.

OP feels betrayed after wife euthanizes family dog without his knowledge

Peter and his wife, 36, have been married for 10 years and have had Bella, their golden retriever, for 12 years. Bella, Peter described, “has been my rock” and has seen them through significant moments in their lives, like moves and job changes.

Before leaving for his trip, Peter noticed Bella was “slowing down a bit” due to her age but still seemed okay. He asked his wife to keep an eye on Bella, which she agreed to do.

However, when Peter returned home from his trip, he was met with an unsettling silence in the house. There was no barking or excited greeting from Bella.

"I get home from the trip, and the house is eerily quiet. No excited barking, no Bella waiting at the door. My wife comes out of the kitchen, and I immediately ask where Bella is. That’s when she tells me she took her to the vet and put her down," OP said.

“I didn’t even know Bella was that sick, and my wife made the decision without me,” Peter said, expressing his shock and sense of betrayal.

Peter’s reaction was one of heartbreak and anger. He confronted his wife, telling her, "I didn’t even know Bella was that sick, and my wife made the decision without me. I wasn’t there to say goodbye, and I feel completely blindsided. I lost it and told her she had no right to do that without telling me first."

His wife explained that Bella had been suffering, and the vet had advised euthanasia. "She got emotional and said Bella was in pain, that the vet advised it, and she thought she was sparing me from seeing Bella suffer," OP went on.

While her intentions were to protect Peter from the heartache of witnessing Bella’s decline, Peter felt she had overstepped by making such a major decision without consulting him.

His frustration was compounded by the fact that he wasn’t given a chance to say goodbye. “I feel completely blindsided,” he explained. "But I just… I can’t believe she didn’t even call me."

For Peter, the act wasn’t just about the decision itself, but the lack of communication and consideration for his feelings. He shared that Bella wasn’t just a pet; she was “my companion as much as she was our family dog.”

Peter continued to wrestle with his emotions, admitting that he understood the possibility that euthanasia may have been the right decision, but that didn’t change how it made him feel.

OP wrote, "I get that maybe it was the right decision, but it feels like I was robbed of my chance to say goodbye to my dog, my best friend."

Reddit community shows strong support for Peter amid emotional loss

Peter received an outpouring of support from the Reddit community, with many users expressing empathy for his heartbreak and validating his feelings of betrayal.

While some acknowledged his wife’s intentions to spare him from witnessing Bella’s suffering, the majority agreed that the lack of communication was the core issue.

A user said, "Nta, I'm sorry for your loss. She should have called you, not unilaterally decided."

Another added, "She did overstep in a huge way. All she had to do is call you. She says she was sparing you? You aren’t a child. What right does she have to make that decision for you? NTA, OP. I am so very sorry."

The third commentator remarked, "NTA. My husband would absolutely leave me if I did that to him. What your wife did is inexcusable."

"I would 100% divorce over this. To be fair, I have some childhood trauma where my dog just ‘disappeared’ one day when my step parent was home. But still. I’d be out so damn fast," said one in support of OP.

A person said, "NTA, go talk to the vet. Ask them for all the details."

Other chimed in, "That would be a relationship killer for me."

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