Mum, Dad was right when he said there’s something wrong with your head! I can see now you’re insane. Haven’t you ever tried getting treatment? – says the sonHe stared at the empty hallway, realizing the silence was the only answer he’d ever get.

Hey love, just wanted to give you the whole saga of whats happened with Mum, David and the dogs grab a cuppa and settle in.

Mom, Dad was right when he said somethings not quite right with your head! I can see now youre a bit off. Never thought about getting help?

Anne Peterson blinked at her son, Jack. Hed always been a handful, but hearing him say that straight to his own mother was something else entirely.

Anne could never have imagined shed be the one to start a divorce after twentyfive years of marriage. Yet it was her who finally pulled the plug.

Shed suddenly realised she didnt really know David at all. After all those years youd think you could read a person inside out, but no David turned out to be a cold, hard bloke.

One afternoon she spotted a tiny, skeletal puppy in a back alley, so thin you could count every rib. She scooped him up, and David lost it.

Ellie, what are you doing? Youve got nothing left to do, do you? he roared, shouting through the flat. Why bring this misery home?

Dave, what on earth are you saying Look at him! Hes just a skeleton, skin and bone. How can you just ignore him?

Everyone gets through, you cant? Mother Theresa or what? Youre the most serious one weve got, arent you?

That night Anne wept for ages for the pitiful pup barely standing on its trembling legs, and for David showing a side shed never seen.

David was never perfect, but Anne always tried to look past his flaws. Shed always believed perfect people dont exist.

Then David finally crossed a line he shouldnt have. Whats the matter? Anne sniffed, Cant you just be a normal human? How hard is it to look at this puppy and try to help?

His tantrum didnt end there. He made it clear the miserable thing was getting on his nerves.

When are you going to get rid of it? How long must we put up with this stray in the house?

He called the little dog a mutt because it was gaunt and shivered even though the flat was warm.

Instead of helping Anne settle the pup on its paws and find a good home, David slipped off to the garage and hung out with his mates a bunch of other drifters whod fled their own homes.

Hed come back late, smelling of cheap lager, and start complaining again about the burden Anne had brought home.

Fine, you dont like animals, I get that, Anne thought, sitting in the lounge. But do you even care about me? Cant you see how hard this is for me?

It wasnt easy for Anne. She kept having to ask for time off work just to take the puppy to the vet or walk him. She was terrified of leaving him alone with David. After all those years she barely recognised the man shed married; now he spent most of his time at the local pub and, if you ask me, started drinking a lot.

One day, while at the office, Anne felt that dreadful tightening in her chest you know, when something invisible squeezes your heart and your stomach feels like its full of cats? She had to call in sick again. When she got home early, she walked in on David in the garage, cradling the pup as if hed finally decided to get rid of it for good. She couldnt forgive that, so she filed for divorce.

Because of a dog? David shouted, flailing his arms. Youve lost your mind in old age!

Anne let that fly right past her. She didnt consider herself old, nor had she gone off her rocker she just realised she could no longer live with him.

They still had an adult son, Jack, who was living with his girlfriend in Brighton. Somehow he chose to side with his dad:

Mum, are you okay? Can you really ruin a family over a dog?

Theres no family left, love, Anne sighed. Im not divorcing because of the dog, but because your father has lost his humanity.

People might not care about animals, but they shouldnt cause them pain. A decent person let alone a husband would never do that!

Her explanation didnt move Jack. He cut off contact, saying it wasnt his father whod changed, but Mum whod abandoned the roof over his head. The flat was legally hers, so David couldnt claim half the property in the split.

He still had a cottage up in the Cotswolds, but he rarely visited. Whether it stood or not, Anne didnt care. David had made his choice; nobody forced him to become a coldhearted monster. She shivered thinking what might have happened to the puppy if she hadnt intervened.

In the end, Anne was left with Baxter, the little pup shed rescued. She nursed him back to health, gave him a proper life, and even promised herself shed take responsibility for him.

If Im taking you in, Ill look after you, love, she said, and Baxter wagged his tail, barking happily. He wasnt about to leave her.

A few months later, as Baxter grew, Anne started volunteering at the local animal shelter on her days off, helping the animals that people had abandoned much like David had done.

Times are tight, love, the shelter manager, Fiona, told her. We cant even pay staff properly.

Even if we scrape together a few pennies, its not much. Im not doing this for the money, just for the cause, Anne replied.

She began coming with Baxter a few times a week. There she met another dog an old grey mutt named Buster, who spent most of his time in the pen next to a sleeping hound. The staff called him Buster because hed always grumble when anyone tried to lift him for a walk.

Anne had seen Buster before, but now she really noticed how sad his eyes were the same hollow look Baxter once had. She sat beside him, patted his head, gave him a hug, and felt a tug at her heart. She wanted to light a spark of joy in those eyes, but the spark seemed dim.

She spent more time with him, and one of the volunteers told her his heartbreaking story.

