'This is a medical accommodation, not a negotiation': 30-year-old boyfriend demands 19-year-old girlfriend's roommate crate her service dog because he pays rent, sparking tense household showdown

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Nov 1, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

Another day, another person not understanding that service dogs are not pets. We understand where all of this confusion stems from, and the root of the problem lies with the rules and certification of service dogs themselves. The fact that there is no official certification is the problem, ironically! Because there is no way to document or have them registered, anyone can simply buy a service dog vest, slap it on their dog, and pretend that they're the real deal. This, however, leads to ridiculous situations like people bringing their fake service dogs into grocery stores, and the dog jumps into the produce section. Unless the dog was alerting the salad section of a potential medical episode, we're calling this pawrent's bluff on the service part of their "service dog".

Service animals seriously improve the lives of their owners by theoretically stopping their issues before they happen. For example, the woman below has narcolepsy, and her service dog alerts her before an episode, allowing her to deal with it safely. If she were separated from her dog, she would lose those crucial moments before, and could potentially end up in a dangerous situation.

So, enter the antagonist of our story - her roommate's 30-year-old boyfriend (whose girlfriend, the roommate, is 19), who has decided he will move in and is "uncomfortable" around dogs. He goes further to insist that she crate her dog while he's around, which would separate her from her doggo for his comfort. Thankfully, she's standing her ground and threatening to move out if this continues. Good for you, girl, good for you.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to start your Caturday with the funniest felines on the internet!

Advertisement
  • 01

    Am I overreacting for refusing to crate my service dog so my teenage roommate’s 30yo boyfriend feels “comfortable”?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    'I told my roommate either the dog stays as is, or I'm moving out.' SERVICE DOG
    via Zander Smith-Pauls from Pexels

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I (23F) have narcolepsy and use a service dog who alerts me before sleep attacks. I've had her for two years and she's changed my life.
    via Celiifox
  • 03
    My roommate (19F) and I have lived together for six months with no issues. Last week she told me her boyfriend (30M) is moving in.
    via Celiifox

  • We're not here to judge, but a 19-year-old dating a 30-year-old? The chances of that relationship succeeding are slim to none. What kind of 30-year-old would want to move in with a girl and her roommate? There are just so many things wrong here, and the service dog is the least of the issues.

  • 04
    I said okay, but asked that we all sit down to discuss house rules since it's a big change.
    via Celiifox
  • 05
    During that conversation, he said he's "uncomfortable with dogs" and wants her crated whenever he's
    via Celiifox
  • 06
    I explained she's a service dog, not a pet, and that she needs to be with me to do her job.
    via Celiifox
  • 07
    SERVICE DOG
    via LPETTET

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    He said he "gets that" but his comfort matters too since he's paying rent. He suggested I could keep her in my bedroom only, but she needs to move freely to alert me. wherever I am in the apartment.
    via Celiifox
  • 09
    I said no, this is a medical accommodation, not a negotiation. Now my roommate is saying I'm being "inflexible" and "ruining her relationship" because her boyfriend is reconsidering moving in.
    via Celiifox
  • 10
    She said I'm "choosing a dog over her happiness" and that I'm being selfish since "it's her apartment too." My sister thinks I should just try to keep the dog in my room more often to "meet them halfway." I told my roommate either the dog stays as is, or I'm moving out.
    via Celiifox
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10568544768
    via Afif Ramdhasuma from Pexels

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    Now she's crying that I'm "abandoning" her and she can't afford rent alone. AIO?
    via Celiifox

  • If her boyfriend isn't comfortable with dogs, then the roommate and her boyfriend can move in together! Oh wait, they probably can't, because the boyfriend isn't stable enough. Of course, the 19-year-old roommate isn't - who is financially stable at 19? We certainly weren't. 

  • 13
    Hallows Chaser • 5h ago NOR, it's illegal to separate you from a service animal. I had to stand my ground. against my family for the same reason, only my dog senses my seizures before they hit.
    via HallowsChaser
  • 14
    Bubbly_Gene_1315 5h ago . Is he on the lease? If he's not on the lease I would not agree to him being put on the lease or moving in. You might want to check your lease agreement and make sure there's nothing about unauthorized long term stays from people as well - some leases have clauses like this and you'll want to make sure you aren't breaking the lease agreement by allowing him to move in.
    via Bubbly_Gene_1315
  • 15
    DJGrassonova · 6h ago Not overreacting and that age disparity between your roommate and her bf is ridiculous. Tells you everything you need to know
    via DJGrassonova
  • 16
    Feisty... 5h ago • • 5h ago Edited 4h ago "I (23F) have narcolepsy-" no you are not the asshole ? Why would you even question that? You have a condition that makes you fall asleep at any given moment. This disease is very, very, very dangerous.
    via Feisty_Distance1692
  • 17
    Ain't no way your roommate expects for you to crate your dog which HELPS you with your CONDITION. I'm sorry but you should keep your ground. Yes, her bf's wellbeing matters but so does yours.
    via Feisty_Distance1692
  • 18
    Only_Hour_7628 • 5h ago She should just keep her boyfriend crated or in her room instead.
    via Only_Hour_7628
  • 19
    Regigiformayor 5h ago Stand your ground. NOR. If this guy doesn't move in it's probably better for you and your roommate.
    via Regigiformayor
  • 20
    Initial_Dish6682.5h ago Okay if the 30 year old boyfriend is uncomfortable moving in where Op has been before him why doesn't he take his little girlfriend and they move in together.
    via Initial_Dish6682
  • 21
    BeautifulChaosEnergy 5h ago I'm afraid he will you dog if he moves in Your dog is a medical device, if you relied on a wheelchair to get around, would he force you crawl because someone ran over his toes when he was a kid?
    via BeautifulChaosEnergy
  • 22
    Please sit down with your roommate and let her know the dog is non-negotiable and her bf is being a sive. Can you afford this apartment on your own? If you can, tell her to move in with him if she wants to live with him so badly
    via BeautifulChaosEnergy
  • 23
    Or start looking for a new place to live. This situation is going to turn toxic very quickly
    via BeautifulChaosEnergy

Check out our Instagram for more hilarious animal content!

Love our stuff? Shop for some of our pawsome merch here.

Tags

boyfriend dogs crate demanding age gap girlfriend service dogs rent animals entitled people
Scroll Down For The Next Article