The aforementioned blonder friend of Steph was in the process of splitting up with her husband, and was talking to Steph about it. The circumstances aren't funny at all of course, but this made the whole story funnier.
Her great love was her dog, and her husband knew that, and somewhat cowardly a week or so earlier had kicked and beaten the dog, because he knew this was the easiest way to really upset her. She explained that the dog was now a nervous wreck and was petrified every time her husband came into the house.
"What a b*st*rd" commented Mrs. Scunner. Quite so. Worried for her friend, she asked "So is he still behaving like that?"
"No, he's even worse. When I got home last night he was chewing the letterbox"
Scunner