27-year-old bride-to-be takes golden retriever her 19-year-old sister raised for 4 years to give the dog a "better life", so younger sister refuses to stand by her at her wedding: 'She called me selfish'

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jul 18, 2026 8:15 AM EDT

I consider myself a very forgiving person. I believe in the power of second chances and being the change you want to see in the world. Unless you steal or endanger my dog, that is.

As a childless 30-year-old, my dog is practically my baby. I take her to vet appointments with my partner, I spend time making her meals that are full of vitamins and nutrients, and I treat her like a little (she's actually like 60 pounds) princess. I can't help it. I rescued her when she was a puppy, and I've watched her grow into a beautiful young dog that has overcome so much in our short 3 years together. And I know for a fact that if someone did something to her, I would step in and defend her like a father, not like an owner.

If she was taken from me, I don't know what I would do with myself. Let alone if she was taken from me by my sister, like in this entertaining Reddit community's post. She (the 19-year-old woman) raised her dog for 4 years while still living with her family. While she was on a trip, her sister came and took the dog from their house, claiming that the dog would have a better life living with her and her fiancé. When the 19-year-old came home, she expected to be greeted by her loving pupper, only to find out that he was gone. The sister never apologized.

The real kicker came later, when the older sister and bride-to-be asked her to be a bridesmaid at her wedding. Just like I would have, she refused. How could you trust someone and stand next to them at their wedding after they took your dog without even considering your feelings? 

Her family might be accusing her of being selfish, but we stand with her. Not even family can come between me and my dog and not face the consequences.

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  • 01
    Tm ruining one of the biggest days of her life over "some dog."
    via Rebecca Johnsen

    Golden retriever hiding in new house

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

  • 02
    I (19F) still live at home with my parents while I attend community college and work part-time. My older sister (27F) moved out years ago and is getting married in about a month.
    via ThrowRA_PurpleCats
  • 03
    About 4 years ago, my family adopted a golden retriever. Technically he is the family dog, but everyone knows he's really mine. I was the one who trained him, walked him every day, bought him toys, paid for food when I could, and covered some of his vet bills. He slept in my room every night and followed me around the house.
    via ThrowRA_PurpleCats

  • Truth be told, I wouldn't consider the golden retriever “her dog” if her family paid for him. Sure, the doggo loves you a lot, but it's still the family's dog. That gives them no right to rehome it without considering her feelings, but it's not “her” dog unless her name is on all the bills.

  • 04
    A few months ago, I went on a week long trip through the college. While I was gone, my sister came over to visit my parents and decided the dog would have a "better life" living with her and her fiancé because they have a huge house and a big backyard. She never called, texted, or asked me.
    via ThrowRA_PurpleCats
  • 05
    I came home expecting my dog to greet me at the door like he always did, but instead my mom casually said my sister wanted to keep him. I honestly thought she was joking. When I realized she wasn't, I completely lost it.
    via ThrowRA_PurpleCats
  • 06
    I confronted my sister, and she said I was overreacting because "he's still alive" and "you can visit him whenever you want." She also called me selfish for thinking about my feelings instead of dog what was best for the dog.
    via ThrowRA_PurpleCats
  • 07
    The worst part is my parents agree with her. Since I still live at home, they said they have every right to make that decision because the dog lived in their house too. Maybe legally they did, but emotionally it felt like they took away a member of my family while making sure I wasn't there to have a say.
    via ThrowRA_PurpleCats
  • 08
    Since then, I've barely spoken to my sister. Now she's getting married and wants me to be one of her bridesmaids. I told her I wasn't comfortable celebrating someone who would make a huge decision behind my back and not even apologize for it.
    via ThrowRA_PurpleCats
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10648040704
    via Joeyy Lee

    A group of bridesmaids next to bride at her wedding

    Model representation - not the actual subjects of the story.

  • 10
    Now my parents, grandparents, and a few other relatives are calling me immature and saying I'm ruining one of the biggest days of her life over "some dog."
    via ThrowRA_PurpleCats
  • 11
    I honestly don't think it's just about the dog anymore, it's about trust. If someone can make a decision that big with it giving me a phone call, I don't know how I'm supposed to pretend everything's okay just because it's her wedding.
    via ThrowRA_PurpleCats

  • This is the real issue here - trust. Her sister didn't stop to consider her feelings, and even after she expressed them, they were dismissed. That shows not even an ounce of trust; it shows a person who demands control. I wouldn't want to be around that person either.

  • 12
    Aria1031 100% NTA. You're right, the relationship between you and sister now has no trust or respect. How would you be able to stand up and support her when she obviously has no regard for you?
    via Aria1031
  • 13
    MedicinalWalnuts NTA. Your sister stole your dog and your parents let her do it. They ought to understand why you don't trust them anymore.
    via MedicinalWalnuts
  • 14
    TurkeynCranberry NTA During the wedding go get the dog.
    via TurkeynCranberry
  • 15
    Lovebug-1055 I couldn't support someone who took my dog from me. By being in her wedding and any other family celebration. tells her what she did was okay. I could never forget that. Such a sad state of disrespect to take your dog without even calling you first.
    via Lovebug-1055
  • 16
    6
    via Mariela Ferbo

    Woman crouching with family golden retriever outside her house

    All subjects are models

  • 17
    casadega NTA. I would take some time, calmly and clearly write out what you've said here and say that basically your sister AND your parents broke your trust, stole your dog, ignored and diminished your feelings about it, and are now acting like you have a responsibility to people who are the ones who fundamentally changed the relationship.
    via casadega
  • 18
    The hardest thing to do is to stay calm and hold the line when you want to break down and scream at them. Unfortunately cold, calm, and boundaries are what tend to work best. If possible I'd be looking for ways to live out of your parents' (but I stayed til I was 23, so I completely get it not being feasible).
    via casadega
  • 19
    I don't know how you can come back from this with your parents or your sister.
    via casadega
  • 20
    I would also send them an invoice for dog training, vet bills, treats, food, etc. Because if you were caring for "you sister's dog" and training him, you deserve to be compensated for it. This makes me so furious that I would look into filing a police report or small claims court. If
    via casadega
  • 21
    you have vet bill receipts and point of contact with the vet you might be able to prove ownership. If this happened to me ... I don't know...I would go scorched earth...and I love and am close to my family.
    via casadega
  • 22
    ClodaghSnarks Oh my God. NTA. The biggest of big NTA. 100% NTA. I don't even have any pets and if this had happened to me I would have gone absolutely nuclear. This is straight up cut people off territory. I am so, so sorry that this happened to you OP.
    via ClodaghSnarks
  • 23
    mollyjane666 If it's just some dog she can give it back.
    via mollyjane666
  • 24
    Gattina1 I'm ruining one of the biggest days of her life over "some dog." NTA. You aren't ruining anything. Your sister ruined your relationship because she's selfish. She knew how you felt about the dog.
    via @Gattina1
  • 25
    the dog would have a "better life" living with her and her fiancé Bulls. They took the dog from the only home he's known for the last 4 years. And anyone who calls it "some dog" should never be around it, anyway.
    via Gattina1

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stealing bridesmaids golden retriever weddings
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