My sister-in-law says liking her ex’s dog photos is taking sides.

My sister-in-law has asked why I am still liking photographs on her ex’s Instagram. She says it looks as though I am taking sides. I am taking a side. The dog’s. I never particularly liked the ex. He used to explain the plot of films while we were watching them. But he has a Labrador called Colin, whom I have known since he was small enough to fall asleep in a shoe. Colin has recently had an operation on his knee. For three weeks I have been following his progress from cone to short lead walks. Yesterday there was a video of him managing the back step unaided. I pressed the heart. I would do it again. My sister-in-law sent a screenshot and wrote, “Interesting.” I explained that the like was for Colin. She said the account belongs to her ex. I pointed out that Colin lacks the thumbs to manage a separate one. This has been described as deliberately missing the point. For completeness, I have not liked the ex’s holiday photographs, his new trainers or a post in which he described getting a promotion as “a season of growth”. I scrolled past all of those with considerable loyalty. My husband thinks I should mute him for the sake of peace. I asked whether he would also like me to abandon Colin halfway through physiotherapy. He said he was going to the shed. I could quietly unfollow and ask another relative for updates, but I don’t want to establish a secret Labrador information service. That feels worse than liking a picture in public. Is there a sensible rule here? Must every animal be included in a breakup? The latest update says Colin is allowed ten minutes in the park. I haven’t liked it yet. I’m proud of him in a private capacity.