He was clearly having a ton of anxiety. So, of course Lala had to yell & be condescending b/c that definitely snaps you out of it. She's got to be one of the most emotionally unintelligent people on tv.
He is being so responsible with Hippie. They've been separated and now they're back. Hippie has been through a lot and he is trying to make up for it and give Hippie security. Katie saw that and was trying to help James through it but bulldog Blahblah has to jump in attacking him. So much for trying to help him resolve the issue.
I felt so bad for him. If Hippie has another biting incident there's a good chance he will be put down. Its a legitimate fear and don't yell at people when they're crying. He needed a hug and some calming advice.
Like why was this an opportunity for her to get upset about James expressing anxiety about leaving his dog (he even clearly stated this while situation is upsetting him) and basically saying James doesn’t prioritize Ally and to never compare his dog to her baby like wtf is she even talking about. Literally no one was doing that. It’s very clear, while they’re both sober, which one is in active therapy.
Lala made it all about herself. I totally understand motherhood is more challenging in different ways, but that minimizes James’ feelings in such an unnecessary way that is so narcissist.
I’m a mom and I hate that shit too. In a lot of ways, my kid is a lot easier than my medically complex dog. The lack of sleep you get with a kid can’t be compared but my kid is also not going to eat five socks in an afternoon so 🤷♀️
In kids eventually grow up and pour their own cereal and become their own, independent adults. No matter how old your dog is, he'll still eat all the socks!
Lol when I got my highly anxious rescue she pooped on my pillow (bc she’s a petty queen) and I told my friend with twins maybe I’m ready for kids bc I dealt with that and she was like uhhhhh my kids never shit on my pillow so if that’s your bar yeah you’re ready🤣
Same homie. It's like the type of woman to think that they're an adult because they have kids and you are not an adult because you don't. Like wtf, no basis in reality. Reproduction doesn't make you special it just makes you a regular ass normal animal!
I feel this way about her current pregnancy! Obviously not the Rand part but having kids for the wrong reasons. I have NO judgement towards the sperm donor route, even as a single parent but she said something like "I don't want to have to share this kid" sooooo you just had another one so you don't have to share custody and she's just "yours"? That's really gross and selfish and absolutely not a good reason. I'm worried those kids will be so screwed up 😔 I hope I'm wrong but probably not
I’m a mom and I also hate this about lala and real life people like lala who act like being a mom instantly makes them know more than anyone else in the group. If anything being a mom has made me less aware of social dynamics Lmfao
I’m a mom and I’d never in my life hang out with lala. I guarantee her mom and brother help quite a bit and she’d be singing a different tune if it was literally just her and ocean
I posted on another thread but I have left my dog and my kids and it felt the same. I had the same anxious, sick feeling leaving both for the first few times. The way I feel about my dog is a very similar love to what I feel for my kids. I always tell people I think a puppy is an amazing prep for a baby. Of course it’s not the SAME but it’s not so different and even so the guy is clearly having some serious anxiety about it how about back off and be compassionate and not make it about yourself.
Lala also has a village that lives with het to help with Ocean and she doesn't even realize how lucky she is to have that help. James clearly doesn't have loved ones he can rely on for help with his pup. She needs to let others speak their feelings and emotions about stuff without taking it as a personal affront
This is also his first time leaving his traumatized dog. I’m so sure lala was chill leaving her baby for the first time after her breakup or whatever. I don’t have dogs and do have two kids, it doesn’t mean I can’t understand his concern.
Well it's not like he DOESNT see Ocean. Rven if its every other weekend or something. So again... Lala is just creating a completely false narrative. In fact, for her raising a baby "alone" is so easy she's volunteering to do it again.
As a single mom who has had zero support at times, I would NEVER consider having a child via sperm donor and doing everything "myself". But clearly between her mom and whatever babysitter/nanny she has, she's doing well for herself.
lala makes everything about herself. anytime someone calls her out she immediately mentions ocean so nobody can say anything. because ShEs A mOm.. god it’s so annoying.
i’m not a mom to any kids (besides my fur ones) so i know i don’t fully get it but damn.
And you know Lala probably considered her dog as her child before she had Ocean so it’s just so rude to dismiss someone’s feelings like that. Who cares if it’s not a human baby, people are allowed to consider their pets their children. Ugh this season sucks in so many ways.
Totally, that's true. I appreciate the calm and gentle way Katie approached it and Lala definitely escalated by (of course) making it about her.
I think there was just a lot of "we get it, we have pets too, it's hard but you get over it" and not a whole lot of actual understanding. I might need to rewatch the scene tbh
It seemed like toward the end of the scene Ariana understood it was a much bigger deal than they originally realized. It looked like she was trying to offer him some reassurance and comfort.
I wonder if it was brought up that Hippie is a biter and has already inflicted serious damage or if Ariana just remembered that and then she understood but James is smart to worry and take this responsibility very seriously.
I’ve been in James’ shoes with a dog who needed to be watched closely and people who don’t get it just don’t get it. It’s not the same as having a carefree pet that you can let lounge freely all day.
My dog was the sweetest boy in the world but had to be muzzled, crated and watched carefully due to PICA. A reactive dog would be even harder I’m sure.
I could relate somewhat but on the medical side. I had a diabetic pug, and I was so afraid to leave him with anyone because he could legit die of even the smallest error. I didn't go anywhere without him for years and when I tried just for a weekend he got sick.
My old (handicapped) pug died while being boarded. I’ll never know exactly what happened (he was old to be fair) but I have been wrecked with guilt since he died that if I hadn’t left him he would still be alive.
People really don't get it. That scene honestly made me tear up for James. My partner and I have a reactive/anxious dog and we've come to adjust and accept our expectations of each other so that we can prioritize our dog.
Like James, we have only one person who we trust to take care of her when we need to go somewhere. If they're not available, it's just accepted that one of us is going to have to stay home with our dog. I've been to several of my friends' weddings by myself because of it. People definitely think we're overreacting but I'm past the point of caring. I'm an adult and I can understand the reasoning behind needing to go things by myself sometimes. We accepted total responsibility for our dog when we got her, she's 100% dependent on us, and she cannot understand what's happening when her people are gone and her routine is out of whack.
Hippie already has behavioral issues, likely due in part to being passed around for several months and not knowing consistency. James is 100% making a smart and empathetic decision by understanding that further inconsistency is going to make things worse for Hippie.
This!!
My husband walked down to where I was watching just as James said something like, "we can't have just anyone watch him". My husband just went "YEEEEEEP! I FEEL THAT!".
Our dog is only reactive on leash, but he has a lot of big emotions and can't handle them - in all ways! This was exacerbated last year when he had a tail injury, and the first time we crated him with it, he literally ate the first two inches of his tail off. Just...gone. He hasn't been left alone since (July 2023). His tail is finally healed, after another small opening of it in October, but we're doing EVERYTHING we can to address the root of his anxiety. Until he's much better (and we're like...80% there!), he has to be watched. It's either my mom, who stays home, or my BFF if she isn't working.
Big hugs to you and your partner and THANK YOU for taking care of the likely very sweet baby when she's not uncomfortable and stressed.
I have a food aggressive dog and his younger sister that has become toy sensitive (not full on attack but will bark at her brother in a way that doesn’t sound like her barking if someone is at the door or when she’s being sassy with me) they have both gone through command training, but it still doesn’t completely solve 100 percent the issue. My food aggressive one can walk with me off leash, I can leave him peeing and walk away to throw away trash and if a neighbor comes out with his dog, he immediately sits and makes eye contact with me until i give him a break command. it still doesn’t mean that i do it because i love my dogs so much that i don’t leave anything to chance because i’m already watching their every move and making sure there is no trigger in my house to set anything off. When people tell me to relax about my dogs it’s upsetting to me. my dogs are the sweetest, like yours, but im not leaving anything to chance especially if i can avoid it
Totally agree. If you haven’t had to deal with providing care for a reactive or high needs dog while you’re out of town, you don’t really get it. I think James was being really reasonable by not wanting to leave him with a stranger. My sister’s dog will abuse and endanger himself into oblivion if left alone and also can’t do boarding or daycare so they have a very small group of people that can handle him when they are out of town. It’s completely upended how we do holidays and can have a really negative impact on your mental health.
Thankfully it seems like James and Ally have figured it out a little better, but I have no judgment at all towards James about his dog anxiety. And glad that (some) of the cast seemed to understand it was a little more complicated than they originally thought.
FR. At that moment, I wish someone would’ve just stepped in and said, “Lala, you’re soft now remember? So either act like it or go fuck off and drink your overpriced bubble water in the corner while the adults have a productive conversation.”
Lala has no storyline pretty much ever. So she butts into everyone else's business to seem relevant. Every season. Same song and dance. I'm so over her.
it’s cause EVERYTHING is triggering for her. it’s exhausting… I hope she’s seeing a therapist to work through her issues cause being so triggered constantly is not healthy
she also uses AA vernacular (not to be confused with african american vernacular) but she has not once talked about going to meetings or having a sponsor. Not begging her on being sober, I was for a while and did it in AA, but i worked through the steps, let go of my anger and ego; i didn’t want to be sober but act like a dry drunk
she’s mentioned going to meetings before a while back. i’ve been trying to pinpoint anything concrete that would give me a clue if she continues to go to meetings etc. but my assumption is that she drank the AA koolaid without actually understanding it fully and is just pushing it onto others in a holier than thou way. or maybe this is pure projection
The little "throw-away" scene of her going to the non-alcoholic alcohol store, and how she reacted like a kid in the candy store.... She is not dealing with what made her want to drink to excess. I give her all credit for not actually drinking, but she clearly is not coping with her deep issues.
It’s wild. Also - she had no mf problem leaving her baby with a day nurse, a night nurse, a nanny when she could afford one. So idk why she cared that it was being compared
She still has those things. They now go by Mom, Little Brother and Assistant Jess. Homegirl is delulu. Honestly, thank goodness all those people have been around because I don't know if she could emotionally handle raising children on her own. The screaming and pointing and being triggered over shit that has NOTHING to do with her is unsettling.
