'He says it's a service animal': Homeowner won't allow friend's service dog in their home, internet is divided

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    Dog
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    Font - Posted by u/Timely-Possible-9467 5 hours ago AITA for not letting a service dog into my party. I (29M) hosted a pumpkin carving party for my friends and I this past weekend and a decision I made is causing drama amongst us. The party was indoors as its still nearly 100 during the day where i'm at. I dislike cats and dogs, any and all. My friends. know this. Primarily, i think they are filthy. I want nothing to do with them because of that.
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    Font - A buddy and his current fling, early relationship girlfriend, how every you want to define it showed up, she has a golden retriever with her. I did not know this dog was coming. No one ran this by me, I would have said no. I pulled him aside and told him the dog had to go. He says if the dog has to go, she has to go, and then I have to go to. I just say, come on man, you should know better than to bring a dog to my house.
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    Font - He said that its a service animal, Apparently for Diabetes. Hel thought it would be different. I said no, it might medically help her, but its still a fog animal. He starts arguing but maintain my stance. I offered to keep it in the garage with the AC on. He goes and talks to his girl and she looks annoyed, I felt bad about that. They opt to leave. He lets me know i'm an asle. My friends were all split on how I handled it. AITA?
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    Font - OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the as O AITA for not letting a service dog into my house? I might be the ae because I was essentially keeping an important medical device away from my buddy's girlfriend e:
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    Font - Altruistic_City163 · 5 hr. ago ESH. I'm a service dog handler and I think everyone handled the situation poorly. You are not in the wrong for not wanting a dog in your private dwelling. It's your right not to allow even a service dog in your private home.
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    Font - However, I think the way you handled the situation was poor. It sounds like you were not very understanding of the shoy position that you put your friend and his girlfriend in and the way your actions probably made them feel. Like I said, you have every right to make the decision to not allow whatever medical equipment you want in your house, but if you choose to make
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    Font - that decision, you need to understand that there are effects on the person whose medical equipment you're banning. When you choose to exclude someone like that, especially on the basis of a disability that they can't control, it's understandably going to be hurtful to the person you're excluding as well as their loved ones, and you should have
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    Font - approached the situation with a lot of tact, empathy, and sincerity. Based on your post, it doesn't sound like you approached the situation with any of those things and that you expected them to be cool with the way you treated them, which is unreasonable.
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    Font - I also think your friend and his girlfriend handled the situation poorly. I can tell you that I would never, ever show up at someone's private home with my service dog without clearing it with the person first. Like I said, the homeowner has every right to not allow my dog there, and sometimes there's even very good reason for that, like
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    Font - someone in the home having a dog allergy or a fear of dogs. And even if the person just goes "I don't like dogs and therefore don't want you here," that's their right, so I always check first and respect the homeowner's decision. The friend and the girlfriend absolutely should have spoken with you about this first.
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    Font - However, they were not ases for being upset. You told them, "My dislike of dogs is more important to me than spending time with you and more important to me than your physical safety," and while you have every right to feel that way, they also have every right to be upset by that. You can't expect
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    Font - Fast_Bill8955 · 5 hr. ago NTA. Your place, your rules. You offered to accommodate the dog in the garage. He thought it would be different. It's not his place to assume. All he had to do was text you beforehand and ask. Totally his fault. 49 Reply Share
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    Font - that people will not have a negative reaction when you choose to treat them that way, for and they are not a responding negatively. They thought you were their friend and found out that you're not (or at least not a very good one) and
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    Font - they were disinvited from a party in front of an audience because the girlfriend has a disability, which is a super sl thing to go through. So yeah, they're going to be upset with you about it, and I don't think they're in the wrong for feeling that way.
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    Font - You both made mistakes. They should have asked you ahead of time about the dog, and you should have treated them with more empathy when telling them they had to leave and also be more understanding of the fact that you making a decision that is hurtful to others is going to have consequences. 10.3k Reply Share
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    Font - Grave Dancer40.5 hr. ago This comment in 100% and I wish I could give it an award. Reply Share 1.4k
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    Font - blueeyed94 5 hr. ago ESH Your friend should have said something knowing your feelings towards animals. Totally agree with that. But your whole posts screams "I am a disrespectful ahole" calling his girlfriend his current fling? Don't get me started in how you talk about cats and dogs. Personally, I think I would have enjoyed the presence of the golden retriever more than yours. 3.6k Reply Share
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    Font - ghrutnsn 5 hr. ago Ehhhh.... nobody comes out of this looking good. Your buddy should have given you a heads-up beforehand. Your anti-animal stance is so extreme that you chased away a friend. You don't have to love dogs or anything, but maybe you should step back and figure out why your animal hostility level is so high that even a medical service animal sitting there and minding its own business is somehow a crisis. I guess ESH 2.2k Reply Share ●●●
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    Font - Ill-Produce6696 INFO: did you speak with your friend after? What did you two tell each other before and after they left? get the feeling something is missing 576 Reply Share Fantastic_Lynx_5149 the friend should've asked first before bringing the dog seeing as everyone knows OP doesn't like animals. that's what makes it NTA for me 427 Reply Share
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    Font - anti_hero_123 · 5 hr. ago NTA. The dog should have been discussed beforehand. Your house is not a public place and you aren't legally required to allow her to bring her dog. Obviously, if they'd informed you prior to the party that GF would need to bring her service dog in order to attend, and you'd said no, they wouldn't be A H for declining the invitation.
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    Font - My issue with their assuming the dog would be welcome in your home is that they seem to have a complete disregard for you or any other potential host. What happens if they show up to someone's home who is extremely allergic or debilitatingly afraid of dogs? What if they bring the dog into someone's home and the hosts own animals become stressed or even flee out of fear of the GF's dog?
