Should I Allow My Friends Therapy Dog on Our Backpacking Trip? AITA for Concerns?
AITA for excluding my friend's therapy dog from our backpacking trip over wildlife safety concerns, sparking a debate among the group about prioritizing safety vs. inclusion and adventure with pets?
A 28-year-old woman refused to let her friend’s therapy dog, Luna, join a backpacking trip, and now the group chat is basically on fire. The plan was simple: hit the trail, share a few laughs, and come back with that “we survived together” glow. Then Sarah dropped the bomb that she was bringing Luna, a trained therapy dog, because Luna helps her through hard times.
Here’s where it gets messy. OP loves hiking, but she’s worried about wildlife, specifically what happens if Luna gets too close to bears or coyotes, or if other animals react to a dog on the route. Sarah says Luna can be leashed or kept in a carrier, but OP still feels uneasy. Some friends back OP, others think she’s excluding Sarah and Luna over something that should be manageable.
Now everyone is stuck wondering if OP’s safety concerns are valid, or if she just picked the one hill to die on before the first campsite.
Original Post
I (28M) love hiking and recently planned a backpacking trip with a group of friends. We were all excited until my friend, Sarah, mentioned bringing her therapy dog, Luna, along.
Now, Luna is a trained therapy dog and has helped Sarah through tough times, but I know how wildlife can react to dogs in certain areas. I expressed my concerns about safety, not just for Luna but also for potential encounters with wildlife like bears or coyotes.
Sarah was understanding but a bit hurt that I wouldn't allow Luna to come. She even suggested keeping Luna on a leash or in a pet carrier, but I still felt uneasy.
The group is divided - some understand my concerns, while others think I'm overreacting and excluding Sarah and Luna. I want everyone to have a great trip, but safety is paramount.
So, AITA?
Comment from u/Bacon-Buddy88
Comment from u/Adventure_Gecko
Comment from u/SunnySideUpNow
Comment from u/luna_hikes_alone
Comment from u/Wilderness_Wolf
This feels like the AITA fight over a therapy dog on a flight, after an allergic seatmate spoke up.
Comment from u/hikingbear22
Comment from u/MysticMountainRunner
Comment from u/TrailBlazer999
Comment from u/Backcountry_Beauty
Comment from u/intothewoods27
OP’s reasoning starts with Luna in the pack, and the wildlife worries hit the moment Sarah mentions bears and coyotes could be nearby.
Sarah offers compromises like a leash or a carrier, but the rest of the group starts splitting right when the debate turns into “who gets to feel comfortable.”
The trip planning stalls as friends take sides, and OP’s attempt to keep everyone safe gets interpreted as blocking Sarah’s support system.
By the time the backpacking schedule is on the table, Luna’s presence has turned into the one detail nobody can agree on.
What's your opinion on this situation? Join the conversation!.
OP might think she’s preventing a disaster, but the group is treating her like she’s the problem.
Wait until you see the fallout when someone banned a friend’s cat from a pet-friendly ski trip. Friendship Fractured: AITA for banning friends cat from pet-friendly ski trip?