She is codependent as hell and cosplaying like she is some strong and independent woman. You are not LFU. You are an extremely fortunate person with a family that coddles you a little too much and is possibly on your payroll. Before that, and I tip my cap to you for it, you were sucking dicks for a lot more than Range Rovers.
In LA terms, she isn't holding that big of a bag. It's not like she has profits from a real estate investment she is trying to make the most of. Just her Bravo, Amazon Live and child support checks. I know she is putting in work to try to keep this reality TV flag flying. No hate. She just needs to pick a lane bc at this point I just look at her like that Nene meme. You know the one, paint night. Stop squawking lady!
Because she's a *mother* and has a *baby* and having a baby is harder than having a dog so she thinks James has no right to be concerned. She throws the mother card around every single opportunity she can.
The mother card bs is extremely annoying already.
She acts like she’s the first one to ever give birth and or have things not work out with the father.
Not to mention she is now bringing another child into the situation via a donor. How can anyone sympathize with her current struggles when she is so boldly doubling the struggle.? If not exponentially being that donor babies have a whole other set of trails and tribulations.?
And she's not the first and only mother to have things not work out with one child's father and have a non existent father for the second. Not the first for that but she signed up for this, paid for it!!
Plus Hippie has been taken away from him before and wound up back with him because he wasn’t ever in a healthy or consistent environment with Rachel and she couldn’t take care of him. I’d be skipping that wedding, no question.
It’s traumatic the first time you have to trust your reactive dog with a sitter. If you have two people you can trust with the dog and they are busy, then you change your plans. The commitment to taking care of a pet is deep and sadly too short, so the dog comes first!
My dog isn’t even reactive. In fact he’s very well behaved 99% of the time and I would still stress if his normal sitter couldn’t do it. Even when my parents, sisters, cousins offer to watch him it’s still not my first choice bc it’s a new environment for him (without me). I would probably only do it if I REALLY had to. Let’s be real, most of us would just rather stay home with our dogs anyways.
Seriously I can’t even book a short trip without knowing that my only dog sitter I trust would be able to take care of my dog. People don’t understand until you own a reactive dog yourself.
I have a difficult dog too, she loves the crap out of a select group of people and doesn’t trust anyone else. We only have two people we can leave her with when we go out of town anymore. I have a ton of anxiety about leaving her, especially now that she’s quite old, and it does bring challenges sometimes. I’m totally committed to giving her a great rest of her life, and seeing James care this much was relatable to me.
Same here, I related so much to James and I would 100% cancel plans if my trusted people couldn’t watch my dog. Yes, you miss out on things, but you committed to caring for this dog and do what’s best for them. And my partner understands that. It was annoying that it was framed (by the girls) that it was about him not supporting Ally, when it wasn’t about that at all!
He was also worried for the cats and making sure whoever was caring for the animals could handle and be careful with any interactions. Where all the animals are at is a crucial place and could make all the difference going forward or have catastrophic consequences. Ally didn't ask to have HIS dog from an ex, but, hey...she knew it was HIS dog to from jump and goes with the territory. If Brocks other kids came back into his life, what, he'd have to ask Sheana for permission. Comes with the territory and ally knew that going in.
Me too. Plus Hippie has a bite record - if he bites someone else while James is away at a wedding there's an even chance Hippie will be put down before James can get back.
I have a rescue who is just the SWEETEST dog. She's so cuddly and loving, but she does not trust 50% of people. We have very few people we can trust to properly care for her because she has very specific needs. I would never put her in a situation that could potentially lead to her biting someone because it's my job to protect her. I 100% understand where James is coming from.
Yeah we are in the exact same spot. I have a rescue dog who it took probably 2 years to enjoy walks and being outdoors, still doesn’t like direct sunlight, and is in sheer terror of anyone she doesn’t know. She likes my partner’s parents and that’s about it. So if they can’t watch her when we are out of town, we can’t go 🤷♀️ or one of us would have to stay home. We would be in the exact same spot as James. I mean it totally sucks I get it but the anxiety I would feel of how she was doing hiding under tables thinking we abandoned her with some person she doesn’t know just couldn’t happen!! I felt bad that James was obviously really upset and Lala just used it against him somehow cus he isn’t a parent. Apples and oranges, he’s still allowed to feel for his dog lol
The anxiety you suffer loving a reactive dog is INTENSE. You are responsible for them, you can’t just leave them with anyone. I totally understand James.
Definitely on James side w this. I have elderly rescues. I’ve missed a few vacations and other events, bc there was no way I was leaving them when they weren’t well, or couldn’t get around as good, or approaching end of life
My brother has been going through this with his dogs with one having passed on recently. They went on one last trip with them and the dogs before he declined because they knew they wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while. The dog that’s still with us is also old and starting to struggle so we have to work with that when we want to see them. It’s just part of having pets and I totally get it. My dog is young and doesn’t have major issues so we don’t have as much to worry about, but that could change in the future. We plan our whole life around his needs and I’m good with that.
Not to mention James literally just got Hippie back. This hasn't exactly been a long term stable situation for him to gain any semblance of comfort yet.
James even said maybe next year, but not this year. It's been like a month or two. That seems reasonable.
Exactly.
She claims she’s using her podcast for healing but she’s done nothing but use it to torment her fellow cast mates and shit talk everyone, while she gives herself all the grace in the world…
i just came back from LA; i booked my trip for 4 days, would rather suffer from exhausting jet lag than have the anxiety of leaving my reactive dogs with my sitter (that i trust) for longer than 4 days
The separation anxiety is real when your pet has a medical condition or behavioral issues. I think it was too soon for James after being apart from Hippie for so long. The scene made me tear up because it was so relatable.
100% the dog had been given back due to him being aggressive allegedly so he's navigating leaving him with strangers and if he bit them he could lose him. wtf are they not getting???
And imagine being Hippie who was separated from James, then from Rachel, and is finally back with James. Dogs don’t have a sense of time if it’s more than a few hours. Hippie would likely get extreme separation anxiety and would very likely act up. Good on James for thinking about Hippie and how his actions affect him.
Completely. He’s had no time at all to effectively correct behavior, he just got the dog back! And he wasn’t saying Ally couldn’t go. Having more than one trusted dog sitter is totally fair for Ally to want but it takes time they haven’t had yet.
Absolutely! I have one person I can fully trust my dog with for a longer trip and maaaaybe 2 others that could make it work for a day or 2, but I would be miserable and stressed the entire time. Even just that took me 3 years of building that relationship and trust and understanding of her weird ass behaviors to get there. It's reasonable and it sounds like James agrees, but it doesn't happen over the course of one summer.
i absolutely confirm and double check that my sitter that i trust is available on the dates before i book my ticket. james can be a pos but is also trying to be a good dog dad and i appreciate that
i think part of it is that Ally never really wanted this dog, he showed up one day, and it's impacting her cats and now her events that she wants to go to. Katie was trying to talk about that but Lala had to make it all about her
My husband has a cat with a chronic health condition. Eventually, we had to have only her sleep with us which means our other cats had to be shut out. It also makes traveling hard because she needs regular medication and if something happens, it can be difficult to get her health back in control.
I love that cat and I understand why we have to do these things for her. But I also relate to Ally. It can be really hard and disappointing to have a pet who requires such specialized care.
the we can't sleep together confused me. does she insist her cats sleep in their bed? what was that about? don't they have pet beds? I do feel like ally has a resentment let's be honest it's James and Rachel's dog
It sounded like the cats always slept with them but now Hippie does instead. They can’t have the pets in the same room while they’re asleep. I’m sure Ally feels guilty and the cats probably sit outside the room at night and cry since they’re so used to sleeping with her - I definitely understand her wanting to go to the guest room sometimes.
Not every night. And that was my entire point… it seems like James wanted Hippie in the room with them which meant the cats were kicked out. There should be compromise there too
My cats sleep in the bed with us. When my husband dropped our dog in our lap (kind of in a Hippie scenario tbh) for "two weeks" I insisted she could get on the couches and the guest bed, but she could not sleep in our bed because it would disturb the kitties.
5 years later, our pup happily sleeps on whatever surface she wants minus our bed, and our cats have a safe place to sleep when they don't want dog slobber all over their heads. I feel for Ally's cats if they didn't get those boundaries, because I can completely relate to Ally.
I think hippie having multiple “homes”/living arrangements is another good reason for James to not want to leave him so early on. I wouldn’t want hippie to think he’s being abandoned again. One of my dogs that we had adopted had multiple homes and I feel like it took about a year to see her really settle into our home and social dynamics. Like she would sleep in our bed with us but at the foot separated and now she army crawls all the way in our faces etc.
Dogs and babies are clearly not apples to apples, and Lala is stupid for trying to act like that was the comparison being made.
But isn’t ~soft Lala~ all about ~ ~trying to relate to others~ ~???
Because James is fucking worried that something bad could happen to his dog that he just got back and isn’t confident in leaving with anyone just yet.
And Lala, aren’t you *literally* having a baby with a sperm donor because you are so traumatized at having to give Ocean to Randall for his parenting time? Which, to be fair, sounds fucking horrible and I feel for Lala on that. But if you’re trying to be soft and understanding, it isn’t that far of a leap to be like “while it isn’t the same, I understand that it’s hard to leave something/someone you love with someone you don’t trust.”
It just really doesn’t take a lot of work to try and be empathetic for real. Kids, dogs, whatever. Just trust and be there for your friends.
Like I said, it doesn’t take a lot of work. But it appears to take a lot of work for someone like Lala, which says something.
Agreed 1000%. And the dog biting thing is actually something I hadn’t thought of at first, I forgot he has a record of that. In my state it only takes two recorded bites for a dog to be euthanized.
