Boswell the Wonder dog

[cyndilouwhoo]

I have to ask this question of animal lovers--because I want justification to show my husband that I am not the only one who is slavishly devoted to her companion animal.

So get ready to give me lots of justification because to this day my husband thinks I must have been temporarily addled when I did this.

I have this dog. His name is Bozo--yes the name is embarrassing (why I chose that particular name could be a whole 'nother thread in and of itself) but it suits him--although to avoid humiliating him publicly I call him Boswell outside the house. He is the first canine companion animal I have ever lived with. He is now 18, and his health is kind of failing--but I would move mountains to keep him happy and healthy and around me because I worship the ground that this dog walks on.

If I had to pick a "best friend" from among the creatures populating my existence, I'd pick this dog every time.

But to make my (as usual ) long story sort, here's why my husband thinks I'm nuts.

My first husband was pretty well off. Let's just say that when it came to money, my ex-husband was errrr...awash in assets.

When we got to the lawyers office to divvy up the divorce property, my ex-husband starts making dark noises about wanting to keep the dog--now mind you he didn't particularly like this dog. At this point he just enjoyed pushing my buttons--and my devotion to the dog was one he knew would get me rolling.

Without batting an eye, in front of his lawyer and everything I said, "You can have everything, but the dog comes with me".

"Done", he said.

And that's exactly what I got in my divorce settlement.

I got the dog--and he got everything else--and I mean everything. I was lucky I got custody of my underwear, cause I sure as hell didn't get anything else.

The funny part was that I was totally sincere--and 15 years later I still think I got a good deal.

My current husband, whom I guess I would choose as my second best friend thinks I must have been drinking prior to the divorce conference.

But there's something about that dog. I would truly do it again in a second.

So whaddaya think? Was I nuts? Try not to take into consideration that this is Boswell the Wonder Dog and apply your own experience with a companion animal to the story.

If you had been in my situation would you have done the same?

Or are there some lines you'd have to be nuts to cross when it comes to devotion to a companion animal?



Cyndi

[taurusmoon]

Cyndi,

Please tell your husband that he is not alone. I think you're nuts too.

Sara
Who got the kid, the cat, and half the bills in her divorce settlement

[hadassahchana[$]]

My best friend got a custody order for her dog and didn't even mention the kids until her lawyer asked if she'd like to keep them, too!


She agreed that the kids were also important.


Cindy

[cyndilouwhoo]

Now look here: neither of you have seemed to have carefully read my post.

I said I wanted justification for my actions. Neither of you has helped my cause even one teeny bit. You are just giving Rich more fodder for his argument.

This is not the way that this thread was supposed to work.

Cyndi

Who assumes that had she had any kids at the time, she would have asked about keeping the children also--without prompting from an attorney.

At least I think so

[lynnzop[$]]

Cyndi, I think you got the better end of the deal.

You can always make more money.

You CAN'T always find another pal like Boswell. Sometimes a pet is just like a kid.

I got the cat in my divorce settlement and not much else. It was enough. Tell Rich he's wrong

Lynn

Not sure if this applies, but...

Dated a chick, broke up, got a very demanding and loud psycho-kitten that her sister had rescued as a baby and was about to dump in the cat-pound. Enter Piper.

Dated another chick, first chick stalked me, ruined the relationship, chick moved to S.F., leaves me with one of her cats, the dumb one with thumbs and a penchant for vandalism. Enter Nardo.

The two cats are significantly better individuals than their original human caretakers.

Now I'm married, two more cats there, and we're all one scratched-up and hissing-warnmeowing happy family.

[cyndilouwhoo]

Now that's more like it. Here are some comments I can actually wave under my smug SO's nose in support of my actions--which years later still rankles my current spouse.

Lynn: All the money in the world could never equal the love my fella supplies. Course, I can say that because we have no money and I no longer remember what it was like to have any.

And Larry... I absolutely agree. My dog is a bazillion times better in terms of personality than my ex-husband.

Keep 'em comin' people.

Cyndi

Whose loving spouse still brings up the fact that I brought nothing but my clothes and my dog when I moved in with him. Bitter? Not him!