The woman has a 14-year-old shih tzu but her ex ‘demanded’ he no longer sleep in their bed so she was keen to establish firm ground rules when entering into a new relationship
A woman was amazed by her boyfriend’s actions after she made it clear how important her 14-year-old dog is to her. After her ex insisted on Charlie, her beloved shih tzu, no longer being allowed to sleep in their bed, she was keen to make sure her new boyfriend knew Charlie came first.
Dogs are loyal companions to their owners and often bring them great joy, affection and comfort, with most pets forming strong bonds with their humans. Dogs quickly establish themselves as integral members of the family – but not everyone feels this way about them.
A woman named Sharon Bartee got a shock when she entered into a relationship with a man she claimed “demanded” that she stop letting her dog Charlie sleep in their bed after he’d slept there his entire life.
The relationship soon “crashed and burned” after the man showed a lot of contempt for the cherished animal. On Facebook, Sharon said she should’ve “seen the red flags earlier”.
She explained: “The way he rolled his eyes when Charlie needed his medicine, how he ‘forgot’ to fill the water bowl, that tone in his voice when he said ‘it’s me or the dog’.
“Well, Charlie’s been loyal to me for fourteen years. This guy lasted eight months.”
Three months after their relationship ended, Sharon met Marcus and “was upfront about the situation from day one”.
She told him: “My dog sleeps with me, he’s getting older, and if that’s a problem, this isn’t going to work.”
Sharon thought it wise “to scare off the wrong guys early” rather than “waste time pretending to be someone” she isn’t.
But she claimed Marcus “surprised” her. She continued: “Not only did he accept Charlie, he actually started researching senior dog care. When my vet mentioned that the wide gaps in my staircase weren’t good for Charlie’s aging hips, I was already calculating how much a ramp would cost and where I could buy one.
“Last Friday, I came home from a brutal day at work, kicked off my shoes, and found these custom steps waiting by my bed. Perfect height, perfect spacing, even sanded smooth so Charlie’s paws wouldn’t catch on rough spots.”
Marcus, who runs a woodworking business, had spent his weekend at his workshop so he could craft something specifically for Charlie.
Sharon said: “When I asked him why he went through all that trouble, he just shrugged and said, ‘Charlie was here first. I’m just trying to earn my place in the pack.’
“That’s when I knew I’d found someone who understood what love actually looks like. It’s not about choosing between what matters to you. It’s about someone caring enough to make room for all the things that make you whole, even if one of those things has four legs and snores louder than a freight train.”
She added: “Charlie’s been using his new stairs every night, and watching him climb up with such confidence makes my heart full.
“Sometimes the right person shows up and just makes everything in your life better, including the parts that were already perfect.”
Her post struck a chord with fellow social media users, racking up more than 15K likes and reactions, as well as hundreds of comments from people expressing admiration for Marcus’s actions.
