The quest for love isn't easy and finding someone perfectly compatible can take years of dating. What could be a deal breaker for one singleton might be a must-have quality for another. One woman has shared her non-negotiable after a date ended terribly - when her Hinge match expressed his hatred for dogs.
Rachel Humphreys, from Leeds, now refuses to date men who aren't animal lovers and says her precious pooches, Tilly and Autumn, always have to come first. The 28-year-old "couldn't live without" her beloved pups and believes they're "just like kids" as they need constant love and attention.
Rachel told the Mirror: "Usually I chat about dogs before I meet my dates, but I must have missed it out with this guy."
Rachel had been single for six months and was actively on the dating scene when she met up with a man named Darren off the back of a Hinge match.
"I was pretty nervous, but after meeting in a bar and enjoying a few cocktails, I relaxed and the conversation was flowing," she said.
Rachel checked the time to make sure she wouldn't miss her train home, and Darren spotted her phone screensaver was a picture of her dogs.
She told him about her two beloved pets, Tilly the nine-year-old Jackchi and Autumn the eight-year-old rescue.
"He then went into a huge rant about how he cannot stand rescue dogs and doesn't understand why people don't just buy new puppies they can train up," she said.
"He thought they were dangerous, unpredictable, and most aren't nice to look at!"
Understandably, Rachel was absolutely heartbroken and offended by his heated rant, and knew this was a deal breaker.
She questioned his opinions but Darren became very defensive and aggressive.
"There is no way I would date someone who didn't love dogs, especially my beloved Autumn, and that was it," she said.
"I told him we are in no way compatible and that he needs to educate himself on dogs, and then I left for an earlier train."
But Rachel didn't let it put her off finding 'the one' and continued to look for a compatible partner.
"As well as being a dog person, I was looking for a man with emotional intelligence, feminist views and someone who wanted a partner not a mum," Rachel explained.
Then she met 35-year-old Shane and made sure to bring up her love of animals at the very beginning.
"He told me that he used to have two Staffies and he thought my dogs were cute," Rachel said.
Rachel and Shane went on a first date to a Thai restaurant in Leeds and immediately hit it off.
"He was really lovely, very calm and respectful, not ego-driven at all. Plus Tilly and Autumn loved him," Rachel said.
The couple are now three months into their relationship and Rachel is smitten.
"Shane accepts my big heart for animals. Dogs are part of the family, and that's not something I am willing to compromise," she added.
Rachel isn't the only one willing to dump a partner over her pooch - a study by TrustedHousesitters found that one in five have ended previous relationships because they didn't get on with their pet.
Do you have a dating story to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
