Many people assume that getting an emotional support animal (ESA) will magically fix everything—but that’s not how it works. An ESA is a living, breathing companion who needs love, care, and commitment. They’re not a quick fix or a button you can press when you’re feeling low. Yes, they can bring comfort, connection, and a renewed sense of purpose—but it’s a two-way relationship. Both you and the animal need to show up for each other.
Unfortunately, some people overlook this responsibility and leave the hard work to someone else, often family members. That’s exactly what happened in today’s story.
A work-from-home mom, juggling three kids in a small apartment, was put in a tough spot. Her husband, battling severe depression, insisted on getting a herding dog as an ESA—even though she voiced concerns about the workload. Despite her objections, he brought home a high-energy, untrained puppy. And once he returned to work, the responsibility for the dog fell entirely on her—the one person who didn’t want a dog in the first place.
Already walking on thin ice with two job warnings, she reached a breaking point and told her husband something had to change.
Keep scrolling to read the full story!
1. Let’s find out!
2. OP, who works from home, lives with her husband and kids in a house that is getting smaller by the day as the kids are growing up.
3. After getting depressed, OP’s husband wanted to get an emotional support dog, but she begged him to wait till they got a bigger house.
4. The husband ended up getting a dog that was an untrained herding puppy.
5. Because it was high-maintenance and untrained, OP begged her husband to either return or rehome the puppy, but apparently he had already fallen in love with it.
6. Since her husband returned to the office, the puppy has now been OP’s responsibility as she works from home.
7. OP has gotten two warnings from work for not completing tasks on time, and that is because she is too busy looking after the puppy.
8. OP finally told her husband she had had enough and didn’t want the puppy in their house anymore. He would have to do something about the situation.
9. He quickly began b*tching saying OP has always complained about the dog. The matter was taken to the courts of the AITA community.
Here’s what the AITA community had to say about this:
10. It would have been in the best interest of everyone!
11. Make it very clear, OP!
12. A working dog is not appropriate for an apartment.
13. Those are 2 sucky struggles to have to pick.
14. What did he think? The dog would train itself? Magic is not real.
15. Only they would know.
16. A dog that was there to take care of someone needed taking care of. Hilarious!
17. Come up with ways to resolve this issue. You cannot sit there and do nothing about it.
18. I second this!
19. It is a free option to exercise, so why not? It may work.
20. Period.
Dedicated and experienced pet-related content writer with a passion for animals and a proven track record of creating engaging and informative content. Skilled in researching, writing, and editing articles that educate and inspire pet owners. Strong knowledge of animal behavior, health, and care, combined with a commitment to delivering high-quality content that resonates with audiences. Seeking to leverage writing skills and passion for pets to contribute to a dynamic and mission-driven team.