I know that there are gay bars and nightlife but I wanted to know from other queer people of Melb if there are any casual spaces or events catered towards or primarily attended by other queer people? I really want to make new friends and build connections as I have no queer friends as of now, but I want to find social spaces that I’d be comfortable/enjoy going alone.
I am not familiar with posting on reddit but I have no one else to turn to. My dog is a Labrador-retriever, she is 5 years old turning 6 in December. We also have two cats, one is 4 and the other is 3. My parents spontaneously brought my dog home one day from my dad’s co-worker who could no longer care for her. I (20) and my brother (16) were very excited upon her arrival because we had been begging our parents for a dog for a while, but we didn’t think it would be a possibility anytime soon due to my parents’ financial issues, nevertheless we welcomed her very very warmly. We have had her for about a year now and for the past 9 months or so I have been consumed with guilt because my parents are so conscious of pet hair, particularly my dogs because it is thicker and harder to get rid of off different surfaces and materials. Because of this, and due to her being a big dog breed and us having small anxious cats in a particularly small home, my parents refuse to let her live inside the house. She is outside everyday, looking at us through the glass door and occasionally having barking fits asking to be let inside. They do not have time and are too tired to walk her consistently everyday, my brother is too busy with extra-curricular activities and school and I am battling mental health issues alongside work and uni. I have gotten into countless explosive arguments with them about how it’s neglectful and wrong and I’ve even suggested rehoming her. My parents barely pay for her things, I have been the one to pay for a pet-gate so that she would be let inside because they kept postponing and brushing it off. When she is brought inside it’s for max 3 hours a day and usually its 30 mins - an hour. She is rarely brought inside nowadays but I can’t just turn a blind eye to it. I can barely take care of myself so taking care of her, like giving her a bath or going on a walk with her is difficult for me, although I am the only one who bathes her, but only occasionally, once every month or two - I know it’s horrible. I’m just as guilty but I would appreciate if people don’t condemn my behaviour but rather give me advice, I really just want to give her a better life but I don’t want her to end up in a shelter.