Colleagues Emotional Support Hamster Bites Me at Work - AITA for Asking Her to Keep It in Her Bag?

A 29-year-old woman thought a client meeting was going to be stressful for normal reasons, like slides and small talk. Then her colleague’s emotional support hamster decided to “roam” and, somehow, ended up biting her right there in the middle of it. After the bite, she told her coworker it made her uncomfortable, and her colleague brushed it off, saying the hamster is usually calm. OP then asked for the hamster to stay in the colleague’s bag during work hours, and now it’s turned into a whole emotional support versus workplace safety standoff.

And the worst part? The hamster is already in a closed container, but the tension is still very much loose in the office.

Original Post

So I'm (29F) working in a bustling office environment, and recently, a colleague (27F) decided to bring her emotional support hamster to work. For some background, I've always been a bit wary of rodents due to a childhood incident, but I've tried my best to be accommodating.

Now, during a crucial client meeting, while the hamster was roaming around, it unexpectedly bit me. It wasn't severe, but it startled me and left a mark.

I politely mentioned it to my colleague afterward, expressing my concern. She apologized but dismissed it, saying her hamster is usually calm.

However, since that incident, I've felt uncomfortable around the hamster and asked her to keep it in her bag during work hours for everyone's safety. She got defensive, arguing that her emotional support animal helped her anxiety, but I couldn't shake off the discomfort after being bitten.

She now brings it in a closed container, but tensions are high. I'm torn between respecting her emotional needs and feeling safe in the workplace.

So AITA?

Comment from u/jellybean_lover89

Comment from u/cookie_monster42

Comment from u/sleepy_penguin

Comment from u/sparkle_n_sass

Comment from u/coffeeholic_27

This also echoes the coworker whose roaming pet tarantula sparked accusations of overreacting.

Comment from u/bookworm_gal

Comment from u/music_nerd_forever

Comment from u/pizza_lover_99

Comment from u/travel_bug_07

Comment from u/writing_in_the_stars

Right after the hamster bit OP during that crucial client meeting, the apology landed but the fear did not.</p>

OP’s childhood history with rodents is basically the reason she can’t just “move on” after getting a mark from the hamster.</p>

When OP asked the 27-year-old colleague to keep the hamster in her bag, her colleague got defensive and brought up anxiety support.</p>

Even with the hamster now in a closed container, the office still feels tense every time it’s mentioned.</p>

What do you think about this situation? Let us know in the comments.

OP might be trying to protect her coworkers, but the hamster drama is making the workplace feel unsafe for everyone.

Like the coworker with a roaming emotional support tarantula, the office went nuclear.