I can so relate to what you are posting here...my H also ran up HUGE debt...even refinancing our home to pay it off only to run it up again...this time the house was more then I could afford also...we ended up moving in with family and renting out our home...that was a disaster on both ends..
You don't mention how long you have been married...if you have kids (you mention the doggy)....but how you can protect yourself depends on those things...
One thing I would do pronto is get a legal separation...the start date should be the first time he moved out...this is where any debts he aquires become his own...this is to protect you from future debt...cancel all joint cards...you don't want to be sucked into his financial ruin...find out if they are "joint" or if you are an "authorized signer"...if you are an authorized signer you can request your name be removed and you won't have any obligation to that debt....as a joint signer you are responsible...and to the credit companies...not just 1/2...if H doesn't pay they will want it all...
I am sorry I couldn't be more positive...in the end we had to sell our home...in the end he ammassed $120,000 in debts...in the end I got stuck with $17,000 of his debts because I was named on the card...I didn't want my credit in the toilet because of his foolishness...
My H also left without warning...in the middle of the night,no less...didn't say bye to the kids...and only took his shaving kit...he never came back for his clothes, shoes, underwear, suits, ties, pants, guitars, CD's....nothing!!!...even family heirlooms were left with me...of course he said he would never live with me again too...guess where he is right now???...yep, in bed in OUR room...I rented an apartment to get away from living with family...me and the kids are doing good...H is a mess, physically and mentally...but he is improving...he really damaged himself in the long run...a lot more then I "allowed" him to damage us...
Hang in there...let this group help you...it is going to be devistating before it is all over...and you will need someone to talk to...