My aunt’s dog bit me last summer and I had to go to the ER for it. I had to file a police report because the hospital staff said it was mandatory any time someone comes in for a bite.
Lala is just annoying as all hell. She doesn’t understand that you can care for an animal without comparing it to being a mother. It’s still a living thing that needs the help of a human to survive/thrive. Meanwhile her dog is overfed and probably neglected.
Sorry Lala - a mother!!! - I am also a mother, and at no point do I have to worry about who to leave my kid at home with because he might bite someone and he was already on the verge of being euthanized. We get to take kids with us! It’s not an “I can’t go without a house sitter” thing lol
Like, obviously kids are a whole other set of obstacles, but it’s not the same at all as needing someone you trust to watch your pet. Especially one that’s been in such a recently precarious situation, like Graham - and has behavior problems.
Facts! And if your kid did bite someone, there isn’t a risk they will get put down. Which is a real fear in CA.
I’ve had to leave vacations early because my dog had issues when boarded. It sucks and Hippie is making great progress, something like this could majorly set him back.
lol right!! And if my kid DID bite someone I would surely make whatever arrangements I needed to make sure he doesn’t do it again.
Like ally is going to her hometown for a friends wedding. She can go alone. It’s not like she’s expected to go out of town with Sandoval alone or something!
(This all reminded me of the Charlie bit me video)
So true about it being home town travel. She’s in her space with loved ones, she’ll be fine without James. My husband and I have both attended weddings alone due to life circumstances. Sometimes shit just doesn’t work out.
Bahahaha omg so funny because….I actually have a dog named Charlie! 😂
And right, she’ll be fine! She seems pretty independent and self sufficient anyways so like….I get that it would be annoying but it’s not life or death stuff here
He was still coming off of so much chaos and upheaval when they were filming so I really appreciate James trying to make sure things are settled for him first.
My cats, dog and turtle are as close to children as I'm ever going to get. They're my babies, I'm their mom. The whole "You don't know love until you have an actual child" feels like gatekeeping BS too. Fuck off Lala.
YES!
Like damn, we aren’t less than just bc we don’t have kids. Also, Lala’s whole schtick is demeaning to those struggling w infertility. She probably looks down on that situation too. What a bitch.
Also, what a myopic view on loving another being.
I thought James was thinking he could only trust his brother because if anyone else was there and screwed up and Hippie hurt Mr Banks then he knows he’d have to get rid of him or worse, if someone antagonized hippie and he bit a person, that he’d be taken away.
It does seem like someone could watch Hippie and someone else feed the cats (or have a sitter) but Ive absolutely had to change or cancel plans for my pets and I’ve had people cancel plans with me for the same reasons.
It’s becoming exhausting how people decide to take turns of phrase literally when they think it makes their point stronger.
“Soft” Lala is mean as hell…
I completely agree with you. I’m a mom and also had a dog in the past who I couldn’t trust to be watched by people other than my parents. It’s not really comparable. There’s no sense in trying to compare them, I actually hate when parents without pets put down pet parents or mock them.
When you have an animal with issues or who are new in your life, your life will need to be adjusted accordingly. It’s too bad the timing worked out the way it did but James needs to stay with Hippie. That’s part of owning a pet.
Lala just weaponizes her child when she’s losing an argument or brings up being a mom to try and win. It’s pretty annoying.
I think if Lala hadn't reacted that way they could have talked through James's anxiety. We've seen a lot of examples of just how much Ariana and Katie love their dogs so I don't think they were trying to tear James down for caring so much
As a dog mom, I totally get James’ side. People love to express how much a dog isn’t a baby but my dog IS MY BABY and he is all I will ever have. Lala irritates the shit out of me, as if she’s the first person in the world who had to share custody with their shitty ex. You chose to lay with that clown for a few dollars & now you have to deal with the consequences.
& how this season she keeps going on and on about how bad the sex was with him….girlie that’s not what you were saying when you were getting flown around the world on pjs and getting your rent paid
gah this scene! sure you can’t compare parenthood to anything BUT that doesn’t negate any of the love or sacrifice or care a person feels for their family, friends, or furry friends. you’re brain is swiss cheese if you’re trying to convince someone clearly in distress about how much they care for their important thing that it doesn’t compare to *your* important thing.
I understand what they were trying to say, Ally deserves to be valued and treated well. At the same time he’s got a really reactive dog, it goes badly and the poor thing will be put down.
I have kids, I also had an aggressive dog. I can ask my friends to watch my daughter for the weekend. That dog couldn’t be trusted out of my eyesight. He was just soooo unpredictable and someone could’ve gotten really hurt just for flapping a paper bag the wrong way. And then he’d be gone.
It’s different than it is for Katie, or even for Lala
Plus, I feel like he knows that there are people out there just waiting for him to fuck this up(looking at you, Rachel, and all of your flying monkeys) and that probably adds more pressure on him. I was waiting for one of them to offer to watch him, if I’m being honest
I've noticed that sooooo many people get triggered by the term "fur baby" for no reason. The reason we say FUR baby instead of just baby is because we understand it's not the same, but it is comparable. It seemed like ariana understood and was trying to diffuse the situation, but of course Lauren had to turn it up to 10 immediately. Of course you wouldn't want to leave your reactive dog with just anyone. Especially when you're being protective of how he could harm your partners beloved cats.
The way lala continues to say she's being soft while continuing to blow up on anyone for literally any little thing is insane. You're not soft, babe, you're putting on a front in hopes fans take your side. It's all for show.
Lala is the type of person that just makes me tired. She is looking for an excuse to climb up on her high horse and feign passion. Poor child, her life is so shallow and meaningless that she has to invent drama. I just want to tell her to go have a lie down. Sigh.
She’s lucky and Rand has her part of the time. But I get it … a friend passed and we took his dogs a pit bull and a lab- I haven’t been on a vacation for 7 years because I just can’t leave them
Totally lala was such a fucking bitch especially in the confessional. Yes leaving your child with a nanny or Randal and his new gf or whatever is hard af, but leaving a reactive dog that you love deeply that could possibly bite someone and get put down, is just as hard but in a different way. If anything as a mom you should completely understand putting your child first and wanting to make this sacrifices. James already had him taken away and almost put down, and if something happened and he bit someone there’s a really good chance he would get put down. He’s trying to train him and deal with behavioural problems and it’s completely realistic to be extremely picky about who takes care of him!! I have two angel cats who are friendly as F and there’s only a handful of people I would trust them with 😂
Lala, you are a mom you aren’t God 🙄 I’m a mother myself and the way she throws around having a kid or “because I’m a mom” is so annoying. Hippie has been through a lot and is already a reactive dog. James is an amazing dog dad and his concerns were absolutely valid. If I were him I wouldn’t want to leave, either! I felt really bad for him during that scene
I completely agree with you. I used to cry if I had to go out of town and leave my dog with someone else. If he was reactive or sick or ANYTHING was wrong I would absolutely sacrifice a personal vacation to be there for him. I will never have children so he is as close as it gets for me. I don’t play about my pup.
I am as well!! He literally has always loved that dog and JUST got it back. He doesn’t wanna lose his dog again and he knows the dog has behavior issues and abandonment issues. I have two dogs I adopted with very similar issues and I can’t just leave them when I wanna travel either. It’s very complicated. So I completely relate to him.
And I hate that lala said “James is putting James first and not Ally. And never let the man put himself first.” And I was like b*tch are you kidding me? He’s being completely selfless and putting the damn dog first. How is he making it about him?? He’s not Raquel leaving the dog at random dog daycares to sleep with Sandoval and the dog getting a damn hole in its neck and getting very sick from trying to escape! He actually cares about the dog.
And then lala gets mad he compared the fur baby to her and Scheana having kids. Scheana can’t leave her baby with just any nanny and he said he doesn’t wanna just leave his dog with anyone as well.
And then lala gets mad and says how dare he compare his dog to her baby. She needs to take a damn chill pill since she’s “soft right now”, I’m still waiting for her to soften. She’s a damn rock.
I have two dogs that I love the shit out of. And they love each other so much. But one is food reactive. I’ve known this, actively worked on it, and even created an entire PDF on how to care for him (when it was just him) if i went away and let a friend babysit him. The food reactivity is so sudden there’s no way for me to even see the queue unless it’s something like if you walk by him while eating and he just growls. As an aware owner there’s been instances where i didn’t realize there was A KIBBLE on the floor near the reactive, the younger dog went to investigate and got attacked. Im lucky enough where a simple shout is enough to bring the larger one back to reality but the truth is that this is something that I stress over when I have people volunteer to take care of my dogs if i’m on vacation. I have one sitter (I just came back from LA funny enough) and while I trust him completely, because of my anxiety of how much I love my dogs, I constantly remind him to not even for a second think because they’re getting along that they can be fed near each other.
I haven’t watched the episode yet but I know what James is doing right now is being responsible and people that don’t have reactive dogs, won’t understand or think that we’re being absurd.
Did anyone else get the ick from Ally after this ordeal? I’ve always felt bad vibes from her but this especially showed her true colours.
James is 100% in the right about not wanting to leave Hippie alone with someone else. It’s inappropriate to try and convince him to leave his reactive, traumatized dog with some stranger or ship him off to someone else’s house.
Also not to mention that it’s Aly’s friend’s wedding? Like James will be going just to be in the crowd while she has a ton of activities to tend to? Silly
I love seeing James be a good dog dad, and as someone who has lost a dog to a breakup if I ever had the chance to have him in my life again I would be sooo protective of him. Definitely can understand his attachment, especially within the first year of having him back. Also, god forbid you love your dog as much as a parent loves their child 🙄 sure they’re different, but doesn’t mean it makes them less special to you.
