'Dog is okay, but I'm not': 57-year-old wife leaves 59-year-old husband to take care of the family dog for a weekend, but he abandons his responsibilities to go golfing for 36 hours

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jun 23, 2026 8:15 AM EDT

How would you face your husband after he left your dog with no food, no way to use the bathroom, and no response after your one weekend away all year?

Not everyone is a pet person, and that's okay. Everyone is allowed to have their preferences. But, if you willingly enter into a relationship, let alone a 20-year marriage, you are expected to take equal responsibility for the pets because by now, they're no longer "their pets", they're the family pets. We also entered into our relationship with a dog, and our now-husband was hesitant at first. He, of course, fell in love with our precious princess within days, and now he treats her like his own daughter. For reference, we've been together for six years. Our couple from Reddit's r/AmIOverreacting subreddit have been together for more than 20.

The wife went away for a weekend with her daughter and her husband was expected to stay home and take care of the family dog. He decided to fit in a golf day, promising to be home by 7 PM. Less than ideal, but doable. 9 PM rolls around, still no word from him. Finally, he admits that he's going to stay the night near the golf course and continue golfing the next day. And the dog? Still home alone, without being fed or let out, for more than 12 hours. 

We'll let you read how the story ends for yourself, but if this had happened to us, we don't know how we would ever be able to trust our partner again. Marriages are supposed to be built on trust, compromise, and sacrifice. He basically threw all of those things in the trash and put his needs (if you can call them that) first. To do that is to, essentially, throw the marriage in the trash, so we're wondering if he was actually ever "golfing" in the first place. As you'll see below, we're not the only ones who questioned that.

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  • 01
    'What kind of a person does that?'
    via Archana Rajendran

    A lonely dog home lying on the floor (model representation)

  • 02
    I went to a cabin with my daughter to visit family friends. 2 nights. He accepts a golfing invite across state but plans to be home by 7 pm. So the dog will be alone for 10 hours or so, not ideal but probably fine. He texts that he's also going to golf the next day and get home around 3. Okay. I expect he's coming home by 7 and then headed back out in the am. I
    via No_Mushroom9188
  • 03
    check in around 9, you're home? No answer. Weird. Call him. Voicemail. Not normal. Getting the vibe that he's not home and the dog is on her own. Ultimately, yes, he decided to stay in Ann Arbor and go golfing again in the morning. No plans to care for the dog. Or arrange care for the dog. I
    via No_Mushroom9188

  • If our partner did this to us, we would be flipping out. Dogs are not meant to home alone for that long without any sort of supervision, no matter how well-trained they are. And even if they can, is that any way to treat something you supposedly “love”? It's the lack of empathy here that really hurts. He didn't think about how the dog would feel, or about how his wife would feel having to rush to fix this problem while on her own vacation. So much for a stress-free weekend!

  • 04
    can't even believe a person would be so irresponsible and uncaring. It's now late and I have asked a neighbor to go let the dog out, they were kind and took her home with them.
    via No_Mushroom9188
  • 05
    Dog is okay but I am not. What kind of person does that? Ghosts me while I'm on my 1X per year getaway. And I was in panic mode for periods of time as I tried to understand what was going on. And I believe panic mode was appropriate. So what kind of person is this? 59 m 57 f, married 20 years
    via No_Mushroom9188
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10640987648
    via Fabian Marty

    Hungry dog waiting for food at home alone

  • 07
    UPDATE: I've read through the comments and am considering all of the thoughts and advice. I have been home almost a day and haven't interacted with him yet. I had a commitment last night. Woke up to my Starbucks order and bagels. So starting the cycle of being nice. I
    via No_Mushroom9188
  • 08
    hadn't considered an affair but I'm going to dig into that. Also, he is selfish, always has been, but never pulled anything like this before. It's my dog and he has been openly jealous of my cats and dogs clinging
    via No_Mushroom9188
  • 09
    to me. It was bad in the beginning but got better over time. I did text his buddy that night asking if my husband was still there or if he left for home - no response. So, yeah there's more to the story that I don't know yet. ugh.
    via No_Mushroom9188
  • 10
    babamum NOR This is a very selfish person.
    via babamum
  • 11
    Alarmed-Speaker-8330 And the men never see it coming when the wife files for divorce once the kids leave. He was punishing you and I'm sure this isn't the first time. If you stay with him, it won't be the last time either.
    via Alarmed-Speaker-8330

  • Not to sound like one of those “gentle parenting” people, but punishing? Really? Should we really be “punishing” our partners for things in our relationship? That doesn't sound healthy at all. It sounds awful.

