'WOW Making a kid cry over a stupid dog, SO MATURE': Mother ignores "do not pet" vest and sends her son to pet service dog after being warned not to, then shouts at the owner for snapping at them

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Nov 13, 2025 10:00 AM EST

We suppose that there is something inherently confusing about dogs wearing "do not pet" vests. What do you mean we shouldn't pet them? They're dogs! And dogs are adorable and precious and friendly and wouldn't hurt a soul. Right? Well, sort of. There are all kinds of reasons that a dog could wear a vest or a leash like that. They could be service dogs in training. They could be newly adopted dogs with traumas that we don't know about. Ad maybe the owner just doesn't want you touching them and stressing them out. 

No matter the reason, the "do not pet" vest should be respected. Because you really don't know why the dog is wearing. All that you do know is that it is rare for a dog to wear one, and therefore, there must be a reason. You should not pet dogs like that, and you should definitely not send you kid to pet them, especially after being warned not to. The one taking the biggest risk in this situation is the kid. Do we really want that?

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  • 01

    "[Am I wrong] for yelling at a kid who pet my service dog after being told not to?"

    DO NOT PET
    via Cold_Ad3951
  • 02
    So for context, I have a 1 year old psychiatric service dog in training. Me and my friend went to a big Walmart with my service dog we walk to the craft aisle so I could get some paint. I overhear a mom talking to her kid about my dog she said "aww [kid's name] you should go pet that puppy it looks sweet!"
    via MyServiceMutt
  • 03
    I turn around and say "sorry she is a working dog and cant be pet" the mom then replies "aww but my son is just a kid and he wants to pet your dog" this is how the rest of the convo went
    via MyServiceMutt
  • 04
    Me: (to kid) sorry she is a working dog honey and petting her could really distract her The mom: Can you let it slide once for him Me: no im so sorry she is working maybe if you see me outside when she is of duty you can pet her!
    via MyServiceMutt
  • 05
    I then grab my paint and me an my friend start walking away I can hear the mom behind me telling her kid that "its ok I will let you pet that dog" I start laughing with my friend about it and we go to look for sencory toys. When we get to the aisle i put my dog in a down stay between my legs to give me personal space behind me.
    via MyServiceMutt
  • 06
    My friend then taps on my shoulder and said "girll the karen followed us" I turn around and see her down the aisle looking at the shelf and her kids eyes where locked on my dog. I grab my thing I was looking for and then my dog jumps forward and turns around, I look bact to see the kid and lose it and yell "I TOLD YOU NOT TO PET MY DOG KID"
    via MyServiceMutt
  • 07
    The kid starts crying and runs to his mom My friend tells me to calm down then I say "NO I TOLD THIS KID NOT TO PET MY DOG" my dog tells me to sit to calm down so i start walking away when the mom yells to me "WOW MAKING A KID CRY OVER A STUPID DOG SO MUTURE" I yell back " YEA I TOLD YOU AND YOUR KID NO PETTING
    via MyServiceMutt
  • 08
    I turn and walk away. I gave my friend my card and tell her to check out im going to the car to calm down. When she gets to the car she says " that was unnecessary" and "its just a kid petting your dog its not like she is medical alert"
    via MyServiceMutt
  • 09
    I turn to her stunned she would say that and the drive home was silent. I told my friends and family what happened and they said i was being over dramatic and should just let the kid pet my dog. I feel i did nothing wrong I gave the kid and his mom a boundary and they broke in petting, distracting and scaring my working dog.
    via MyServiceMutt
  • 10
    DO NOT PET
    via DjMoneybagzz

  • Listen… do we support yelling at kids, especially kids that are not your own? No. Is this person in the wrong? Also no. The one who is in the wrong here is the mother, not the child, not the dog, not the owner. You've been told “no” to petting this dog. And sending your child to pet a dog that he's not allowed to pet is dangerous for the child more than anyone. 

  • 11
    (Edit it was not my mom and dad that said i was wrong it was aunt, uncles, and other) ALSO MY DOG WOULD NEVER BITE SOMEONE LOL So AITA in this situation?
    via MyServiceMutt
  • 12
    Psychiatric service dogs (PSDs) are dogs that are specially trained to work with people who have certain kinds of mental illnesses or learning disabilities. I THINK THE KID WAS 7-9
    via MyServiceMutt
  • 13
    PLEASE GIVE ME SPACE
    via reddit
  • 14
    WickedJoker420 That kid is gonna get bit one day, and the mother is going to blame the dog. NTA, probably should've yelled even louder. People need to learn to respect service animals. Make sure it's wearing its service vest though.
    via WickedJoker420
  • 15
    MyServiceMutt OP she was and it was her first drive by pet she is a good girl
    via MyServiceMutt
  • 16
    Dimerella Wow I would be questioning your friendship.
    via Dimerella
  • 17
    MyServiceMutt OP ik my best friend said the same thing when i told her what happend
    via MyServiceMutt
  • 18
    DO NOT PET IN TRAINING
    via Heidi Cook Rosendahl

  • About the friend… not the best reaction from them, but they were also there. We don't quite know how aggressive the screaming was at the child. Maybe it was a little over the line. Doesn't change who's at fault, but yes. 

  • 19
    Reasonable-Salad7274 What is wrong with parents? Seriously? She asked. You said no. She didn't like your response, followed you around the store, AND STILL gave her kid permission to pet your dog!! She's nuts. AND she's lucky you have a well behaved animal who didn't bite or snap at her child. NTA. Some people shouldn't be parents.
    via Reasonable-Salad7274
  • 20
    Champi_Feuille NTA. People should always listen to a dog's owner when they say "it's ok / not ok to pet my dog". Even if it looks like a cute little ball of fluff, no one can know how it will react and suddenly it's your fault because "why did your fucking dog has bitten my kid?" even when you said no multiple times.
    via Champi_Feuille
  • 21
    And services dogs shouldn't be pet when they're on service! Because it's considered a reward and that can mess up the whole training! I don't think it's the kid's fault tho since their mom said it was ok, it's 100% on the entitled mom. You did great because as I said if something had happened it would have been "your fault". People need to learn how to take no for an answer sometimes, and not just because it can be dangerous to pet an unknown dog.
    via Champi_Feuille

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Tags

aww wholesome dogs adorable child drama cute service dogs doggo mom
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