Do I have the right to physically assault my boyfriend after he kicked my 10 yr old dog?

[Anonymous]

Okay so I have a 10 yr old corgi and her name is plump. She’s old and she’s super friendly and clingy. But she sorta gimps or walks very slowly when coming up to you (cause of her age). Well, my boyfriend was having a bad day at work and he’s pacing back n forth. Stomping all over my house. Now plump was in the kitchen corner by the bottom cabinets. And my boyfriend was fixing his lunch, muttering to himself. I was getting upset because of the tension in the air. That I was questioning “what was wrong” and “to calm down”. But he kept snapping at me that he didn’t want to talk about it. So as he was getting ready to leave, plump was walking towards me. That my boyfriend accidentally tripped on her and she yelped frozen and confused looking up at him. Then in a split second my boyfriend says “MOVE”. And he kicked her on her rib. She yelped again in panic and tried to move fast but was gimping. I lost it and started throwing hands. I was slapping/scratching his face and pulling his hair yelling at him. Saying “WHY DID YOU DO THAT!!! YOU FUCKHEAD!!!”

Was I right to act like this?

After my boyfriend left out the door. I was comforting plump and massaging her tummy. I was trembling and sad because I never acted like this.

Yes

No

Other

[Pegases]

While I understand the emotions, it's far too common today for women to think it's OK to put their hands on a man. I feel women feel more comfortable doing so, because men tend to more often exercise self control in the modern day, and thus are shamed for beating women unlike the 60's. The opposite however isn't true, but just because women aren't shamed for physical assault, deosnt mean you won't get punched in the face by an often bigger and stronger man after you out your hands on him. So be smart. You're going to call the police if a man puts his hands on you, irregardless of you putting your hands on him first right? Do yourself a favor and skip the part where you potentially end up hurt, and just call the police. Thats how you stay out of unnecessary trouble, and ensure there is someway to prove animal cruelty against him.

[lightbulb27]

Sad to hear that, poor dog just wants to care and be cared for and senses the pain more than you two do, and got abused for it.

You have a right to remain silent... anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law... since you assaulted the man.

However, if you are a republican thinking person that thinks in terms of the constitution, you have a right to defined your life, your liberty, and your property... which would include your dog.

I believe you had a right to defend your dog.

You did not manage your emotions well and clearly, you need to do some work on self, and so does he on how to do this better.

now that you know he doesn't manage his emotions so well, keep your dog away from him.

[LazerBean]

Speaking from my feelings, I would say yes. Speaking from logic, if he is going to kick an old fat dog out of anger when he's having a bad day, you can be damn sure that there will be a day that it will be you instead of the dog. A much better reaction, however, is to pack up his stuff and leave them outside the door after you've changed the locks. Or, if he owns the house, to pack up your stuff and leave.

[whirled_up_girl]

I don't violence is appropriate unless it's self defense, now if he were actively beating your dog I do think you have right to defend your dog in that moment but not once it's over. I personally couldn't be in a relationship with someone who abuses animals, so I would probably be ending the relationship if that were me.

[OlderAndWiser]

I probably would have reacted the same if someone intentionally hurt my cat, Uncle Thunder.

[Angelo75]

Well allow me to give you a piece of future-advice.
If he snapped now and took it out on an innocent animal, that shows he has bad selfcontrol. So how long do you think it's going to take before he does that to you?

I know that more than half the guys here on GaG would be begging now to get ur boyfriend's address to go ask him to try kicking someone his own size.
That being said, there is simply no excuse though for physical assault. Only in self-defense.

All that above being said... i'd still kick his ass and only allow him to leave the appartment horizontally on an ambulance bed squirming in pain.

[earthcitizen7]

You should not have kicked him (I may have beat the shit out of him, if it happened to me, as i am not Jesus). BUT, you should have IMMEDIATLEY broken up with him, left, and not looked back. He is a GIANT DONKEY!!!

God created Our Universe with Love and Free Will. Use your Free Will to Love!

[TrueConfection]

I can understand your reaction. Some of us love our 4 legged children. I'd react the same way if someone kicked my kid. I hope you don't let him come crawling back. He'll only be worse next time. He sounds very immature and unpredictable.

[JustinTheGreat]

As you should. He deserved it. Not that I support domestic violence of course, there’s always ways to solve things without getting physical. But some pricks just deserve to get punched in the face.

Someone has to be a real psychopath to hurt an animal. And if he can hurt an animal out of anger then he most likely would do it to you too.
I don’t have any pets currently but if I did I would also throw hands with anyone who touched them

[Mangospacho]

You have the right to physically kick him out of your house and out of your life. If he kicks your dog and, even if it’s just a one time thing, is there really any way you can really forgive him for that? Even if you can forgive him for that, are you ever going to forget it? Also, if you hit him right after he’s kicked your dog, is he going to suddenly restrain himself and compose his feelings and not hit you back (much harder than you hit him)?

[Paul09]

He sounds like a overgrown toddler. How can he not control his anger? I bet he does sleep enough. You were 1000% right to do that. It's as if he kicked a senior person in the ribs. Hope you brought your dog to the vet. If I was you I'd dump his ass. Who knows what he will do in the future. Anger issues is a serious problem.

[OfMiceandMen]

Although, he deserved it, he can't be charged with assault, you can. You may be able to have him charged with cruelty to animals if he ever tried to charge you but, it typically just comes with a fine.

[Fireguy17]

I would pack his shit up and toss it out the door.
I would never be with someone that would mistreat one of my critters.
What if he had seriously hurt her?
There is just no excuse for that what so ever.

[Massageman]

I can certainly see why you were upset, but your reaction certainly did nothing to help cool down the situation. If he can't be kind and helpful to a doggie, what is going to do to YOU in the future? Find a real guy.

[Flower7]

You should probably break up with him, because harming animals is a sign of a very cruel person.

[AngryCarl2]

Violence is not the answer, but you need to either leave your boyfriend or arrange a safe place for your dog. I recommend the former because no one who abuses animals is worth your time.

[Agape93]

Yeap. If someone assaults my dogs, and they somehow didn't get subsequently mauled by them, I'd knock their teeth in.

[slatyb]

If he abuses your dog, you're next. Get the hell out.

[abc3643]

Yes, I think you do.
That's a natural and expected response.

[SnowedIn]

No you don't.

What he did was terrible but that doesn't mean you get to assault him.

[Paul09]

If it was a kid I bet you'd think differently..

[SnowedIn]

@Paul09 ... maybe. But the question was about a dog. And I answered the question about the asker, the boyfriend, and the dog.

[Paul09]

There you go, that's the problem. People like you think because it's not human, you can treat it like shit. 10 year old dog is like a 90 year old human. You kick a senior you can break something. Have some empathy

[SnowedIn]

@Paul09 ... huh? I have no clue what you're talking about. The asker's question was whether she can assault her boyfriend after he kicked the dog. I said no she can't. I also explicitly stated that what the boyfriend did was terrible. I said nothing about "because it's not human, you can treat it like shit". Nor do I believe that. My point was, and remains, that just because someone does something shitty doesn't mean that someone else can assault them.

[Paul09]

It's human nature, to defend the innocent. Especially if it's a family member. What you supposed to do, just let it happen and say words, that go in one ear and out the other?

[RavVid]

I can understand having done so but it is still assault.

[LiamJHayden]

No, but you could have asked that animal abuse charges be filed against him, and could possibly get a TRO against him.

[Friendlybro79]

Ugh. I don't know if you have time right but I understand why you did and I probably would have too. I can't stand people that hurt animals.

[Shamalien]

You do not have the right to physically assault your boyfriend no. You escalated a bad situation to a worse situation