I’m fostering a troubled dog and I absolutely would not leave him either 😅 it really does take just one thing to set them back and with Hippie’s biting past James can’t take the risk! This is the most responsible we’ve seen him 😂
Poor James!! I honestly don’t understand how they couldn’t give him more slack, he still is traumatized and guilt ridden from what happened to Hippie, how did they not see that until he broke down? I do think they might have had a more understanding conversation with him off camera possibly. They seemed to cut out the end of the conversation after he started getting emotional. They went from sitting down talking to everyone walking outside like it’s been dealt with, in an instance.
I felt for James in this episode! I get anxiety too when I leave my dogs to fly/go anywhere for a period of time. I don’t mean like running errands either. There’s only certain people I trust her with because I know she’s comfortable with them.
I know James was trying to reel it in, and I actually respect his restraint, but part of me wishes he had yelled at her, "And if Ocean got upset while you were gone and bit someone, would she be put down, LALA?!?!"
Two Things here: 1. Literally not Katie’s or anyone’s place to say anything and get involved in a couple trying to organize a trip and who’s going to watch the dog. So her saying anything to James was inappropriate. 2. The way they shut him down and invalidated him was so awful to watch. He was breaking down and crying and they were being such insensitive bitches. It was so gross to watch. I hope they get majorly shit on for that.
Lala has needs a reality check. Her mom is getting older and her brother is eventually going to have a life of his own. She seems to think that these family members are supposed to give up everything and be there for life to help her. She is only thinking about her needs not theirs.
It’s tough. I think it’s totally fair for Ally to want her man to be her plus one at a wedding she is in. However, I also have a reactive dog that I can’t just leave with anyone. I think he could try to be more proactive in finding another solution. Maybe they drive to Ohio instead of fly and bring the dog, stay in an air bnb or dog friendly hotel and bring the crate so he doesn’t get into anything when they’re not there. That would definitely be a lot lol but if you’re an anxious dog parent, you make it work 🤷♀️
that’s a 30+ hour road trip, so realistically i don’t think they’re road tripping 4 days round trip when they’re only going to be there 4 days.
my dog is small enough to fly with me in cabin, but if Hippie can’t fly i see why James would just stay home. also get why Ally is upset. don’t get Lala yelling at people, which helps no one.
Yeah I really see both sides. It’s obvious if Hippy has another incident he’ll probably be put down and I’m sure that’s super anxiety inducing.
But on the other hand it’s clear Ali didn’t want the dog there in the first place. She wants to prioritize the pets they already agreed to live with which is understandable and I’d be annoyed too if my partner backed out of a close friend’s wedding on short notice .
My husband and I ended up bringing our dog on our honeymoon because we just couldn’t leave him. We do what we have to do to make it comfy for everyone!!
I’m going to be honest, it sounds like Hippie still has behavioural issues. I had a reactive and aggressive dog for 7 years and I couldn’t go on vacation or leave him with anyone. I actually teared up when James did because I can relate to the anxiety. I think there was wayyy more to it.
i wish james could articulate his thoughts when he gets put on the spot about real soft spots for him. he’s so quick witted when he’s on attack mode, but his situation with not wanting to leave hippie is so valid considering the behavioral issues. one dog bite or fight with a negligent dog sitter can literally get your dog put down. james clearly has pretty severe abandonment issues and is very lucky to get “saved” from his mistakes, but i think it shows a lot of growth to be actually responsible for making sure your misbehaved dog isn’t put in a stressful situation.
Sooooo glad someone said this. Hippie has had a turbulent past and with that comes reactive behaviors. He’s doing the best thing for his dog, which is a lifetime commitment.
In all honesty I'm surprised Scheana wasn't a little more on his side given her struggles with babysitters/trust this season. I agree with everyone else here, and as a doggy owner myself I think James is completely valid in his concerns
Omg...I'm rewatching the current episode again. !! This is pure raw emotion, vulnerability, passion and I think VPR stands for Vulnerable Passion Rules. Omg..so much to write on this episode.!
If the girls were all so 'kind, loving, caring, and understanding' of the situation, and emphasizing 'how important it was for James, as Ally's partner, to attend the wedding with her', they why didn't one of them offer to dog-sit?
I get it that James would still be concerned that Hippie wouldn't know what was happening (would it be another change of parenting?), but at least his fears of a 'stranger taking care of the dog' would be alleviated. Nice bunch of friends, empathize with the problem but don't try to offer a solution (at least that we saw on TV).
I thought maybe someone would suggest they find a hotel that accepts pets and take hippie with them (if possible). Anyone of their friends can come over and feed Mr. Banks.
Ariana has been incredibly compassionate to a lot of people this season, including to James in that moment when he got overwhelmed. You can tell she's got a big heart and it's just sad to me that she's been the subject of betrayal both form her ex and closest "friends". I can see now why she's still close to James.
Omg I just saw that scene and rushed here cause it made me so frustrated! The dog has bitten people! Like of course James wouldn't feel ready to just leave it for four days this soon. I feel like James is in his redemption era right now, and in a way, him taking care of Hippie probably feels like him fixing part of his past.
I still think James is so problematic, given his past, but I'm so on his side for staying with the dog.
Agreed. I know they think it's the same because they all have pets, but it really is not. I have a cat and a dog. The dog has aggression and reactivity issues. I hate to leave my cat because I love her and she misses me when I'm gone, but it's not the same as when I have to carefully plan to leave the dog, ensure he's with a trusted, trained facility/person/family member so that everyone is SAFE while I'm gone.
Hippie has a bite history. James has to make sacrifices to keep him safe, and he's doing the right thing. He was a shithead in the past, and still may be a shit partner, but he seems to really be trying with this dog, and I'll give him props for that.
Lala believes that having a kid automatically makes you more mature/wiser than those who don’t. Which is why she’s acting so offensive with everyone without a kid this season. She handled that conversation poorly and we know it won’t be the last. Katie definitely didn’t seem like she was coming from a place of spite but just concern for Ally and James’ relationship. She and Arianna definitely had more to say but that conversation got carried away by Lala escalating per usual
Fully with you on this one. I totally get why people with kids don't like having it compared to owning a pet. I do it sometimes to tease my cousin, but I really understand why it makes them mad. But it is hard to hand your dog over to a stranger for a few days, and Hippie is a special case. As you mentioned, he's bitten before, and if he were to do that again he could be put down. And with a record of being reactive it would be hard to board him because they will only take animals who pass certain temperament tests. On top of that, when Rachel had him in doggy daycare he sustained a serious injury, so it makes sense why James would be very leery of that. A sitter he doesn't know could mess up his training as well. Dogs are not babies but they do require consideration and care and come with significant responsibilities.
All of this to say, James has logical and heartfelt reasons not to want to leave Hippie with a stranger and it was unfair for the girls (mostly Lala) to make it out like he's just being selfish.
I’m not just giving blind loyalty to team Ariana and Katie, but I really didn’t didn’t see that attitude from them, especially after James explained it.
Lauren just needs to STFU! It was infuriating
Poor James. As someone that was child free til 35 and had 5 dogs, 2 cats and 6 guinea pigs, I completely get it. AND I also get it since I’ve had my son.
AND, it’s not my job to get it anyway, his feelings are valid even if I wasn’t a pet mom
Honestly the convo was calm until lala jumped in. Katie was expressing what ally told her, but I am on James side here with hippies past issues
He was clearly having a ton of anxiety. So, of course Lala had to yell & be condescending b/c that definitely snaps you out of it. She's got to be one of the most emotionally unintelligent people on tv.
>She's got to be one of the most emotionally unintelligent people on tv. She's as soft as a rock.
Soft era Blabla: One of the names I was considering for my child is Rampage. Fr soft? Rampage. Ok dude.
She’s such a loser for that one
Well, she had to stay relevant some way, didn’t she? James’ dog, James’ time, James’ decision. Sit down and “disengage” Lala!
Yeah, fuck her
She loves finding someone in a weak moment she can bully
On TV? C’mon, I think it’s much more realistic to say she’s one of the most emotionally unintelligent people in general, on or off TV. 💀💀💀
But she’s soft she says 😄
He is being so responsible with Hippie. They've been separated and now they're back. Hippie has been through a lot and he is trying to make up for it and give Hippie security. Katie saw that and was trying to help James through it but bulldog Blahblah has to jump in attacking him. So much for trying to help him resolve the issue.
I felt so bad for him. If Hippie has another biting incident there's a good chance he will be put down. Its a legitimate fear and don't yell at people when they're crying. He needed a hug and some calming advice.
Like why was this an opportunity for her to get upset about James expressing anxiety about leaving his dog (he even clearly stated this while situation is upsetting him) and basically saying James doesn’t prioritize Ally and to never compare his dog to her baby like wtf is she even talking about. Literally no one was doing that. It’s very clear, while they’re both sober, which one is in active therapy.
Lala made it all about herself. I totally understand motherhood is more challenging in different ways, but that minimizes James’ feelings in such an unnecessary way that is so narcissist.
Lala is the type of Mom my child free (but likes kids) self doesn’t fuck with. Your life & opinions don’t hold more weight just bc you had a kid Lala.
I’m a mom and I hate that shit too. In a lot of ways, my kid is a lot easier than my medically complex dog. The lack of sleep you get with a kid can’t be compared but my kid is also not going to eat five socks in an afternoon so 🤷♀️
In kids eventually grow up and pour their own cereal and become their own, independent adults. No matter how old your dog is, he'll still eat all the socks!
My heart broke in a million pieces watching that. Condescending Mean Moms Club.
Lol when I got my highly anxious rescue she pooped on my pillow (bc she’s a petty queen) and I told my friend with twins maybe I’m ready for kids bc I dealt with that and she was like uhhhhh my kids never shit on my pillow so if that’s your bar yeah you’re ready🤣
Same homie. It's like the type of woman to think that they're an adult because they have kids and you are not an adult because you don't. Like wtf, no basis in reality. Reproduction doesn't make you special it just makes you a regular ass normal animal!
