What do you mean messed up ? <| sep |> I have worked in domestic violence shelters . A few things violence toward animals is highly , highly correlated with violence toward people . Your husband has introduced violence into your home . In the future , even if he never hits you , you will behave differently because of this . This is domestic violence . Even if he doesn ' t hit you , he has changed your behavior through violence . A lot of my former clients told stories of how their batterers would use violence toward animals to control them . The fact that your husband did this and seems to think that it was right shows that it will not stop . You absolutely need to get that dog and yourself out of that position . Please let us know if you are interested in resources that might help you in doing this .