OP (M39) has a friend (M38) who recently got a diabetic-alert dog, which he wants to bring along with him during hangouts and parties. OP, who is not much of a dog person, does not want the dog in his house because it’s a breed that sheds a lot of hair, and he doesn’t want to deal with cleaning up dog hair. Additionally, OP’s children play in the yard, and he doesn’t want them to step on dog poop.
He Made an Awesome Place for Them To Hang Out
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OP has spent the last 10 years turning his house into a place where his friends and family can hang out. He has a pool, built a bar in his basement, and hosts a lot during football season and other major sporting events. His house is the preferred destination for his friends because of the amenities he offers and the fact that there are no expensive food and bar tabs.
OP Offered To Meet Elsewhere
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OP offered to meet at a restaurant or someone else’s house instead, but his house is still the preferred destination.
The Service Dog Is Not Welcome
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When he told his friend that the dog was not welcome.
But He’ll Pay for a Monitor
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He offered to pay for a monitoring device so his friend could keep track of his dog while at OP’s house.
His Diabetic Friend Didn’t Show
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However, his friend did not take that offer well and missed their Super Bowl get-together.
Am I The Jerk?
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OP wonders if he was wrong for not allowing his friend’s dog into his house.
Service Dogs Are Not Pets
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Service dogs are not the same as pets because they are specifically trained to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities. These tasks can include guiding the blind, alerting the deaf, providing mobility assistance, and detecting seizures or other medical emergencies.
They Have a Specific Job To Do
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While pets can provide companionship and emotional support, service dogs have a specific job and are trained to remain focused and attentive to their handler’s needs.
They Undergo Training
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They undergo extensive training to perform their tasks reliably and safely, and their training continues throughout their working lives.
They’re Granted Legal Rights
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In addition, service dogs are granted legal rights that pets do not have. For example, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States, service dogs can accompany their handler in public places, even in areas where pets are not typically allowed.
They’re Essential
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This is because service dogs are essential for their handler’s independence and well-being. While service dogs and pets can bring joy and companionship to people’s lives, service dogs are highly trained and perform specific tasks to assist their handlers, making them a crucial part of many people’s daily lives.
Readers Are Outraged
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Although, understandably, people have less positive associations with dogs and pets, this is inappropriate. A simple misappropriation is associated with the purpose of this pet coming to the parties.
It’s Not a Pet
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One commenter summarized this outrage in this comment: “You need to stop equating your friend’s service dog to pets. This is a medical assistance device. Would you tell someone they couldn’t bring their wheelchair because you didn’t want the wheels tracking dirt on your floor?”
It Doesn’t Entertain
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It is an excellent comparison between a pet and a service dog. The owner uses a service dog to help with their disability, not to keep the owner entertained. The OP does not understand this significance.
Readers Agree
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Some suggest that the OP is very understanding and even willing to pay for the dog to be monitored by the owner while he is at an event: “It’s your home. You can invite whoever you want. You have a no-dog rule…You made an effort to accommodate him. He hadn’t always had this dog. So what was he doing before??”
He Tried to Be Accommodating
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Some have noted that if the OP does not like dogs, he has the right not to want them in his home. He is happy to accommodate his friend’s needs and is ultimately just trying to have a fun place for people to come hang out.
His Friend Can Choose Whether To Attend
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His friend has every right not to attend if they are uncomfortably benefiting from the environment he has made for them to enjoy.
He Sold the Family Home for Three Times What He Paid for It, but Now His Siblings Are Demanding a Share of the Profit
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This Groom Invited His Ex-Girlfriend To His Wedding, But When She Showed Up In Suspenders He Had His Regrets!
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Recently, a couple decided to have a micro wedding with just their immediate family, around ten people. They chose a venue known for holding significant events, but they hired a smaller room there.
This Groom Invited His Ex-Girlfriend To His Wedding, But When She Showed Up In Suspenders He Had His Regrets!
He Was Blinded by Love, Until He Learned About His Romanian Wife’s True Motives
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In a tale fraught with deception and vengeance, a man recently divulged his experience of unmasking his Romanian wife’s infidelity and orchestrating a chain of events that ultimately led to the revocation of her Greencard, laying bare her hidden agenda.
He Was Blinded by Love, Until He Learned About His Romanian Wife’s True Motives