Woman's dog allergic boyfriend ghosts her after "pausing" their relationship, she adopts a dog out of spite and ends it with him despite him wanting to get back together: "Not answering texts is ghosting"

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Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Jun 22, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. In times of trouble, you better bet that animals will always come in handy. Having a pet can get us out of the deepest funks, whether it's heartbreak, indolence, poverty, or a dispute with a family member. There's a reason they say that dogs are man's best friend, it's because it's true! 


I know that when I'm grieving, sad, or even just sick my dog will come curl up in my lap in an instant. There's no need for communication because their animal instincts kick in immediately. Or even cats, those feisty felines won't deny an opportunity to give you love when you're in the depths of your own inferno.


In the story below, the protagonist is a woman whose boyfriend decided to "pause" their relationship. Did he break up with her officially? He would argue he didn't, but can anyone actually clarify what "pause" means? Then when she tries to reach out to him, he ghosts her. Read the full story below for all the juicy details. 

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  • 01

    AITAH for adopting a dog after I thought my boyfriend broke up with me?

    "He had to leave because he was getting an allergic reaction"
    via evablancophotos / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    My boyfriend was going through a tough time, and he said he needed a break. He said he was going to press pause on our relationship and go visit his family
    via u/LazyMathematician823

  • This man deserves his fate. What is this noncommittal, wishy-washy, pseudo break up? Either you're together or you're not. If only we could selfishly pause time on our relationship to do whatever we want with our lives, but it doesn't work like that. A relationship isn't something you can just pause. 

  • 03
    in Washington. I asked how you pause a relationship, because I don't understand how that works.
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 04
    He said he needed some time to work on himself and asked me to respect that.
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 05
    After he left I reached out to him a few times via text asking him to let me know he arrived safe and to say hi to his mom for me. I
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10520073216
    via Liia Galimzianova from Getty Images / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 07
    received no response. I tried to call and left a message asking if he had broken up with me. I came to the conclusion that he'd ghosted me, and my friends
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 08
    agreed. I was bummed, and my best friend recommended I find something like a new hobby or a
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 09
    new show to watch that wouldn't make me think of my boyfriend. decided to get a dog.
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 10
    My boyfriend is horribly allergic to pet dander, so I never even considered getting a pet. However, since he broke up with me, I decided to get one. He's a
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10520073728
    via cyberhawk from Getty Images Signature / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    senior dog from the shelter that needed rescuing. He's low energy and likes to lay with his head in my lap while I read, work or watch TV.
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 13
    After six weeks away my boyfriend texted me that he was back and coming over tomorrow (which was yesterday) so we could talk. I was shocked and
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 14
    texted him back asking what he was talking about. He said he was back and ready to unpause our relationship. He said he would
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 15
    talk to me about everything the next day. I texted back asking what relationship. He didn't answer.
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 16
    Yesterday he showed up and told me he had done a lot of self- examination and was ready to move forward on his life path. He
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 17
    even wanted to talk about moving in together. Then he saw my dog and started freaking out. He asked me how I could get a dog when I know how sick he gets.
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 18
    I told him that since he broke up with me, I didn't think it mattered. He said he didn't break up with me. I said he ghosted me. He said
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 19
    he communicated with me telling me he was pressing pause and visiting family. I said not answering texts is ghosting. We
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 20
    argued in circles and then he said he had to leave because he was getting an allergic reaction, even though he was standing in the doorway, not inside.
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 21
    I feel like he broke up with me and it was okay that I got a dog. He says that he never did and therefore it's a horrible act of
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 22
    disregard to have gotten a dog. Which of us is right? My best friend said I should break up with him because he's a j . I don't
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 23
    think I should have to break up with someone that already broke up with me. If I break up with him I'm basically agreeing with him
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 24
    that he didn't break up with me and therefore I was an a h le for getting the dog. Right?
    via u/LazyMathematician823
  • 25
    SoulLessGinger992 NTA. It's only a "pause" if both parties agree. A one- sided pause when the other is against it is in fact just a breakup.
    via u/SoulLessGinger992

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dogs allergic drama pets toxic relationships lol couples love family reddit thread Reddit funny dating
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