Well, Big Mama, not all men are animal lovers, or have developed a bond with an animal. Your husband may not have had the right kind of exposure to that. And not all men understand "broken people" either. That is usually more of what women are designed to do, after all we are the ones that often get stuck with "broken people" right?

We are just designed to nurture, most men are not so comfortable with that, they were not originally designed for that tbh.
It sounds like your husband is "trying" though Big Mama. He is going to counceling with you, at least he has made some efforts to make things better or try to understand. Some husbands don't want to even bother.
Gotta give him some points there for trying.

Open Eyes