Man Refuses to Babysit Sister’s Kid Because He ‘Never Quite Forgave’ Her for Refusing to Watch His Elderly Dog

A man turns to the Reddit community for support after a family disagreement over pet and child care leaves him feeling isolated and misunderstood. 

The 35-year-old poster, who describes himself as someone for whom English is not a first language, shares the story of his beloved dog, an elderly rescue he’s cared for over the past decade.

“She’s really well behaved – she doesn’t get on furniture, she doesn’t bother anyone,” he writes in his post, painting a picture of a gentle, low-maintenance companion who just wants to “hang out at her spot, eat her food, go on her walks and get her pets.” 

The dog, now nearly 12, has been a constant presence in his life, especially after the loss of both parents in recent years.

Previously, his father would step in to care for the dog whenever he needed to travel, a system that worked well for everyone. “He loved her and it was a really great arrangement for everyone involved,” the poster recalls.

But after his father’s passing three years ago, and with his mother already gone, the man found himself alone except for his sister, who is eight years his senior and has a family of her own. When he needed someone to look after his dog during a vacation, he turned to his sister, offering multiple options to make things easier.

“I offered her to come over or for her older kids to stay over. I offered to bring my dog over to their place or even for them to just come over twice a day to walk her and to refill her food and water,” he explains, emphasizing his willingness to accommodate. 

Despite his flexibility, his sister refused outright, saying she had her hands full with her household and family responsibilities.

Her children, especially the older daughter, were eager to help and begged to take care of the dog, but the sister wouldn’t compromise. “Nothing helped, she wouldn’t compromise, and I ended up having to send her to a pet hotel,” he shares, adding that the experience was both disappointing and expensive.

The incident left a lasting mark on their relationship, as he admits, “I wasn’t happy about it, and it cost a pretty penny, but fine whatever. Still, I never quite forgave her.” The unresolved feelings lingered, setting the stage for the conflict that would come years later.

Recently, the dynamic shifted when his sister asked him to babysit her children so she and her husband could celebrate their anniversary with a trip. “Her oldest is 16 and her youngest is 8,” he notes, explaining that while the older child could be left alone, help was needed for the younger one.

He acknowledges that he gets along well with both kids and wouldn’t normally mind helping out, but the memory of his sister’s refusal to care for his dog weighed heavily on his decision. 

“She wasn’t willing to take care of my dog when I needed her, so why would I agree to take care of her children?” he reasons, describing his response as a flat-out no.

His sister was upset by his refusal, arguing that with their parents gone, “we have no one to rely on but each other.” He reminded her that this was also true when he needed help with his dog, a point she dismissed by saying her situation was different because she has a household to manage.

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“I told her no, I have my dog as well, and she needs care too, and she was being condescending and hypocritical,” he recounts, feeling that his responsibilities were being minimized. 

The disagreement has led to a period of silence between the siblings, with his sister not speaking to him for several days. Now, the Redditor is wondering if his response to his sister’s previous treatment toward his dog could be dignified.