AITA for giving a customer a pet give-up paper when they came to get their dog?

AITA for giving a customer a surrender form after neglecting their dog's health? OP faces backlash after confronting a customer about their pet's untreated medical condition.

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Published in Interesting
29 Sep 2025

AITA for giving a customer a pet give-up paper when they came to get their dog?

Are you ready for a Reddit rollercoaster ride through a compelling AITA (Am I The Asshole) thread that delves into a complex moral dilemma? Picture this: a 16-year-old working at a dog shelter witnesses a recurring neglect issue with a dog suffering from chronic ear infections.

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Despite her efforts to inform the owner and even contact the dog's vet, the situation remains unresolved. Fast forward to the day the owner shows up, reeking of alcohol, to collect the dog.

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Our protagonist seizes the moment, offering a surrender form to potentially rehome the neglected pet. The fallout?

The owner storms off, leaving with the dog, and a clash of opinions erupts among Redditors. The top comments are a mix of NTA (Not The Asshole) and YTA (You're The Asshole) judgments, with some users praising the OP's empathy and courage, while others critique her approach, suggesting alternative ways to handle the situation.

The debate heats up as users discuss reporting animal cruelty, the importance of proper pet care, and the delicate balance of compassion and professionalism. As the thread unfolds, tensions rise, opinions clash, and moral compasses are scrutinized.

Join the conversation, pick a side, and brace yourself for a whirlwind of ethical deliberation in the online court of public opinion.

Original Post

Let me give you the lowdown. I (16f) have a job at a dog shelter that also has a day care.

We have some dogs that come in every day. One particular dog always has ear infections, and the owner never does anything about it.

The most we can do at the shelter is clean up the dog and tell the owner. I even called the dog's vet, which we must have on record, to tell them about the problem.

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But the owner won't take the dog to the vet. This takes us to today.

The owner came to get the dog. I checked them out and told them again about the dog's constant ear infection.

I told them how bad this can be for the dog if not treated. The owner said if it's not deadly, they don't want to waste time at the vet because it's "just a dog anyway".

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I should also say, they smelled like alcohol. I gave them a pet give-up paper.

I told them if they felt that way, they could leave the dog with us. We could take care of the dog and find it a new home.

(We've done this many times before.) The owner got very mad at this idea, talked to my boss, and left with the dog. My boss says she doesn't think I was wrong, but I could have handled it better.

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She tried to reason with the guy, but he was angry and drunk, so she couldn't do much. So, AITA for giving a customer a pet give-up paper?