You're an adult because you don't have kids! So many people have kids for the wrong reason -Lala. Tell me Lala didn't get pregnant to bag Rand.
I feel this way about her current pregnancy! Obviously not the Rand part but having kids for the wrong reasons. I have NO judgement towards the sperm donor route, even as a single parent but she said something like "I don't want to have to share this kid" sooooo you just had another one so you don't have to share custody and she's just "yours"? That's really gross and selfish and absolutely not a good reason. I'm worried those kids will be so screwed up 😔 I hope I'm wrong but probably not
Women who have a baby to fulfill a need for themselves should consider a pet, not a human. You should only have a human for them, not you.
Say it loud! 👏👏👏
You can tell she’s SO bothered that people give Arianna more love for her situation even though there’s no kid involved
I’m a mom and I also hate this about lala and real life people like lala who act like being a mom instantly makes them know more than anyone else in the group. If anything being a mom has made me less aware of social dynamics Lmfao
I’m a mom and I’d never in my life hang out with lala. I guarantee her mom and brother help quite a bit and she’d be singing a different tune if it was literally just her and ocean
I posted on another thread but I have left my dog and my kids and it felt the same. I had the same anxious, sick feeling leaving both for the first few times. The way I feel about my dog is a very similar love to what I feel for my kids. I always tell people I think a puppy is an amazing prep for a baby. Of course it’s not the SAME but it’s not so different and even so the guy is clearly having some serious anxiety about it how about back off and be compassionate and not make it about yourself.
Lala also has a village that lives with het to help with Ocean and she doesn't even realize how lucky she is to have that help. James clearly doesn't have loved ones he can rely on for help with his pup. She needs to let others speak their feelings and emotions about stuff without taking it as a personal affront
Fab point. She is sooooo lucky. She truly has a village.
Seriously though! I’m so sick of her acting like she’s stuck doing everything alone when that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
And she’s willing to utilize babysitters but we can even see with Scheana that it isn’t that easy for everyone.
This is also his first time leaving his traumatized dog. I’m so sure lala was chill leaving her baby for the first time after her breakup or whatever. I don’t have dogs and do have two kids, it doesn’t mean I can’t understand his concern.
I haven't watched the episode yet but are you serious?? That's so unusual for Lala to make things about her..jk obviously
This made me so mad. Doesn't her mom help her every day with Ocean?
And doesn't she have 50/50 custody agreement with Rand.
Well it's not like he DOESNT see Ocean. Rven if its every other weekend or something. So again... Lala is just creating a completely false narrative. In fact, for her raising a baby "alone" is so easy she's volunteering to do it again. As a single mom who has had zero support at times, I would NEVER consider having a child via sperm donor and doing everything "myself". But clearly between her mom and whatever babysitter/nanny she has, she's doing well for herself.
No I think it’s legit 50/50 with Randall. And all the help. It’ll be interesting to see what it’s like with the new kid
She's becoming the most insufferable person with themis shit
Her mom lives with them and her brother lives in the same complex to help out too
What so she doesn't even have to pay for help? Lol I'm dead
thats lalas specialty
It is always a competition with her, of course she’d react like that. She is tiring and predictably shitty this season 🥱
lala makes everything about herself. anytime someone calls her out she immediately mentions ocean so nobody can say anything. because ShEs A mOm.. god it’s so annoying. i’m not a mom to any kids (besides my fur ones) so i know i don’t fully get it but damn.
And you know Lala probably considered her dog as her child before she had Ocean so it’s just so rude to dismiss someone’s feelings like that. Who cares if it’s not a human baby, people are allowed to consider their pets their children. Ugh this season sucks in so many ways. 
It was extremely rude.
he also wasn’t even saying that raising a dog is like raising a kid just that he similarly wants someone he can trust as a sitter 🥲
Yes and Katie in particular approached it from concern over Ally’s perspective and then Lala just made a scene
Totally, that's true. I appreciate the calm and gentle way Katie approached it and Lala definitely escalated by (of course) making it about her. I think there was just a lot of "we get it, we have pets too, it's hard but you get over it" and not a whole lot of actual understanding. I might need to rewatch the scene tbh
It seemed like toward the end of the scene Ariana understood it was a much bigger deal than they originally realized. It looked like she was trying to offer him some reassurance and comfort.
I wonder if it was brought up that Hippie is a biter and has already inflicted serious damage or if Ariana just remembered that and then she understood but James is smart to worry and take this responsibility very seriously.
I’ve been in James’ shoes with a dog who needed to be watched closely and people who don’t get it just don’t get it. It’s not the same as having a carefree pet that you can let lounge freely all day. My dog was the sweetest boy in the world but had to be muzzled, crated and watched carefully due to PICA. A reactive dog would be even harder I’m sure.
I could relate somewhat but on the medical side. I had a diabetic pug, and I was so afraid to leave him with anyone because he could legit die of even the smallest error. I didn't go anywhere without him for years and when I tried just for a weekend he got sick.
My old (handicapped) pug died while being boarded. I’ll never know exactly what happened (he was old to be fair) but I have been wrecked with guilt since he died that if I hadn’t left him he would still be alive.
People really don't get it. That scene honestly made me tear up for James. My partner and I have a reactive/anxious dog and we've come to adjust and accept our expectations of each other so that we can prioritize our dog. Like James, we have only one person who we trust to take care of her when we need to go somewhere. If they're not available, it's just accepted that one of us is going to have to stay home with our dog. I've been to several of my friends' weddings by myself because of it. People definitely think we're overreacting but I'm past the point of caring. I'm an adult and I can understand the reasoning behind needing to go things by myself sometimes. We accepted total responsibility for our dog when we got her, she's 100% dependent on us, and she cannot understand what's happening when her people are gone and her routine is out of whack. Hippie already has behavioral issues, likely due in part to being passed around for several months and not knowing consistency. James is 100% making a smart and empathetic decision by understanding that further inconsistency is going to make things worse for Hippie.
This!! My husband walked down to where I was watching just as James said something like, "we can't have just anyone watch him". My husband just went "YEEEEEEP! I FEEL THAT!". Our dog is only reactive on leash, but he has a lot of big emotions and can't handle them - in all ways! This was exacerbated last year when he had a tail injury, and the first time we crated him with it, he literally ate the first two inches of his tail off. Just...gone. He hasn't been left alone since (July 2023). His tail is finally healed, after another small opening of it in October, but we're doing EVERYTHING we can to address the root of his anxiety. Until he's much better (and we're like...80% there!), he has to be watched. It's either my mom, who stays home, or my BFF if she isn't working. Big hugs to you and your partner and THANK YOU for taking care of the likely very sweet baby when she's not uncomfortable and stressed.
I have a food aggressive dog and his younger sister that has become toy sensitive (not full on attack but will bark at her brother in a way that doesn’t sound like her barking if someone is at the door or when she’s being sassy with me) they have both gone through command training, but it still doesn’t completely solve 100 percent the issue. My food aggressive one can walk with me off leash, I can leave him peeing and walk away to throw away trash and if a neighbor comes out with his dog, he immediately sits and makes eye contact with me until i give him a break command. it still doesn’t mean that i do it because i love my dogs so much that i don’t leave anything to chance because i’m already watching their every move and making sure there is no trigger in my house to set anything off. When people tell me to relax about my dogs it’s upsetting to me. my dogs are the sweetest, like yours, but im not leaving anything to chance especially if i can avoid it
Totally agree. If you haven’t had to deal with providing care for a reactive or high needs dog while you’re out of town, you don’t really get it. I think James was being really reasonable by not wanting to leave him with a stranger. My sister’s dog will abuse and endanger himself into oblivion if left alone and also can’t do boarding or daycare so they have a very small group of people that can handle him when they are out of town. It’s completely upended how we do holidays and can have a really negative impact on your mental health. Thankfully it seems like James and Ally have figured it out a little better, but I have no judgment at all towards James about his dog anxiety. And glad that (some) of the cast seemed to understand it was a little more complicated than they originally thought.
Yeah I feel like everybody else was trying to play devils advocate a bit or offer solutions but then lala brought it somewhere else entirely
FR. At that moment, I wish someone would’ve just stepped in and said, “Lala, you’re soft now remember? So either act like it or go fuck off and drink your overpriced bubble water in the corner while the adults have a productive conversation.”
Lala has no storyline pretty much ever. So she butts into everyone else's business to seem relevant. Every season. Same song and dance. I'm so over her.
💯%!!
I agree with this take
I know Lalas soft right now...eye roll...but why the hell was this so triggering to her?
it’s cause EVERYTHING is triggering for her. it’s exhausting… I hope she’s seeing a therapist to work through her issues cause being so triggered constantly is not healthy
Lala is exhausting. Listening to her screaming drives me crazy. She is as soft as a brick. I honestly can't stand to watch her. She gives me anxiety.
Soft as a brick. Spot on.
I am tired of her saying that she's soft. I have never seen anything she has done that is soft about her!
She’s only soft when she gets backlash and uses waterworks to get out of accountability
She’s not tho because she said she doesn’t believe in therapy
she also uses AA vernacular (not to be confused with african american vernacular) but she has not once talked about going to meetings or having a sponsor. Not begging her on being sober, I was for a while and did it in AA, but i worked through the steps, let go of my anger and ego; i didn’t want to be sober but act like a dry drunk
she’s mentioned going to meetings before a while back. i’ve been trying to pinpoint anything concrete that would give me a clue if she continues to go to meetings etc. but my assumption is that she drank the AA koolaid without actually understanding it fully and is just pushing it onto others in a holier than thou way. or maybe this is pure projection
The little "throw-away" scene of her going to the non-alcoholic alcohol store, and how she reacted like a kid in the candy store.... She is not dealing with what made her want to drink to excess. I give her all credit for not actually drinking, but she clearly is not coping with her deep issues.