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    Font - I get that she needs the dog around, but hosts need to be given that information up front. It simply may not be feasible for every household to welcome a dog-even a service animal- hosts should be given the option, or at the very least, be given the opportunity to plan for this added "guest." 4 466 Reply Share
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    Font - ncslazar7 NTA. Reddit is split for a reason. People want to defend disabilities, but this is your home and you don't need to let animals inside of you don't want to. The fact that your friend brought over his gf that you don't know, and brought her service animal just assuming you'd be fine with it, was an AH move on his part. I feel sorry for both you and the gf in this situation, because your friend should have talked to you first, but instead created an uncomfortable situation for ever
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    Font - breathemusic14 NTA. I'm all for service animals being allowed places, but when you are going to a private event, especially at a private home, it's not ok to just assume an animal is welcome. What if you had a guest that was severely allergic? Let alone the fact that you are 100% allowed to just never want pets in your home. Them not asking ahead of time was an AH move. You didn't make a scene, you offered a compromise and pulled him aside. 311 Reply Share
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    Font - techbear724 hr. ago. NTA. I absolutely love all dogs, but....: You don't bring any animal to someone's house without giving them the heads up first, not guide dogs, service animals, emotional support animals, or your "honestly he loves everyone" tarantula that has separation anxiety.
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    Font - I'm being flippant but my point is that you don't bring any animal to someone else's home without their ok. What if you or one of your other guests was extremely allergic, and could get anaphylaxis? What if your tenancy explicitly barred dogs from even visiting?
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    Font - What if you had bowls of chocolate out for people to munch on and the dog ate them and got sick or died? What if you just don't want a random dog in your home? 224 Reply Share
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    Font - KyotoDreamsTea - 5 hr. ago ΝΤΑ Diabetes, seizures, anxiety, etc. regardless of the reason, he should have asked first. It's your house. This would have all been avoided if he would have just asked before coming with his plus one and furry helper. His lack of planning caused the awkwardness. Sincerely, Dog lover 166 Reply Share
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    Font - ● Reddoraptor 6 hr. ago As a service dog handler myself, I'm going to say you are not legally obligated to have anyone's dog in your own home - nor for that matter are you required to allow people to use a wheelchair or any other means of mitigating their medical conditions in your home. Would you be an AH for having antique floors, making everyone remove their shoes and refusing to allow someone in a
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    Font - wheelchair to enter? Or if you liked dogs but had a cat that attacked them, refusing entry on that basis? I'm conflicted because I would be excluded here, but I don't think so, your house is not open the public, it's your own house, you don't have to have dogs in your own home if you despise them. Of course you'll probably lose your friend if you
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    Font - hate dogs enough not to want to be anywhere near them, and many people would say if you hate dogs that says something about you which is not great - we certainly wouldn't be friends - but you're not excluding me from accessing anywhere publicly, so I'm calling NAH. 4 135 Reply Share
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    Font - IamIrene NTA. They just showed up and expected to treat your home like it was a public space. Nervy. And very asOlian of them. Your "friend" should have asked instead of just springing it on you...it's like he was trying to shame you into allowing the dog and was really shocked when his attempt backfired. 137 Reply Share
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    Font - Comprehensive Mix1961 Unpopular maybe but NTA If they were unsure if you'd also say no to a service animal (which is a legit reason for bringing the dog I'm not saying your friend is an AH for that) they should have asked you. Then when you said no, they could decide if they still wanted to come or not. 4126 Reply Share ●●●
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    Font - No_Rope_8115.5 hr. ago YTA. If it's a genuine service animal for diabetes she could die without that dog. It needs to stay near her so it can alert her if she needs medicine or she could go into a coma and die. That is why service dogs are legally allowed to go into places other animals are not permitted, including restaurants. Don't get me wrong, you are legally within your rights to refuse any person and/or dog entry to your private residence for any reason. But this isn't "is the law o
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    Font - WordsOfFate 5 hr. ago edited 3 hr. ago All of these E S H comments are wild. I personally say NTA because you weren't even told ahead of time. Other guests could be allergic or have a fear of dogs. I'm a huge animal lover, but I would also be annoyed if someone unexpectedly brought a dog or any animal to my home 96 Reply Share
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    Font - CatchMeIfYou Can09 5 hr. ago It's your house; not a business. A party YOU threw. He knew you weren't a fan. The reason she brought him was irrelevant; he should've asked regardless. ΝΤΑ 76 Reply Share
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    Font - AHOY Neko4tsume 4 hr. ago YTA for not making an exception for a disability aid. I'm sure Reddit will tell you n t a ore s h. But if you think a service dog is more filthy than carving pumpkins you're out to lunch. 62 Reply Share
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    Font - Far_Nefariousness773 NAH I have a SD and I never go to anyone's private home without checking. I have had one for 4 years now, my aunt doesn't like dogs. She doesn't host at her home if I'm coming home for the holidays. It's always my dad or my other Aunt. She doesn't want a dog in her home and I'm not mad at it. She understands he needed and my dad can't sit by me 24/7 at a family event. So my dad hosts when I come to town. It's your private home, you don't have to allow it. They should
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    Font - DuckySweater. 5 hr. ago NTA - yes service dogs are important but so are your boundaries, your house your rules! If he was your friend he should know the rules in your house and should have called to check instead of just assuming! 455 Reply Share
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    Font - PorterBorter 5 hr. ago NTA. It's not ok to bring a dog to someone's house without permission. And Golden Retrievers are large dogs who shed a LOT of hair, not a purse dog. 51 Reply Share

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