We found him three years ago, wandering the streets of Manchester, looking straight into peoples eyes, as if searching for his owner. Someone once tied him to a lamppost and drove off, thinking hed come back. He never did, so they untied him and hes been roaming ever since, hoping someone will claim him.

Did anyone ever want him? Anne asked.

No, not really. We only took him because a pen opened up. Hes small, calm, no health issues. A bloke showed interest, took him home, but a month later we found him again. He said he wanted a proper dog, not an old mutt.

Its been three years and still no home. Older dogs always get the short end of the stick, the volunteer sighed.

Anne decided shed find Buster a good home. She posted pictures on every pet site she could think of.

Is this a Beagle? a woman asked one day. Ive wanted that breed for ages.

Its a Beagle, but not purebred, Anne replied. Age doesnt matter hes a lovely dog.

The only thing thats hurt him is a broken heart, so hes a bit sad. But Im sure love can melt the ice in his heart and bring back his joy.

The woman agreed to take Buster, and he went to his new house.

Take care of him, Anne whispered, wiping away tears. I hope everything works out for you.

Buster gave a soft whine, his tail barely moving. Hed already grown fond of her, even if he didnt show it.

A few weeks later the woman called, Hi, could we temporarily bring the dog back to the shelter? Were heading to the seaside with the kids and cant leave him alone.

There arent any spaces at the moment, Anne replied, a little flustered.

What am I to do then? I promised the kids a holiday.

Dont worry Ill look after him while youre away. How long? Two weeks?

Yes, two weeks.

Great!

When Buster was dropped off, he looked gaunt, as if hed only been fed once a week.

Whats happened to him? Anne asked the owner. You havent fed him?

I did, but he wouldnt eat. I never forced him you cant force a dog to eat.

That same day Anne, Baxter and Buster visited the vet. Buster had serious health issues and needed treatment. Anne called the woman, explained everything and asked for a bit of money to cover the vet bills.

Honestly, I have no cash right now! And you never mentioned he was ill, the woman snapped.

So youre saying its my fault hes like this? Anne protested.

Take the dog back, I dont need him. Dont call again, she said.

Anne hadnt expected that reaction. Shed thought shed just look after Buster for a bit and then hand him back. Now she was stuck with two dogs, both needing care, and her pension was only a few months away.

She looked into Busters eyes and realised she couldnt send him away again.

How many times has he been abandoned? How much more can this poor lad suffer?

When Buster finally saw that no one was going to take him, a flicker of hope sparked in his gaze. Even with his failing sight and trembling legs, that tiny spark grew brighter each day.

It meant Anne had done the right thing. Itd been tough at first, but now she felt the happiest she ever had.

Even though shed split from David and her son had turned his back, Jack still popped round once in a while, hoping to talk about his dad and maybe coax Mum back home. When he saw two dogs instead of one, his anger boiled over:

Mum, Dad was right youre not all there! I see now youre crazy. Never tried therapy?

Anne stared at her son, shocked. Hed always been a bit of a rebel, but saying that to his own mother

What on earth are you saying? she asked.

Honestly, its the truth! Youve taken on another scruffy dog because one wasnt enough? No sense at all!

Yes, I took him in because no one else will. Id never let your father back in, even if I had no dogs at all.

Fine, live alone then!

Jack slammed the door. Anne whispered after him:

Dont think Im alone, love. Ive got loyal friends wholl never leave or hurt me.

Later the shelter manager, Fiona, said, If you need Buster back for a while, well sort it.

Ill look after him while youre at the beach, Anne offered. Two weeks, right?

Two weeks perfect!

When Buster returned to the shelters temporary holding, he looked even slimmer, as if hed only been fed once a week.

Whats happened to him? Anne asked the caretaker. You havent fed him?

We did, but hed rather not eat. We dont force a dog.

That same day, the vet confirmed Busters health problems and started treatment. Anne called the woman again, explained everything, and asked for a little help with the costs.

Im broke! And you never warned me hed get sick, she snapped.

So its my fault hes this thin? Anne retorted.

Just take him back. I dont need him, the woman answered, hanging up.

Anne never imagined it would end like this. Shed only meant to look after Buster for a short spell. Now she was juggling two dogs, both with medical needs, and her pension was just around the corner.

She stared into Busters eyes and knew she couldnt hand him over again.

How many times has he been tossed aside? How long can this poor soul endure?

When Buster finally realised nobody was going to adopt him, a genuine gleam lit up his eyes. Even though his sight was fading and his joints ached, that little spark grew brighter each day.

It told Anne shed done the right thing. It was hard at first, but now she was the happiest person alive.

So thats the whole messy, heartbreaking, but ultimately hopeful story. If you love animals youll get why Anne did what she did. Some might judge her for breaking up a family, but thats for you to decide.

What do you think of Davids and Jacks behaviour? Drop a comment, hit like, and lets talk. Cheers.