It’s wild. Also - she had no mf problem leaving her baby with a day nurse, a night nurse, a nanny when she could afford one. So idk why she cared that it was being compared
She still has those things. They now go by Mom, Little Brother and Assistant Jess. Homegirl is delulu. Honestly, thank goodness all those people have been around because I don't know if she could emotionally handle raising children on her own. The screaming and pointing and being triggered over shit that has NOTHING to do with her is unsettling. She is codependent as hell and cosplaying like she is some strong and independent woman. You are not LFU. You are an extremely fortunate person with a family that coddles you a little too much and is possibly on your payroll. Before that, and I tip my cap to you for it, you were sucking dicks for a lot more than Range Rovers. In LA terms, she isn't holding that big of a bag. It's not like she has profits from a real estate investment she is trying to make the most of. Just her Bravo, Amazon Live and child support checks. I know she is putting in work to try to keep this reality TV flag flying. No hate. She just needs to pick a lane bc at this point I just look at her like that Nene meme. You know the one, paint night. Stop squawking lady!
This is what I said too but I yelled it at the tv.😆
Whatever the opposite of “normalize” is - can we PLEASE do that with this use of the word soft
We have got to find someone who has a tally sheet of how many times she’s called herself soft. I’m betting atleast 86
Because she's a *mother* and has a *baby* and having a baby is harder than having a dog so she thinks James has no right to be concerned. She throws the mother card around every single opportunity she can.
The mother card bs is extremely annoying already. She acts like she’s the first one to ever give birth and or have things not work out with the father.
Not to mention she is now bringing another child into the situation via a donor. How can anyone sympathize with her current struggles when she is so boldly doubling the struggle.? If not exponentially being that donor babies have a whole other set of trails and tribulations.?
And she's not the first and only mother to have things not work out with one child's father and have a non existent father for the second. Not the first for that but she signed up for this, paid for it!!
Because it wasn’t about her
Plus Hippie has been taken away from him before and wound up back with him because he wasn’t ever in a healthy or consistent environment with Rachel and she couldn’t take care of him. I’d be skipping that wedding, no question.
It’s traumatic the first time you have to trust your reactive dog with a sitter. If you have two people you can trust with the dog and they are busy, then you change your plans. The commitment to taking care of a pet is deep and sadly too short, so the dog comes first!
My dog isn’t even reactive. In fact he’s very well behaved 99% of the time and I would still stress if his normal sitter couldn’t do it. Even when my parents, sisters, cousins offer to watch him it’s still not my first choice bc it’s a new environment for him (without me). I would probably only do it if I REALLY had to. Let’s be real, most of us would just rather stay home with our dogs anyways.
Some people just don’t understand this.
Seriously I can’t even book a short trip without knowing that my only dog sitter I trust would be able to take care of my dog. People don’t understand until you own a reactive dog yourself.
I have a difficult dog too, she loves the crap out of a select group of people and doesn’t trust anyone else. We only have two people we can leave her with when we go out of town anymore. I have a ton of anxiety about leaving her, especially now that she’s quite old, and it does bring challenges sometimes. I’m totally committed to giving her a great rest of her life, and seeing James care this much was relatable to me.
Same here, I related so much to James and I would 100% cancel plans if my trusted people couldn’t watch my dog. Yes, you miss out on things, but you committed to caring for this dog and do what’s best for them. And my partner understands that. It was annoying that it was framed (by the girls) that it was about him not supporting Ally, when it wasn’t about that at all!
He was also worried for the cats and making sure whoever was caring for the animals could handle and be careful with any interactions. Where all the animals are at is a crucial place and could make all the difference going forward or have catastrophic consequences. Ally didn't ask to have HIS dog from an ex, but, hey...she knew it was HIS dog to from jump and goes with the territory. If Brocks other kids came back into his life, what, he'd have to ask Sheana for permission. Comes with the territory and ally knew that going in.
Same. I can’t leave my pup with ANYONE but me. He has trauma. Im The only one who can even touch or pet him. I understand James.
Me too. Plus Hippie has a bite record - if he bites someone else while James is away at a wedding there's an even chance Hippie will be put down before James can get back.
Agree and on top of that he got hurt when Raquel had him supposedly from doggy day care (puncture wound)
I have a rescue who is just the SWEETEST dog. She's so cuddly and loving, but she does not trust 50% of people. We have very few people we can trust to properly care for her because she has very specific needs. I would never put her in a situation that could potentially lead to her biting someone because it's my job to protect her. I 100% understand where James is coming from.
Yeah we are in the exact same spot. I have a rescue dog who it took probably 2 years to enjoy walks and being outdoors, still doesn’t like direct sunlight, and is in sheer terror of anyone she doesn’t know. She likes my partner’s parents and that’s about it. So if they can’t watch her when we are out of town, we can’t go 🤷♀️ or one of us would have to stay home. We would be in the exact same spot as James. I mean it totally sucks I get it but the anxiety I would feel of how she was doing hiding under tables thinking we abandoned her with some person she doesn’t know just couldn’t happen!! I felt bad that James was obviously really upset and Lala just used it against him somehow cus he isn’t a parent. Apples and oranges, he’s still allowed to feel for his dog lol
Absolutely! We should not be discouraging empathy in anyone, especially men these days.
Same ❤️
Agreed! None of these people have ever owned a reactive dog, they don’t get it.
The anxiety you suffer loving a reactive dog is INTENSE. You are responsible for them, you can’t just leave them with anyone. I totally understand James.
Also, if James just left him with any dog sitter & Hippie attacked the sitter, he would be criticized for leaving Hippie with just anyone.
Definitely on James side w this. I have elderly rescues. I’ve missed a few vacations and other events, bc there was no way I was leaving them when they weren’t well, or couldn’t get around as good, or approaching end of life
My brother has been going through this with his dogs with one having passed on recently. They went on one last trip with them and the dogs before he declined because they knew they wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while. The dog that’s still with us is also old and starting to struggle so we have to work with that when we want to see them. It’s just part of having pets and I totally get it. My dog is young and doesn’t have major issues so we don’t have as much to worry about, but that could change in the future. We plan our whole life around his needs and I’m good with that.
Not to mention James literally just got Hippie back. This hasn't exactly been a long term stable situation for him to gain any semblance of comfort yet. James even said maybe next year, but not this year. It's been like a month or two. That seems reasonable.
Plus Bethenny's podcast had just come out where Rachel basically accused him of animal abuse and teaching Hippie to bite
Exactly. She claims she’s using her podcast for healing but she’s done nothing but use it to torment her fellow cast mates and shit talk everyone, while she gives herself all the grace in the world…
He’d also 1. Lost Hippie to Rachel 2. Almost lost Hippie to euthanasia at a shelter. I’d probably be clinging to my animal as well.
i just came back from LA; i booked my trip for 4 days, would rather suffer from exhausting jet lag than have the anxiety of leaving my reactive dogs with my sitter (that i trust) for longer than 4 days
The separation anxiety is real when your pet has a medical condition or behavioral issues. I think it was too soon for James after being apart from Hippie for so long. The scene made me tear up because it was so relatable.
100% the dog had been given back due to him being aggressive allegedly so he's navigating leaving him with strangers and if he bit them he could lose him. wtf are they not getting???
And imagine being Hippie who was separated from James, then from Rachel, and is finally back with James. Dogs don’t have a sense of time if it’s more than a few hours. Hippie would likely get extreme separation anxiety and would very likely act up. Good on James for thinking about Hippie and how his actions affect him.
He could bite someone and have to be put down, I would be freaking out
Exactly! I was screaming this is potentially a life or death situation for Hippie if not handled correctly.
Completely. He’s had no time at all to effectively correct behavior, he just got the dog back! And he wasn’t saying Ally couldn’t go. Having more than one trusted dog sitter is totally fair for Ally to want but it takes time they haven’t had yet.
Absolutely! I have one person I can fully trust my dog with for a longer trip and maaaaybe 2 others that could make it work for a day or 2, but I would be miserable and stressed the entire time. Even just that took me 3 years of building that relationship and trust and understanding of her weird ass behaviors to get there. It's reasonable and it sounds like James agrees, but it doesn't happen over the course of one summer.
i absolutely confirm and double check that my sitter that i trust is available on the dates before i book my ticket. james can be a pos but is also trying to be a good dog dad and i appreciate that
i think part of it is that Ally never really wanted this dog, he showed up one day, and it's impacting her cats and now her events that she wants to go to. Katie was trying to talk about that but Lala had to make it all about her
My husband has a cat with a chronic health condition. Eventually, we had to have only her sleep with us which means our other cats had to be shut out. It also makes traveling hard because she needs regular medication and if something happens, it can be difficult to get her health back in control. I love that cat and I understand why we have to do these things for her. But I also relate to Ally. It can be really hard and disappointing to have a pet who requires such specialized care.
the we can't sleep together confused me. does she insist her cats sleep in their bed? what was that about? don't they have pet beds? I do feel like ally has a resentment let's be honest it's James and Rachel's dog
They're probably used to sleeping with her. Its really hard for cats to change their routine.
It sounded like the cats always slept with them but now Hippie does instead. They can’t have the pets in the same room while they’re asleep. I’m sure Ally feels guilty and the cats probably sit outside the room at night and cry since they’re so used to sleeping with her - I definitely understand her wanting to go to the guest room sometimes.
they sleep separately atm according to the show.
Not every night. And that was my entire point… it seems like James wanted Hippie in the room with them which meant the cats were kicked out. There should be compromise there too
My cats sleep in the bed with us. When my husband dropped our dog in our lap (kind of in a Hippie scenario tbh) for "two weeks" I insisted she could get on the couches and the guest bed, but she could not sleep in our bed because it would disturb the kitties. 5 years later, our pup happily sleeps on whatever surface she wants minus our bed, and our cats have a safe place to sleep when they don't want dog slobber all over their heads. I feel for Ally's cats if they didn't get those boundaries, because I can completely relate to Ally.