  • 12
    Own_Assistant_2899 I'm betting he's actually cheating rather than playing golf. What kind of a person leaves a dog for 24 hours and assumes it will be fine? No one!
    via Own_Assistant_2899
  • 13
    H
    via Mick Haupt

    Man playing golf during daytime, as represented by a model

  • 14
    Realistic_Inside_766 NOR. Once a year for two nights and he can't be bothered to come care for the dog is BS. You don't get a dog to leave it helpless, hungry and potentially without water for a golf outing. It's beyond selfish and genuinely cruel.
    via Realistic_Inside_766
  • 15
    I'd let him know "we need to talk when I get home" and extend the trip another couple days. Don't answer his calls or texts and take those couple days to decide how to handle the situation.
    via Realistic_Inside_766
  • 16
    FalconAlternative282 NOR, but this seems extreme for an extra round of golf. Could there be something else going on with him?
    via FalconAlternative282
  • 17
    Flimsy-Draft7514 NOR that was a horrible choice that he made and you have every right to be enraged for your pup. I wouldnt be able to trust him after that
    via Flimsy-Draft7514
  • 18
    Thebeardedgoatlady NOR - This is him punishing you for having the audacity to be a woman and wanting even a single day to yourself. Let me guess, you make plans, he agrees to plans, then last minute
    via Thebeardedgoatlady
  • 19
    he tells you he needs you to change plans because he's scheduled someone to stop by the house and HE can't be there for it because he's going to golf? I've seen this WAY too often with women married to golf guys.
    via Thebeardedgoatlady
  • 20
    And mud run guys. And hunting guys. And... actually, just guys. That hobby will always be more important than you. And if you try to have a hobby of your own they will guilt trip you - and then try to get your kids to guilt trip you, too. Especially any sons, once older.
    via Thebeardedgoatlady
  • 21
    NamasteNoodle Someone who could care so little about the dog not receiving care and being left alone overnight is not a good human being. Decide if you want to be with someone who was so uncaring of a creature who cannot take care of itself.
    via NamasteNoodle
  • 22
    tamij1313 So you get to have one weekend away once a year? How many weekends away does he get? When he is gone, I assume you take care of the home/Dog?
    via tamij1313
  • 23
    He also decided he needed to spend the weekend away as well? He made the decision to golf across the state for two days, buy didn't think that maybe he should find someone to take care of the dog?
    via tamij1313
  • 24
    He walked out the door intending to leave the dog for two days with no way to get out, likely running out of food and water, no communication with you to let you know he was also leaving, and then ghosted you as you repeatedly called/texted in a panic? Really? And you still want to stay married to this selfish, cruel, individual?
    via tamij1313
  • 25
    If this guy doesn't have a brain tor, then you seriously need to consider leaving for the sake of your sanity and the safety of your dog. Look at this man and his behavior over the last 20 years as there has to be red flags flying all over the place that you have
    via tamij1313
  • 26
    ignored or excused away, because this cannot possibly be the first time that he has behaved recklessly, with no regard for you, your dog, or anyone else.
    via tamij1313
  • 27
    AlanStanwick1986 I golf. I have a dog. I love my dog. I would never do this. That poor dog is probably starving because he hasn't been fed, not too mention the number of times it has ped and sh in the house. Just this week my wife and daughter (who are usually home
    via AlanStanwick1986
  • 28
    most of the day) went to a concert in Dallas so I went home immediately after work for my dog. No gym or other stops. I knew my buddy was alone all day so I went to take care of him. Your husband is an ah le.
    via AlanStanwick1986

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Tags

marriage drama guys who golf family dog weekend
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