Woman With Dog Allergy Books Train Compartment, Turns Away Passenger With Service Dog

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kalila courban
Mar 13, 2022 1:00 PM EDT

Okay, you might think right off of the bat only by reading the title of this post that the subject of the story is in the wrong. It sounds pretty bad, right? 'Girl refuses to share her train compartment with another passenger and the passenger's service dog.' Well, that doesn't make this girl sound too great, she must be the a-hole. Or not?

THEN we started to read a little further and gain knowledge about all the details surrounding this unpleasant exchange. The original poster of this thread is allergic to dogs to start with. She also specifically paid extra for this solo train compartment so that she may enjoy it by herself. Once she explained to the intruding passenger that she has an allergy, she was met with a rude and snarky 'Are you deadly allergic?' 

That is a classic a-hole move. At the end of the day, we've just got to respect and be kind to one another. Despite the passenger's service dog and disability, OP had a very reasonable argument as to why she would not be sharing her compartment. And we support her for that. 

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  • 01
    Human body - Posted by u/AITAthrowaway_1212 3 days ago AITA for Telling Someone With a Service Dog to Please Not Sit in the Compartment I Booked
    via AITAthrowaway_1212
  • 02
    Font - Sorry for the long title I didn't know how else to say it. I also know that it makes me sound like an evil witch but please hear me out. Some relevant information is that I am 18(f) who has allergies to dogs. I also live in an area in which there are overnight train rides. I had to take one so I could see my friends and celebrate my 18th. I booked a compartment for the train ride so I would be comfortable.
    via AITAthrowaway_1212

    Okay, some context, we appreciate it. 

  • 03
    Font - About an hour in a young lady like myself came with a service dog and opened the door to my compartment and came in. It wasn't locked because I had forgotten. I asked her what she was doing and she replied with "There is more than enough space and I need the extra space for my dog" I was a little annoyed to be honest. I replied "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to please leave and not stay" "It is because I have a disability isn't it" "No it is because I'm allergic to dogs" "Are
    via AITAthrowaway_1212

    And here is where the drama begins. 

    "She started yelling that I was an ableist asshole. One of the workers came past and asked what was going on. I provided proof that I booked the compartment and told her that I was allergic to dogs."

    Now, there's no need for all that yelling, sis. 

  • 04
    Organism - The worker then asked the woman to leave and apologised to me on the trains behalf. I told her it wasn't her fault and all was good after that. Now a lot friends think I should have just let her and moved myself to a different part of the train since she needed the extra room for her dog.
    via AITAthrowaway_1212
  • 05
    Font - Now I'm asking you AITA. Update: Please be patient with me I have been trying to answer everyone but I am very backlogged as there is only one me.
    via AITAthrowaway_1212
  • 06
    Font - Some information that were either missed out on the original post and some theories: • I did pay a lot extra • I think her service dog was actually a pet or emotional support animal and not properly trained • This was not her first time. She has done this a minimum of one time before me as this incident was her second warning but I think she uses the ableism excuse to get her way more than just a couple times. • None of my friends have any allergies.
    via AITAthrowaway_1212
  • 07
    Font - To see where to go from here I was reading your comments and have a game plan. First is that I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow (thank goodness they have a spot) and will be talking with my friends tomorrow too. Mostly to see if they apologise but also to see if I can mend my relationship with one of them who has been my best friends for a really long time. Other than her at this point I will have no problem cutting them off. I see so many red flags I ignored before and now rea
    via AITAthrowaway_1212
  • 08
    Font - Least-Moose3738 · 2 days ago Partassipant [4] NTA You took reasonable accomodations for yourself. She didn't. You aren't being ableist, you are being reasonable. An allergy doesn't have to be deadly to be a problem. 16.9k Give Award Share Report Save Follow
    via Least-Moose3738
  • 09
    Font - Least-Moose3738 · 2 days ago Partassipant [4] You were fine. Honestly. It would have been ableist of you to say "you can stay but the dog has to go". That would have been negating the need for her reasonable accomodation. You acknowledged the need for her service dog, but it ran counter to your needs that you also made accomodations for.
    via Least-Moose3738
  • 10
    Font - HambdenRose · 2 days ago I work in a library and a few weeks ago a woman walked in with a dog with a fake vest on. It was so obviously fake. I met her at the door and told her that no dogs were allowed. As she was asking if service dogs were allowed and the vest on the dog said service dog, the dog ran forward and was sniffing my feet and straining at it's leash. I told her that it was obviously not a service dog because no service dog would strain at the leash and sniff my feet. She agre
    via HambdenRose
  • 11
    Font - Roadgoddess · 2 days ago · edited 2 days ago NTA- Dog and disability aside, you were under no obligation to share your compartment with her that you paid for. You're 100% correct when you told her if she knew she needed the extra space she should've booked one. Just because she has a dog doesn't give her rights over everybody else with regards to the rules. You did the right thing. Edit: She mentioned in her update that it Wasn't a service dog it was an emotional support animal, maybe and
    via Roadgoddess
  • 12
    Font - CraigBybee · 2 days ago Partassipant [4] Yeah, no. She didn't have to do anything to accommodate the girl belligerently trespassing in the private area that she paid for. "Ableist" literally doesn't enter into that equation. Full stop. 2.6k 5 Give Award Share Report Save Follow Accomplished-Mud2840 · 2 days ago This part. If the chick knew she needed more space "SHE" should have made the appropriate accommodations. OP didn't have to consider her at all. Even if she didn't have a dog, I wo
    via CraigBybee

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