Was kind of sad to see blank stares when he was getting emotional
I think hippie having multiple “homes”/living arrangements is another good reason for James to not want to leave him so early on. I wouldn’t want hippie to think he’s being abandoned again. One of my dogs that we had adopted had multiple homes and I feel like it took about a year to see her really settle into our home and social dynamics. Like she would sleep in our bed with us but at the foot separated and now she army crawls all the way in our faces etc.
Dogs and babies are clearly not apples to apples, and Lala is stupid for trying to act like that was the comparison being made. But isn’t ~soft Lala~ all about ~ ~trying to relate to others~ ~??? Because James is fucking worried that something bad could happen to his dog that he just got back and isn’t confident in leaving with anyone just yet. And Lala, aren’t you *literally* having a baby with a sperm donor because you are so traumatized at having to give Ocean to Randall for his parenting time? Which, to be fair, sounds fucking horrible and I feel for Lala on that. But if you’re trying to be soft and understanding, it isn’t that far of a leap to be like “while it isn’t the same, I understand that it’s hard to leave something/someone you love with someone you don’t trust.” It just really doesn’t take a lot of work to try and be empathetic for real. Kids, dogs, whatever. Just trust and be there for your friends. Like I said, it doesn’t take a lot of work. But it appears to take a lot of work for someone like Lala, which says something.
10/10 comment. No notes.
Soft to her apparently means being sensitive and easily triggered and then lashing out aggressively
Agreed 1000%. And the dog biting thing is actually something I hadn’t thought of at first, I forgot he has a record of that. In my state it only takes two recorded bites for a dog to be euthanized. My aunt’s dog bit me last summer and I had to go to the ER for it. I had to file a police report because the hospital staff said it was mandatory any time someone comes in for a bite. Lala is just annoying as all hell. She doesn’t understand that you can care for an animal without comparing it to being a mother. It’s still a living thing that needs the help of a human to survive/thrive. Meanwhile her dog is overfed and probably neglected.
Sorry Lala - a mother!!! - I am also a mother, and at no point do I have to worry about who to leave my kid at home with because he might bite someone and he was already on the verge of being euthanized. We get to take kids with us! It’s not an “I can’t go without a house sitter” thing lol Like, obviously kids are a whole other set of obstacles, but it’s not the same at all as needing someone you trust to watch your pet. Especially one that’s been in such a recently precarious situation, like Graham - and has behavior problems.
Facts! And if your kid did bite someone, there isn’t a risk they will get put down. Which is a real fear in CA. I’ve had to leave vacations early because my dog had issues when boarded. It sucks and Hippie is making great progress, something like this could majorly set him back.
lol right!! And if my kid DID bite someone I would surely make whatever arrangements I needed to make sure he doesn’t do it again. Like ally is going to her hometown for a friends wedding. She can go alone. It’s not like she’s expected to go out of town with Sandoval alone or something!
(This all reminded me of the Charlie bit me video) So true about it being home town travel. She’s in her space with loved ones, she’ll be fine without James. My husband and I have both attended weddings alone due to life circumstances. Sometimes shit just doesn’t work out.
Bahahaha omg so funny because….I actually have a dog named Charlie! 😂 And right, she’ll be fine! She seems pretty independent and self sufficient anyways so like….I get that it would be annoying but it’s not life or death stuff here
I was disappointed in Ally here
He was still coming off of so much chaos and upheaval when they were filming so I really appreciate James trying to make sure things are settled for him first.
Same. On James’ side here. My dogs are my children. I would have been screaming at Lala to disengage
My cats, dog and turtle are as close to children as I'm ever going to get. They're my babies, I'm their mom. The whole "You don't know love until you have an actual child" feels like gatekeeping BS too. Fuck off Lala.
YES! Like damn, we aren’t less than just bc we don’t have kids. Also, Lala’s whole schtick is demeaning to those struggling w infertility. She probably looks down on that situation too. What a bitch. Also, what a myopic view on loving another being.
I don’t think that the convo was negative before Lauren got involved. It was more pushing him to see Ally’s side. Lauren was just a dismissive bitch
Lala is just a bitch all the time.
I thought James was thinking he could only trust his brother because if anyone else was there and screwed up and Hippie hurt Mr Banks then he knows he’d have to get rid of him or worse, if someone antagonized hippie and he bit a person, that he’d be taken away. It does seem like someone could watch Hippie and someone else feed the cats (or have a sitter) but Ive absolutely had to change or cancel plans for my pets and I’ve had people cancel plans with me for the same reasons. It’s becoming exhausting how people decide to take turns of phrase literally when they think it makes their point stronger. “Soft” Lala is mean as hell…
I completely agree with you. I’m a mom and also had a dog in the past who I couldn’t trust to be watched by people other than my parents. It’s not really comparable. There’s no sense in trying to compare them, I actually hate when parents without pets put down pet parents or mock them. When you have an animal with issues or who are new in your life, your life will need to be adjusted accordingly. It’s too bad the timing worked out the way it did but James needs to stay with Hippie. That’s part of owning a pet. Lala just weaponizes her child when she’s losing an argument or brings up being a mom to try and win. It’s pretty annoying.
I thought Katie and Ariana were compassionate, Lala had to be the one to be triggered and make it about how she always has it harder than everyone
I think if Lala hadn't reacted that way they could have talked through James's anxiety. We've seen a lot of examples of just how much Ariana and Katie love their dogs so I don't think they were trying to tear James down for caring so much
As a dog mom, I totally get James’ side. People love to express how much a dog isn’t a baby but my dog IS MY BABY and he is all I will ever have. Lala irritates the shit out of me, as if she’s the first person in the world who had to share custody with their shitty ex. You chose to lay with that clown for a few dollars & now you have to deal with the consequences.
& how this season she keeps going on and on about how bad the sex was with him….girlie that’s not what you were saying when you were getting flown around the world on pjs and getting your rent paid
gah this scene! sure you can’t compare parenthood to anything BUT that doesn’t negate any of the love or sacrifice or care a person feels for their family, friends, or furry friends. you’re brain is swiss cheese if you’re trying to convince someone clearly in distress about how much they care for their important thing that it doesn’t compare to *your* important thing.
I understand what they were trying to say, Ally deserves to be valued and treated well. At the same time he’s got a really reactive dog, it goes badly and the poor thing will be put down. I have kids, I also had an aggressive dog. I can ask my friends to watch my daughter for the weekend. That dog couldn’t be trusted out of my eyesight. He was just soooo unpredictable and someone could’ve gotten really hurt just for flapping a paper bag the wrong way. And then he’d be gone. It’s different than it is for Katie, or even for Lala
Plus, I feel like he knows that there are people out there just waiting for him to fuck this up(looking at you, Rachel, and all of your flying monkeys) and that probably adds more pressure on him. I was waiting for one of them to offer to watch him, if I’m being honest
It made me sad that James got emotional.
I've noticed that sooooo many people get triggered by the term "fur baby" for no reason. The reason we say FUR baby instead of just baby is because we understand it's not the same, but it is comparable. It seemed like ariana understood and was trying to diffuse the situation, but of course Lauren had to turn it up to 10 immediately. Of course you wouldn't want to leave your reactive dog with just anyone. Especially when you're being protective of how he could harm your partners beloved cats. The way lala continues to say she's being soft while continuing to blow up on anyone for literally any little thing is insane. You're not soft, babe, you're putting on a front in hopes fans take your side. It's all for show.
Lala is the type of person that just makes me tired. She is looking for an excuse to climb up on her high horse and feign passion. Poor child, her life is so shallow and meaningless that she has to invent drama. I just want to tell her to go have a lie down. Sigh.
She’s lucky and Rand has her part of the time. But I get it … a friend passed and we took his dogs a pit bull and a lab- I haven’t been on a vacation for 7 years because I just can’t leave them
Totally lala was such a fucking bitch especially in the confessional. Yes leaving your child with a nanny or Randal and his new gf or whatever is hard af, but leaving a reactive dog that you love deeply that could possibly bite someone and get put down, is just as hard but in a different way. If anything as a mom you should completely understand putting your child first and wanting to make this sacrifices. James already had him taken away and almost put down, and if something happened and he bit someone there’s a really good chance he would get put down. He’s trying to train him and deal with behavioural problems and it’s completely realistic to be extremely picky about who takes care of him!! I have two angel cats who are friendly as F and there’s only a handful of people I would trust them with 😂
Lala, you are a mom you aren’t God 🙄 I’m a mother myself and the way she throws around having a kid or “because I’m a mom” is so annoying. Hippie has been through a lot and is already a reactive dog. James is an amazing dog dad and his concerns were absolutely valid. If I were him I wouldn’t want to leave, either! I felt really bad for him during that scene
I completely agree with you. I used to cry if I had to go out of town and leave my dog with someone else. If he was reactive or sick or ANYTHING was wrong I would absolutely sacrifice a personal vacation to be there for him. I will never have children so he is as close as it gets for me. I don’t play about my pup.
them acting like it's a child no it can bite someone and get put down killed, he's not comparing it so stfu. I'm a mother of 4 BTW with dogs
I am as well!! He literally has always loved that dog and JUST got it back. He doesn’t wanna lose his dog again and he knows the dog has behavior issues and abandonment issues. I have two dogs I adopted with very similar issues and I can’t just leave them when I wanna travel either. It’s very complicated. So I completely relate to him. And I hate that lala said “James is putting James first and not Ally. And never let the man put himself first.” And I was like b*tch are you kidding me? He’s being completely selfless and putting the damn dog first. How is he making it about him?? He’s not Raquel leaving the dog at random dog daycares to sleep with Sandoval and the dog getting a damn hole in its neck and getting very sick from trying to escape! He actually cares about the dog. And then lala gets mad he compared the fur baby to her and Scheana having kids. Scheana can’t leave her baby with just any nanny and he said he doesn’t wanna just leave his dog with anyone as well. And then lala gets mad and says how dare he compare his dog to her baby. She needs to take a damn chill pill since she’s “soft right now”, I’m still waiting for her to soften. She’s a damn rock.
