I'm going to have to echo what Lil said to you about your H abusing the dog. Animals have an (IMPO) almost impeccible sense of someone's character...and that dog is already cowering from your H?
It seems fairly obvious to me that he's transferring some of his anger and frustration towards you to the dog, and now the dog is taking some of the physical brunt of his feelings towards you....that's not right. At what point does it go from the dog back to you or the kids physically?
Chrissy, I know you are trying to find ways to salvage your sitch.....but I'm going to pose the question to you again, that's been asked before. Why do you stay? What's in it for you?
Now, I know you've stated that you are afraid leaving will send your H over the edge....there are things you can do to that end. #1 Don't have him around when you leave.....#2 Have the authorities there when you leave. That can assure you get out safely....and assure he doesn't follow you when you leave. I hate to read your posts when you talk about how verbally abusive your H is with you....and you stay because you are afraid (if I remember correctly) that leaving will put you and your kids in jeapordy. Hon, staying does too.
FWIW, I helped a friend of mine leave an abusive situation. She didn't know where to turn and how to get her and her kids out of it, this is one of my closest friends I'm talking about as well. She came back to work one day after her boyfriend pulled her out of her car by her hair (this was someone who started out verbally abusive)....we immediately went to the courthouse and got a restraining order for her, then when our shift ended we had police officers escort her to her house.....where they asked her boyfriend to leave right before they noticed her bruises...inquired about them and then arrested him.
Now, I know you are married...my friend wasn't, so that does make your sitch bit more complicated. However, there ARE things you can do if you feel you or your kids may be in harms way. Get a restraining order or a Victims Protective Order at the very least.....if you do finally get the courage up to leave.
Chrissy....your situation really does worry me, and obviously others as well. I've seen too many women stay in situations like yours and become a shell of the woman they used to be....I don't want to see that happen to you.
Just how long can you remain the buffer between everything else and your H?
