Family decides to befriend wildlife animals, and they damage the house they refused to fix, now the front porch has collapsed, they expect their daughter to help: ‘They said I owe it to them since I didn’t warn them when I knew it could be a problem.’

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Aug 9, 2026 10:30 AM EDT

If someone makes you aware that something bad is going to happen, you either correct it or follow your gut, but then accept your fate when it in fact happens.

If someone came and told you to your face that the wildlife you are befriending is damaging your house, and you decided not to care, then it's 100% YOUR FAULT that you didn't hear when you were told. Especially if this person not only told you once or twice, but a thousand times. They aren't responsible for the damage that you let happen, knowing the problems that it would cause in the long run. You are the one responsible for the damage that the creatures that you let into your house create. You are the human who opened the door to them. That is the topic of the story below.

Responsibility seems to be the main issue here. Who has to take care of the damage? The answer is actually quite easy to determine. The people who decided to let the animal in. The ones who also ignored the warning of what was going to happen. They need to pay. Nobody else. No matter how much lawyers get involved or how many trials they can get to, it will always be their fault, and so, their responsibility to fix. The daughter is just someone who did their best to warn them, and all for what? Just to get involved in a mess that they expect her money to fix.

Maybe someone sees this differently, or there is another side to this story. But to my understanding, there is nothing that proves that she should be the one wasting money. They were the ones making the decision to let wildlife into the house. I don't really get why they think it is better to take the matter to court instead of accepting that they were wrong and that they should have listened to their daughter. Ruin the family over something like this seems not only incredibly dumb, but also sad. Admit it, you were wrong. Let's end the matter for once and for all. 

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  • 01
    My folks live in a 60's house in an older neighborhood. Some time ago they decided to befriend (i.e. "feed") the wildlife. Started with trying to feed birds. Which became trying to satisfy the squirrels so the birds get a chance. It then "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie"'d itself down to having red squirrels and chipmunks. Aww... cute... Generations later, they were causing visible gaps between the stair and the floor of the front porch. I could fit my flat hand into
    via Mobile-Amphibian4475
  • 02
    Wildlife in nature, a male lion with a female one resting.
    via Zdeněk Macháček

    Wildlife in nature, a male lion with a female one resting.

  • 03
    the holes in several places. I don't know how long the tunneling was going on but when I first saw it, it was already a potentially HUGE problem. I pointed it out and both of them said, "Yeah, we know. We've seen em go in and out." I have very weird and fairly focused anxieties and "Patio Collapse Due to Chipmunk" doesn't seem like a ridiculous headline to me. I asked if they'd get it fixed and I got nonchalant shrugs.
    via Mobile-Amphibian4475
  • 04
    "Why?" I brought up the upcoming fall/winter and water getting under the patio to the foundation and the damage that it could cause. The structural integrity of the patio is compromised. What if the holes become a trip hazard and one of you or both of you get really hurt? You'd never be able to cover that. Shrugs all around.
    via Mobile-Amphibian4475
  • 05
    The next year, after a couple days of nonstop rain, they returned home from wherever to find that the front porch had, indeed, collapsed in on itself. Fortunately there were no injuries according to the door camera no one had been standing on it when the slab cracked like a shotgun blast. Cue the whole insurance mambo and inspection and rigamarole to try to get it repaired or replaced. Cut to now, months later, and I've been asked to help pay for half of
    via Mobile-Amphibian4475
  • 06
    their deductible and the expenses insurance wouldn't cover. They insisted on exact same as before and wouldn't compromise on a cheaper option so insurance gave them money for the cheaper and the difference was out of pocket. To my understanding at least. I have flat out refused. They said I owe it to them since | didn't warn them when I knew it could be a problem. I said that I had warned them,
    via Mobile-Amphibian4475
  • 07
    they had laughed it off. "You should have warned us more than once." I had. Until they told me to shut up about it. It's gotten to where they're threatening small claims court. Family is divided. Some say I should know by now that it takes more than one mention to get anything done so it was my fault. Most are of the mind that I did
    via Mobile-Amphibian4475
  • 08
    everything but get it fixed for them and I owe nothing. I'm 99% sure that this issue would either be dismissed or go in my favor. I'm not worried about if the one percent has me pay out. I'm worried about their wellbeing. They can't afford this if they lose. I don't want to go down without a fight - they've used my money to bail them out of financial woe more than a few times and I need to draw the line somewhere. I can't keep saving them forever.
    via Mobile-Amphibian4475
  • 09
    Maybe the only way they'll learn is to be in real difficulty. I could keep them out if this real trouble and try to stand my ground before something happens. I'm torn. AITAH because I'm not just giving them the money this time? Edit 1: ok, this is more attention than I expected. Thank you for pointing out what should be patently obvious for me. I replied to a few people about their
    via Mobile-Amphibian4475
  • 10
    disbelief about the situation. Manipulation, guilt, and anxiety for decades will alter every perception of every problem. I stress myself out about being stressed out over stupid stuff. Because "what if" is always there. I know I am in no way responsible legally. I don't live there. I know they'd lose. Where my dilemma comes is that I can just stop this whole nonsense for now with a check. I'm not and I feel like I'm abandoning them. Hmm what else. Oh. Yes. "Cutesy writing." |
    via Mobile-Amphibian4475
  • 11
    liked that one. I'm not writing a novel (sorry person who questioned my use of porch/patio descriptions) but I am also not boring. Edit 2: hours later and I'm almost overwhelmed by the responses. I thank everyone, including the doubters and the person that said something about "Al proofing" my writing - I asked them what I do that makes this "Al proof," as | write like this and have for decades as evidenced by several
    via Mobile-Amphibian4475
  • 12
    other web sites I use. I am working on getting my metaphorical sh together and I'm going to just let them do what they'll do. Maybe they'll give it up after they see court costs or do any research regarding the likelihood of winning. I won't be answering individual comments after this... there are so many and while I want to be a glib smart a or acknowledge that I'm emotionally damaged, I just can't handle the volume.
    via Mobile-Amphibian4475
  • 13
    A colorful bird.
    via Boris Smokrovic

    A colorful bird.

  • 14
    adi_well Why was it your responsibility to warn them in the first place? I don't get that argument
    via adi_well
  • 15
    No_Profile_3343 Small claims court for what exactly? They don't have a case. They have found out the FO part of FA. NTA Sometimes children have to be the parents in the situation and do the tough love for the lesson to be learned.
    via No_Profile_3343
  • 16
    ImColdandImTired It's gotten to where they're threatening small claims court. Warn them one more thing: they have no basis for a claim - it's not your house, so it's not your responsibility. They will lose. Family is divided Remind those who are against you of the above. Ask why they didn't warn your parents since they know how they are? Let them know that, if
    via ImColdandImTired
  • 17
    they're so concerned, they're welcome to contribute however much of their money towards the repairs as they'd like.
    via ImColdandImTired
  • 18
    Front-Cat-2438 Threatening small claims court? Threatening whom? On what grounds? Your parents are delusional. Sorry, dude.
    via Front-Cat-2438
  • 19
    CharacterOnly8670 The only way they could take you to small claims court is if you own the property and lease it to them. Therefore it would have been your responsibility to fix it in the first place. NTA some people will only learn after the damage is all ready done and bailing them out doesn't help them learn
    via CharacterOnly8670

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