[twilightzone]

The loss of affection toward the pets seems to confirm the MLC syndrome.  The MLCer cannot acknowledge the pet any more than anyone else from the life left behind and run away from.  Proves that the M and the R and the behaviors of the LBS during the M have really nothing to do with why they leave.  Are they blaming it on the behaviors of the pets, too?

[Fizzy]

Not sure where my H stands regarding behaviour around pets...it confuses me as much as the rest of his wacky behaviour.

We got a pet dog for the kids really that was a rescue dog and turned out very nervous and often made messes.  At BD I just couldn't cope with him on top of two distraught kids and H took the dog to his parents.  Then the kids found out he took the dog to OW and her kids house.  After they got very upset that "first they took our daddy and now they've got our dog" I asked for the dog back and he agreed.  After three access days of no show with the dog I asked why he was refusing to give the dog back to the kids (this is a dog H didn't really like and had given himself a swollen purple toe from kicking a wall while aiming at dog a month earlier according to kids) and H half-shouted "HE'S MY DOG TOO!....Can't we share him?"  Ehhh...no. 

[Snowdrop]

had given himself a swollen purple toe from kicking a wall while aiming at dog a month earlier

How perfect!  Hope it hurt him a lot!  Can't stand any abuse towards animals.   

[Superman]

Here's one from the wife that sounds pretty script worthy
" I hate how you think I'm so irresponsible, I don't do anything"
My response "I know that's the problem. Haven't paid a bill in over a year, won't register your car or fix it, but still think its safe to drive our kids around in" and more. Being very responsible I guess compared to other MLC'ERS.

[BB64]

My MLC'er withdrew affection from our dogs for months.
Only recently he has started to be a bit more affectionate to them and pay the vet bills.
Although the other day, he called our eldest dog:'' A money pit''

He adored our dogs, was gaga about them!
They were so distraught when he left, the youngest one peed on my bed twice. The second time, she completely ruined my mattress and I had to replace it.
The eldest one just spent most of her days sleeping by the front door.

I'm getting upset telling you this...

[Slow Fade]

I am curious-for those of you with pets-did your spouses/partners change their interaction with the animals

.

In a word, yes. I have pictures of him bent over with the cat sitting on his back and he has a goofy grin on his face. They used to sleep with us. Now he doesn't remember their names.

He pets the dog like a person who has never been around them nor likes them very much. So different from the man who once let our baby crawl all over our dog.

Actually he seems to be mimicking his mother who doesn't like animals. I believe his foo issues stem from his r with her. He wasn't close to her at all, but they are now inseparable since bomb drop.

[sleepless]

W wants to get out for a walk and asks me if I think there is lightning still in the area. I say "no" but in I my mind I think "but if I were you I'd be extra careful". I get tickled by this and can't hold back a schoolboy smile.

She now thinks I want her to be struck by lightning.

That tickles me more. I said "no I don't want you to be struck by lightning but I'm going to have to leave the room to compose myself because something has tickled me."

[Snowdrop]

As we spoke of H marrying OW, I said, "I get it, no need to explain, you just like her better than me", to which H replied, "NO I DON'T!!"

[Songanddance]

Early on after BD I had - "now look just because we have a few issues doesn't mean we have to be enemies"  A few!!!!!

Re pets - H still affectionate to our two dogs but both have realised that there is something wrong and won't sit with him or stay by him like they used to. In fact one of them is constantly protecting my S and the other is very clingy with me.

As he gave me my birthday present (first one he had actually been and bought for years- usually D had to do it) he said " Now don't think this changes the way I feel about you!!" 

[Musica]

Re the pets/animals thing ...

My H started being horrible to a puppy we got in 2010 ... he said it barks and it digs ... mmm yes its a dog! He continued to dislike this dog all the time, and used to pet the other dog and ignore this one. Now he kinda ignores them both.

Strangely when the cat died in 2012, H was so upset he cried ... previously he hadn't liked the cat at all ... weird or what??