NEED TO KNOW
- A Reddit user left the internet divided after recounting a story at a recent kids’ birthday party
- The man recently took his son to a pool party, but was surprised to see a dog hanging out with the attendees, as it was not listed on the invitation
- He asked the host if they would mind putting the dog inside, as his son was afraid of dogs, but they declined
Children’s birthday parties are often chaotic but cheerful, filled with splashing, games, and plenty of noise. But one Reddit post sparked a heated debate after revealing he left a pool party because the host refused to put her dogs away.
The 34-year-old, whose first-grade son has a fear of dogs, asked the host to confine the animals for the duration of the event, but was ultimately told no.
The situation left commenters divided, raising questions about etiquette, boundaries, and balancing hospitality with safety.
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The father explained that he and his son were invited to a pool party with other kids from school and various sports teams. Upon arrival, they were approached by a Belgian Malinois, which he shooed off.
“My son does not like dogs since an incident at the park. I told it to get away a few more times in the next few minutes as we said hi to people. I noticed another dog outside,” he explained in the post. “We were not told about the dogs ahead of time and my son didn’t want to play with his friends as he was hesitant to be away from me.”
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After noticing his son grow more uncomfortable as the minutes went by, the dad decided to approach the host.
“I thanked her for the invitation and complimented their house,” he wrote. He then proceeded to ask her to lock the dogs away after explaining the situation with his son. According to the post, the host “looked clearly annoyed” and told him her dogs were friendly and safe.
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“She told me she doesn’t react well to being locked away,” the poster wrote, referring to the dog. He then repeated that his son didn’t want to be around dogs, but the host refused to confine them.
She added that the dogs “want to be a part of the party and they wouldn’t be going anywhere.” Upset with the father’s request, the host went on to imply they might not be invited over again.
Feeling unwelcome, the poster decided to leave and noticed his son’s mood improve almost immediately. However, later that day, the host texted the father to say his request had been “inappropriate.”
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Reddit was divided. Some said the dad had every right to make the request. “I am going to disagree with the majority here,” one user wrote. “Fear of dogs is a real thing, especially with some children, so it would have been kind for the host to have somehow restricted the dogs from wandering freely among the kids.”
A large number of people, however, disagreed with the father’s request. “I get why you asked, so that your son could feel more comfortable at the party, but asking someone, in their own house, to lock away their dogs is extremely out of line,” another user wrote. “If you can’t stand the dogs being out, you leave. You control yourself, not their household.”
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