'I told them they can’t come back': Mom bans the neighborhood kids from her house after they let her dog escape 4 times, teaching them the consequences of their negligence

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jul 21, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

To a dog mom, their pooch is just like anyone else in the family. With their seat at the proverbial family dinner table, family dogs have earned the right to be treated like Mama's Little Baby. So when this woman—and neighborhood after-school host—found out that some of the local kids were treating her dog like he didn't matter, she put them in their place.

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  • Cheezburger Image 10529852416
    via Nikita Krasnov

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

  • AITAH for banning neighbor kids from my house after repeatedly leaving the door open allowing my dog to escape?
    via Specific_Nobody_1187
  • My son has friends that come over all the time. I have reminded these kids to make sure they shut the doors so my dog doesn't get out. My dog has gotten out four times now because of these kids leaving
    via Specific_Nobody_1187
  • the door open and it's always been difficult to get her back in. She's still young and doesn't mind very well (we are working on training but she hasn't done very well with it. She's an active dog and has not done well
    via Specific_Nobody_1187
  • with recall). Just recently a neighbor's dog went missing because it got scared of fireworks and took off. Unfortunately the dog has not been found 10 days later. Last night the kids came over and
    via Specific_Nobody_1187
  • my dog got out again and it took awhile to get her back. When we finally got her back the kids were still at my house and I told them they can't come back over. I explained that I have told them
    via Specific_Nobody_1187
  • multiple times to shut the door when they come in and they continue to not do so and I am not going to lose my dog over it. Maybe I over reacted but I was scared my dog would have the same fate as the neighbor dog.
    via Specific_Nobody_1187
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    via Ivan Babydov
  • rasalscan· NTA. Actions have consequences and you shouldn't lose you dog over their inattention.
    via rasalscan
  • FlirtyHoneybun⚫ Not the a hole at all. Look, I get that kids forget things, but when it comes to pet safety, there's no room for "oops." I've had to have the same conversation with my nephew about our front gate.
    via FlirtyHoneybun
  • After the third time explaining why it matters, I started making him practice opening and closing it properly. If they can't respect something that basic in your home, they don't deserve the privilege of being there.
    via FlirtyHoneybun
  • Old_Celebration3536. NTA. tbh it sounds like you've been more than patient, four times is a pattern, not an accident, your don's safety has to come first, even if that means setting firmer boundaries with the kids
    via Old_Celebration3536
  • Acanthocephala One285. ΝΤΑ I'd have done the same thing. They aren't listening, and now you need to act. Honestly, I'm surprised that after 4 escapes, you still have a dog.
    via AcanthocephalaOne285
  • BeachinLife1 NTA. If they can't do one simple thing (do they not have doors at home?) and shut the door, then they can't come back. It's that simple. And besides, if either the AC or the heat is on, I'm not cooling/heating the neighborhood!
    via BeachinLife1
  • Prime_fem You didn't overreact at all. Your dog's safety has to come first, and if the kids can't respect such a simple rule after multiple reminders, then banning them was the right call. Hopefully this teaches them some responsibility too. NTA
    via Prime_fem
  • Specific_Design9383. Protect your dog. No excuse for the kids to not listen or show consideration.
    via Specific_Design9383

  • A dog lover's worst fear is having their pup escape the house. 

    Never to return, a lost pup is a lost friend. In fact, I've had many nightmares about my own pup's escape, dreaming of his untimely demise in my absence. And this mom of both humans and dogs felt a similar burden in her home, especially after her kid's friends repeatedly left the back gate open. Begging for her pup to take off into the wilderness without a watchful eye, the group of neighborhood hooligans had no regard for her beloved dog, so she put a stop to the whole hospitality circus. My house, my rules—if you can't handle that, get outta my kitchen.

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family drama dogs neighborhood dog owner moms parenting escaped parent mom Parenting Fail neihborhoods dog stories parents
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