Welcoming a dog home is such a huge and exciting commitment, but sometimes it doesn't go the way you'd planned. One woman is sharing her unfortunate experience after she got a puppy and then realised she was allergic to dogs.
Now she wants to rehome the pet but her unsympathetic boyfriend has told her to 'pop some antihistamines' and get on with it. His cruel reaction hasn't impressed Reddit users, who are advising her to get rid of her boyfriend as well as the dog.
Sign up to our TeamDogs newsletter for your weekly dose of dog news, pictures and stories.
Her post on Reddit said: "My boyfriend and I adopted a puppy exactly two weeks ago. I really love the pup. He's the sweetest.
"The problem is, I think I'm allergic. It's not super severe allergy but I get extremely itchy and red and my throat feels uncomfortable. Not closing up but just super uncomfortable.
"I had no idea I was allergic because I've been around my boyfriend's mum's and brother's dogs before. I'd had the same symptoms and I attributed it to their house being filthy.
"It wasn't until we got our dog that it clicked that I might be allergic.
"My boyfriend wants to keep our puppy because he doesn't think it's that big of a deal. He has his own allergies (dust, grass, etc) and tells me if he can live with it then I can too.
"I was on board with keeping him except this morning was pretty unbearable. It almost felt like I couldn't breathe and my skin was unbearably itchy and red.
"I vacuum everyday and we have an air filter so I'm trying to reduce the dander as much as possible. But I'm not sure if I can handle this for 13+ years.
"Our apartment is also pretty small so it'd be hard to avoid the puppy. My boyfriend's calling me an a**hole because he's saying I can pop some Benadryls and be fine."
Fellow dog lovers have shared their sympathy and advised her to rehome the puppy to avoid further suffering.
"It sucks, because dogs are, yes, often a long-time commitment. But it's not worth your long-term health to care for one, either," someone wrote.
"It's worth talking with a doctor first. I know severely allergic people who have got accustomed to their particular pet over time," another person suggested.
Though many people were offended by the boyfriend's priorities.
"Allergies to dust and grass are not at all the same thing as an allergy to an animal you live with, he can get away from his allergens, you spend most of the day and all of the night in a home covered in dander," a Reddit user said.
"I would seriously consider whether you want to stay with someone who would insist on keeping a dog whom you are allergic to," a second commented.
What would you do in this situation? Let us know in the comments.