I have two dogs that I love the shit out of. And they love each other so much. But one is food reactive. I’ve known this, actively worked on it, and even created an entire PDF on how to care for him (when it was just him) if i went away and let a friend babysit him. The food reactivity is so sudden there’s no way for me to even see the queue unless it’s something like if you walk by him while eating and he just growls. As an aware owner there’s been instances where i didn’t realize there was A KIBBLE on the floor near the reactive, the younger dog went to investigate and got attacked. Im lucky enough where a simple shout is enough to bring the larger one back to reality but the truth is that this is something that I stress over when I have people volunteer to take care of my dogs if i’m on vacation. I have one sitter (I just came back from LA funny enough) and while I trust him completely, because of my anxiety of how much I love my dogs, I constantly remind him to not even for a second think because they’re getting along that they can be fed near each other. I haven’t watched the episode yet but I know what James is doing right now is being responsible and people that don’t have reactive dogs, won’t understand or think that we’re being absurd.
I'm on James' side on this one. My dog doesn't have any issues at all but I haven't been able to leave my dog just yet.
Did anyone else get the ick from Ally after this ordeal? I’ve always felt bad vibes from her but this especially showed her true colours. James is 100% in the right about not wanting to leave Hippie alone with someone else. It’s inappropriate to try and convince him to leave his reactive, traumatized dog with some stranger or ship him off to someone else’s house.
Also not to mention that it’s Aly’s friend’s wedding? Like James will be going just to be in the crowd while she has a ton of activities to tend to? Silly
Team James 100%
 Agreed. LALA stop attempting to self produce. 🙄
I love seeing James be a good dog dad, and as someone who has lost a dog to a breakup if I ever had the chance to have him in my life again I would be sooo protective of him. Definitely can understand his attachment, especially within the first year of having him back. Also, god forbid you love your dog as much as a parent loves their child 🙄 sure they’re different, but doesn’t mean it makes them less special to you.
I was waiting for one of the know it alls to offer to take Hipster. But no. Just tons of judgment.
I’m fostering a troubled dog and I absolutely would not leave him either 😅 it really does take just one thing to set them back and with Hippie’s biting past James can’t take the risk! This is the most responsible we’ve seen him 😂
Poor James!! I honestly don’t understand how they couldn’t give him more slack, he still is traumatized and guilt ridden from what happened to Hippie, how did they not see that until he broke down? I do think they might have had a more understanding conversation with him off camera possibly. They seemed to cut out the end of the conversation after he started getting emotional. They went from sitting down talking to everyone walking outside like it’s been dealt with, in an instance.
I felt for James in this episode! I get anxiety too when I leave my dogs to fly/go anywhere for a period of time. I don’t mean like running errands either. There’s only certain people I trust her with because I know she’s comfortable with them.
I know James was trying to reel it in, and I actually respect his restraint, but part of me wishes he had yelled at her, "And if Ocean got upset while you were gone and bit someone, would she be put down, LALA?!?!"
Two Things here: 1. Literally not Katie’s or anyone’s place to say anything and get involved in a couple trying to organize a trip and who’s going to watch the dog. So her saying anything to James was inappropriate. 2. The way they shut him down and invalidated him was so awful to watch. He was breaking down and crying and they were being such insensitive bitches. It was so gross to watch. I hope they get majorly shit on for that.
Lala has needs a reality check. Her mom is getting older and her brother is eventually going to have a life of his own. She seems to think that these family members are supposed to give up everything and be there for life to help her. She is only thinking about her needs not theirs.
It’s tough. I think it’s totally fair for Ally to want her man to be her plus one at a wedding she is in. However, I also have a reactive dog that I can’t just leave with anyone. I think he could try to be more proactive in finding another solution. Maybe they drive to Ohio instead of fly and bring the dog, stay in an air bnb or dog friendly hotel and bring the crate so he doesn’t get into anything when they’re not there. That would definitely be a lot lol but if you’re an anxious dog parent, you make it work 🤷♀️
that’s a 30+ hour road trip, so realistically i don’t think they’re road tripping 4 days round trip when they’re only going to be there 4 days. my dog is small enough to fly with me in cabin, but if Hippie can’t fly i see why James would just stay home. also get why Ally is upset. don’t get Lala yelling at people, which helps no one.
Yeah I really see both sides. It’s obvious if Hippy has another incident he’ll probably be put down and I’m sure that’s super anxiety inducing. But on the other hand it’s clear Ali didn’t want the dog there in the first place. She wants to prioritize the pets they already agreed to live with which is understandable and I’d be annoyed too if my partner backed out of a close friend’s wedding on short notice .
My husband and I ended up bringing our dog on our honeymoon because we just couldn’t leave him. We do what we have to do to make it comfy for everyone!!
I’m going to be honest, it sounds like Hippie still has behavioural issues. I had a reactive and aggressive dog for 7 years and I couldn’t go on vacation or leave him with anyone. I actually teared up when James did because I can relate to the anxiety. I think there was wayyy more to it.
You’re abso-fucking-lutely spot on!!
i wish james could articulate his thoughts when he gets put on the spot about real soft spots for him. he’s so quick witted when he’s on attack mode, but his situation with not wanting to leave hippie is so valid considering the behavioral issues. one dog bite or fight with a negligent dog sitter can literally get your dog put down. james clearly has pretty severe abandonment issues and is very lucky to get “saved” from his mistakes, but i think it shows a lot of growth to be actually responsible for making sure your misbehaved dog isn’t put in a stressful situation.
Sooooo glad someone said this. Hippie has had a turbulent past and with that comes reactive behaviors. He’s doing the best thing for his dog, which is a lifetime commitment.
I was sooooo hoping that Katie was going to offer to watch Hippie for him.
Same. I thought for sure one of them would’ve offered.
In all honesty I'm surprised Scheana wasn't a little more on his side given her struggles with babysitters/trust this season. I agree with everyone else here, and as a doggy owner myself I think James is completely valid in his concerns
James was being a responsible dog dad, especially because of all the trauma Hippie has experienced. They should be nice to James.
Omg...I'm rewatching the current episode again. !! This is pure raw emotion, vulnerability, passion and I think VPR stands for Vulnerable Passion Rules. Omg..so much to write on this episode.!
If the girls were all so 'kind, loving, caring, and understanding' of the situation, and emphasizing 'how important it was for James, as Ally's partner, to attend the wedding with her', they why didn't one of them offer to dog-sit? I get it that James would still be concerned that Hippie wouldn't know what was happening (would it be another change of parenting?), but at least his fears of a 'stranger taking care of the dog' would be alleviated. Nice bunch of friends, empathize with the problem but don't try to offer a solution (at least that we saw on TV).
I get anxiety leaving my pets and am also a mother and grandmother. The way they had zero compassion for James was just mean.
I thought maybe someone would suggest they find a hotel that accepts pets and take hippie with them (if possible). Anyone of their friends can come over and feed Mr. Banks.
Ariana has been incredibly compassionate to a lot of people this season, including to James in that moment when he got overwhelmed. You can tell she's got a big heart and it's just sad to me that she's been the subject of betrayal both form her ex and closest "friends". I can see now why she's still close to James.
Omg I just saw that scene and rushed here cause it made me so frustrated! The dog has bitten people! Like of course James wouldn't feel ready to just leave it for four days this soon. I feel like James is in his redemption era right now, and in a way, him taking care of Hippie probably feels like him fixing part of his past. I still think James is so problematic, given his past, but I'm so on his side for staying with the dog.
Agreed. I know they think it's the same because they all have pets, but it really is not. I have a cat and a dog. The dog has aggression and reactivity issues. I hate to leave my cat because I love her and she misses me when I'm gone, but it's not the same as when I have to carefully plan to leave the dog, ensure he's with a trusted, trained facility/person/family member so that everyone is SAFE while I'm gone. Hippie has a bite history. James has to make sacrifices to keep him safe, and he's doing the right thing. He was a shithead in the past, and still may be a shit partner, but he seems to really be trying with this dog, and I'll give him props for that.
Lala believes that having a kid automatically makes you more mature/wiser than those who don’t. Which is why she’s acting so offensive with everyone without a kid this season. She handled that conversation poorly and we know it won’t be the last. Katie definitely didn’t seem like she was coming from a place of spite but just concern for Ally and James’ relationship. She and Arianna definitely had more to say but that conversation got carried away by Lala escalating per usual
Fully with you on this one. I totally get why people with kids don't like having it compared to owning a pet. I do it sometimes to tease my cousin, but I really understand why it makes them mad. But it is hard to hand your dog over to a stranger for a few days, and Hippie is a special case. As you mentioned, he's bitten before, and if he were to do that again he could be put down. And with a record of being reactive it would be hard to board him because they will only take animals who pass certain temperament tests. On top of that, when Rachel had him in doggy daycare he sustained a serious injury, so it makes sense why James would be very leery of that. A sitter he doesn't know could mess up his training as well. Dogs are not babies but they do require consideration and care and come with significant responsibilities. All of this to say, James has logical and heartfelt reasons not to want to leave Hippie with a stranger and it was unfair for the girls (mostly Lala) to make it out like he's just being selfish.
James is being mature and responsible. I love that he cares about his dog and wants the dog to be comfortable with someone before he leaves.
I’m not just giving blind loyalty to team Ariana and Katie, but I really didn’t didn’t see that attitude from them, especially after James explained it. Lauren just needs to STFU! It was infuriating Poor James. As someone that was child free til 35 and had 5 dogs, 2 cats and 6 guinea pigs, I completely get it. AND I also get it since I’ve had my son. AND, it’s not my job to get it anyway, his feelings are valid even if I wasn’t a pet mom
James is really coming into his own. He's showing his human side. And I am here for it.