Pip’s Story: Pets in Abusive Relationships Pt. 1

I got my dog Pip in early 2020 with the intention of training her to be an emotional support dog. I was so lonely and sad much of the time and didn’t understand why. I was sure her companionship would help me. 

I spent many days and sleepless nights training her and teaching her to comfort me when I was sad. However, it wasn’t long before my ex decided to change the dynamic. The dog would now be theirs.

They started saying things like “I think Pip is bonded with me. She seems to love me more. You’re not really very close to her, are you? You can’t take care of her like I can. If we break up, I’ll be the one who keeps Pip.” They would even pick her up and keep her away from me if she was laying next to me. Especially if we were arguing. 

When I finally left (but before I went no contact), my ex said “you know what’s best for her. What’s best for her is me.” They wanted to convince mw to leave the dog and went so far as saying they would sue me if they kept her. 

This is just a glimpse of what it can be like to have an animal in an abusive relationship. Threats, passive comments about whose animal it is, and even convincing you that you can’t take care of them or don’t deserve them. 

Stay tuned for another post on how Pip is doing now!