shouldn't happen to a dog

(something) shouldn't happen to a dog

Something is so heinous or terrible that no creature should ever have to experience it. A brutal attack like that shouldn't happen to a dog. The politician reveals many personal tragedies in her autobiography, awful things that shouldn't happen to a dog.
See also: dog, happen
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

shouldn't happen to a dog

Fig. an expression of something that is so bad that no creature deserves it. Poor guy. That shouldn't happen to a dog. This cold I got shouldn't happen to a dog.
See also: dog, happen
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • shouldn
  • shouldn’t happen to a dog
  • (something) shouldn't happen to a dog
  • heinous
  • whale into
  • whale into (someone or something)
  • whale into someone/something
  • whaling
  • whale away
  • whale away at (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
ANSWER: We all have days that shouldn't happen to a dog and we don't have our homework.