'Her response was "lock her in my bathroom, she'll be fine"': Neglectful 24-year-old "best friend" leaves her dog at home every time she goes to sleep over at her boyfriend's, forcing her roommate to deal with the anxious pup

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Jul 18, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Being a good dog owner means a lot of things. It goes beyond simply feeding your dog, keeping your dog's water bowl full, and taking your dog on a walk a few times a day. Being a good dog owner means understanding what makes your dog special, and the special things that make your dog happy, and the opposite. But more than anything, being a good dog owner requires - yes, requires - you to be present. 

Dogs are social creatures, and if you don't have time to take care of your dog, then you should not have one. That has to be a consideration. And we don't know if the dog owner in this story really understands that. Either way, it is not okay to abandon your dog for hours and nights - while dropping the responsibility on your roommate. We don't know why she's doing it, maybe her boyfriend doesn't like dogs, but the reason doesn't matter. It is unacceptable. 

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  • 01

    "[Am I wrong] for snapping at my roommate for leaving her dog home when she sleeps at her boyfriend’s house?"

    "[I snapped] at my roommate for leaving her dog home when she sleeps at her boyfriend's house
    via Unsplash / Ethan Hasenfratz - elhexpress

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    I (32F) live with my best friend (34F). Let's call her Molly. I work from home and Molly works in an office. Molly has a dog, Gabby, and is not the best dog mom, if I'm being honest.
    via BroccoliNo2965
  • 03
    She walks her 1-2 times a day and the walks are anywhere between 3- 10 minutes long. That's it. That's all the stimulation this poor dog gets (I secretly walk her extra times because I feel bad but I don't want my friend to know).
    via BroccoliNo2965
  • 04
    Anyways, Gabby is historically TERRIFIED of thunderstorms. She whines, paces, pants SO loud, scratches at walls and doors, etc.
    via BroccoliNo2965
  • 05
    Molly has been dating a guy for about 8 months and it's getting pretty serious. She stays at his house anywhere between 2-4 nights a week. So Molly will come home from work, walk gabby for a few minutes, and immediately leave again for the night. She NEVER brings Gabby to the boyfriends house.
    via BroccoliNo2965
  • 06
    We live in a rainforest-y climate and it's been raining here every single day/night for two weeks and counting now. So when Molly goes to her boyfriends house for the night, she fully knows how Gabby is going to act but she leaves her here anyway for me to inevitably deal with.
    via BroccoliNo2965
  • 07
    I finally confronted my friend about this and her response was "lock her in my bathroom, she'll be fine"....ummm what?? I'm not locking this dog anywhere and I think this whole thing is just f ed up in general.
    via BroccoliNo2965
  • 08
    I finally snapped at Molly about this and we haven't spoken in a few days. We avoid each other like the plague and Molly is too selfish to apologize.
    via BroccoliNo2965
  • 09
    Am I the ah_le? Should I have kept my mouth shut? Or was | right to say something and justified to be fed up and ped?
    via BroccoliNo2965
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10529504512
    via Unsplash / Ethan Hasenfratz - elhexpress

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Honestly, we feel worse for the dog than for anyone else in this story. And although we respect you not necessarily signing up for it or wanting to take care of a dog yourself, we hope that you will find a way to make this pupper's life a little bit better. Because the dog deserves it. 

  • 11
    Broccoli No2965 OP I'd also like to add that Gabby is a 9-10 year old Great Pyrenees..not sure if it's important but it is more context..
    via BroccoliNo2965
  • 12
    Beautiful-Way-2259 NTA. Reckless abandonment is clearly not above her and that poor dog deserves better. Tell her to rehome her dog or you'll report her for neglect and follow through with it. If you don't you're the AH for allowing the dog to suffer as she has been.
    via Beautiful-Way-2259
  • 13
    Broccoli No2965 OP Thank you for saying this!
    via BroccoliNo2965
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10529490688
    via Unsplash / Bruce Williamson

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • And no, you are not wrong for snapping. We honestly do not know how you managed to hold it in for as long as you did. Both because of the trouble that this roommate is causing you and for the things she's doing with her dog. This confrontation needed to happen. 

  • 15
    BraveWarrior-55 The next time your roommate leaves for the night, you pack up and leave too. Tell Molly that you are not going to be home and she needs to make arrangements for the dog. Stand firm. Since Molly sounds immature and irresponsible (as a pet owner, anyway) you will likely have some damage done to the apt because my bet is, she will NOT RETURN TO CARE FOR HER DOG.
    via BraveWarrior-55
  • 16
    This is fine, document all destruction that that occurs and continue to leave the house every time your roommate is gone for the night (surely you can find a friend with a couch, or treat yourself to a hotel room!) And you tell her that if she abandons the dog again, you will report her (and any damage) to the landlord and the humane society. Then do it.
    via BraveWarrior-55
  • 17
    You will not be able to reason with her because her boyfriend is way more important than the 'contract' she made when she adopted poor Gabby. Sorry to Gabby; you don't get to pick your parents. Sadly.
    via BraveWarrior-55
  • 18
    Broccoli No2965 OP Molly would 100% not care and just leave gabby alone whether I was here or not unfortunately
    via BroccoliNo2965
  • 19
    Cheezburger Image 10529491200
    via Unsplash / Mike Turner - miketurner5t

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 20
    Gloomy_Contact5929 "Molly" needs to start acting like a responsible dog-owner. Her response about locking Gabby in the bathroom says it all really. You're deffo NTA.
    via Gloomy_Contact5929
  • 21
    merlot120 Keep the dog and rehome Molly.
    via merlot120

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aww dogs cute dogs drama friends cute doggo roommates
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