A granddaughter was born, but my daughter-in-law doesn’t want my dog! What am I supposed to do? I find myself at a crossroads…
I decided to share my thoughts here, hoping some might understand my situation. Perhaps someone will even offer advice—is my thinking right, or am I mistaken?
I have two sons, Andrew and William. Both have been living in England for quite some time, though in different cities. Andrew already has a family and a little girl, whereas William is still looking for the one.
When my sons were young, our family fell apart—my wife and I divorced. It was a rough period. The house felt empty, the kids missed their mother, and I, caught between work and raising them, felt utterly alone.
To fill the void and guard the house, I got a dog—a magnificent, intelligent, and loyal German Shepherd named Tara. Living in a house with a garden and yard, there was plenty of space for her.
Tara became more than just a pet; she was family. During my frequent business trips, she looked after the house and watched over the kids. Both sons adored her. I believed that without her, raising the boys would have been twice as hard.
As the years passed, my sons grew up, and Tara aged. Her passing was as painful as losing a loved one. I promised myself never to get another dog—parting is simply too painful.
But the boys grew up and moved out, leaving me alone in a large, empty house. The solitude was deafening. I soon realised I couldn’t live without a companion.
That’s when I got Charlie. A small, smart, affectionate dog—a true companion. I jokingly said the house finally had another man, even if he had four legs.
I knew I’d be travelling frequently to England to visit the boys, so I chose a dog that could travel with me. We’ve flown abroad five times together! I adhere to all travel rules: booking tickets in advance, paying for his baggage, keeping him on a light diet before flights to keep under the weight limit, giving him motion sickness tablets… Sometimes it feels more challenging to travel with a dog than with a child!
But to me, he is like a child. He’s the only one greeting me at home, celebrating when I return, warming me with his presence.
Then something happened that I never saw coming.
Andrew had a daughter—my first granddaughter! Overjoyed, I dreamed of spending time with the family, helping out, and walking with the baby. But I soon learned my daughter-in-law was firmly against Charlie.
First, she expressed concerns about allergies for the baby. Then she worried about the dog bringing dirt into the house. Eventually, she got a cat, seemingly to make my arguments moot.
I was in disbelief. My heart broke.
Both Andrew and William started urging me to leave Charlie in a pet hotel temporarily. They even offered to cover the costs, just so I could stay with them longer.
“Dad, leave the dog! It’s just a pet! We’re your family, your granddaughter! How can you compare?” William pleaded.
But I couldn’t.
How do I tell them that Charlie is more than a pet? He’s my comfort in solitude. My friend. He lies at my feet, listens when times are tough. He senses my pain and quietly lies beside me, warming me with his presence.
I couldn’t just leave him in some kennel among strangers.
“Whoever wants to see me must accept my dog!” I replied firmly.
My sons exchanged glances. They didn’t understand. To them, he’s just a dog. To me, he’s the reason for my joy.
I don’t know what the future holds. They persist, and I continue to refuse.
But one thing I am certain of: as long as Charlie is alive, I will not abandon him. He was there during times when no one else could support me.
I won’t leave him. Even if it means seeing my granddaughter less often than I had hoped.
