The conflict began when Greg adopted a golden retriever named Buddy and started bringing him to the office daily without managing the dog’s behavior, leading to disruption. When Greg’s apartment lease changed, he immediately expected an employee to take over caring for Buddy overnight, leading to the boss directly pressuring the narrator to comply, which she refused, resulting in workplace tension and subtle threats to her job security.
So I (29F) work as an admin assistant at a small company, and my boss, who we will call Greg (40M), is the type of guy who thinks “running things like a family” means he can do whatever he wants.
A few months ago, Greg adopted a golden retriever named Buddy. Buddy is great. Greg is not. Instead of, you know, adjusting his own life to accommodate his dog, he just started bringing Buddy to the office every day.
Which would be fine, except Greg does not actually watch him. Buddy is now a full-time employee. He roams around, eats people’s lunches, barks during client calls, and once peed on the office printer.
Greg’s response? “Haha, classic Buddy.”
Anyway. Last week, Greg sent out a company-wide email saying he was looking for a volunteer to take Buddy home at night.
Why, you ask? Because—get this—Greg’s apartment does not allow pets.
Apparently, for the past two weeks, my coworker Jessica had been taking Buddy home. Jessica is now moving out of state. Instead of, I don’t know, figuring out a normal solution, Greg just assumed someone else would take over.
I ignored the email, assuming someone higher up would shut this down. Nope. Instead, Greg calls me into his office and hits me with, “So when do you want to start taking Buddy home?”
Not would I like to. Not is this something I’d be willing to do. Just when.
I laughed because I thought he was joking. He was not.
When I said no, Greg sighed dramatically and went, “You have a house, right?”
Yes, Greg. I have a house. A house with two cats who would rather commit arson than share their space with a golden retriever. I told him that, and this man actually rolled his eyes and said, “Can’t you just keep them separate?”
At this point, I was done. I told him, “Greg, I am not taking home your dog.” He looked at me like I had personally murdered Buddy in front of him. He said he was “really disappointed” in my lack of teamwork and then started making vague comments about my “attitude” and how it “might affect my future here.”
And guess what? Some of my coworkers are actually on his side. One of them—who I assume wants to be promoted to Assistant to the Regional Dog-Sitter—said, “It wouldn’t be that hard,” and, “Jessica never complained.”
Meanwhile, Greg has started bringing Buddy over to my desk multiple times a day and saying things like, “He really likes you. You sure you won’t reconsider?” Buddy is now actively staring at me while I type this.
My fiancé thinks this is the dumbest thing he has ever heard and told me to start looking for a new job. But now my coworkers are acting like I kicked Buddy into oncoming traffic, and Greg is giving me disappointed dad vibes every time I walk into the breakroom.
So, Reddit, AITAH? Or has my workplace completely lost its mind?
Conclusion
The narrator finds herself in a difficult position where her reasonable boundary—refusing to take on the responsibility of her boss’s pet—is being framed by management as a failure of teamwork and loyalty. Her conflict centers on protecting her personal life and home situation against her employer’s inappropriate demands and leveraging of perceived workplace culture.
The core debate is whether the narrator is justified in her absolute refusal, given the potential career repercussions, or if any level of compliance was expected due to the perceived informal nature of the company culture. Is the boss’s expectation reasonable given the work environment, or is the narrator entirely within her rights to say no?
Here’s how people reacted:
Volunteer these people to do it.
And if you want to be malicious, tell them to feel free to ask you to help out when they need you to – but have an envelope in your desk which you can flamboyantly pull out and read an excuse from at random, such as:
•”Sorry, we’re going out tonight.”
•”We’ve got my in-laws visiting tonight, and they both have severe dog allergies. My FIL actually died from his allergy once, so we have to be super-careful.”
•”I’m planning a Scooby Doo binge-watch marathon with my friends, and they **insist** that Scooby is the only dog allowed. They really freak out if we watch any episodes with Scrappy Doo. But who doesn’t?”
•”I’m going dogging tonight, and having a real dog along with me would be weird. Also, the dog might consider the term ‘dogging’ to be offensive. Dog-racist, even.”
•”My brother will be visiting. He’s a hardcore atheist. He doesn’t even like words that are anagrams of God, so a dog would be well out.”
•”Fuck that. Get some other mug to do it.”
•”I’ve moved into the same apartment block as Greg and they don’t allow pets there.”
You’ve already said no. Redirect Greg to those people who are “on his side.” They can take care of the dog. Your boss is being disrespectful, childish and unprofessional.
He can pay to board the dog at night. Anyone who agrees to care for the dog should negotiate a price for time and food. Caring for a dog isn’t free. I doubt it’s tax deductible for the business.
Is anyone allergic to dogs? If I worked there, I’d be sick. He’s putting people at risk.
It sounds like the dog is not trained, and if he is stealing food from people, there’s a heightened chance he’ll bite if someone resists. He’s still. A dog with dog instincts.
Report him to anti-cruelty or the police for neglect and animal abuse. The dog has no home and an irresponsible owner.
Find a new job.
Wishing you a benevolent outcome.
>Jessica is now moving out of state.
Are we sure she’s moving out of state or just telling him that and getting a different job so she no longer has to take the dog home?
>He said he was “really disappointed” in my lack of teamwork and then started making vague comments about my “attitude” and how it “might affect my future here.” And guess what? Some of my coworkers are actually on his side
Just because I don’t want to take your damn dog home does not mean my lack of teamwork is the thing.
And all those other co-workers are on his side because they don’t want to take the damn dog home. Tell him to go to those coworkers instead..
It is not your job nor your responsibility to deal with his damn dog…
I probably would be like Jessica but just tell him that I’m leaving the state
If Greg’s Apt does not allow pets, Greg should not have GOTTEN a pet. Pet sitting is not what the COMPANY pays your for, it is not part of ypur job description. go ditectly to HR and point out to rhe Greg’s inapproriate behavior and demands and make sure they understand the harm the company’s reputation may suffet if he’s allowed to cobtinue.
He has alteady given you the basis for a law suit. He’s threatened your career, and has gotten other people to harass you on his behalf. You already have grounds for a decent settlement. and let’s point out its 2 women who have been pressured about sitting? l would consult an employment lawyer as you could get a lovely paid vacation out of this on the company’s dime while job hunting.
If Greg is not willing to find an apartment that allows pets it shows his true character and lack of consideration for not only other humans, but more importantly his beloved pet.
There are also people and places who provide professional pet care solutions, and if Greg is not willing to pay for those services perhaps he needs to reconsider his suitability as a pet owner.
Does Greg have a boss?
It’s time to escalate this higher up
Greg is an ass and someone needs to call animal control and let them know about Greg and Buddy
He has no business having a dog with no place to keep the dog and an office is no place for a dog like retriever to spend his days
I’d try and contact pet shelters or similar businesses in your area and report this as a case of neglect (or at least mistreatment) as this dog is not provided with a safe home or proper diet or proper exercise.
What to bring your puppy to work? Fine… just take care of him/her yourself!!!
And this idea of trying to force employees ro “dog-sit” because you were a jackass and got a pet when you can’t have one at your home is asinine.
NTA!!!!
OP, find another job ASAP!
There’s a question of liability and insurance should anything happen to the dog or should the dog cause damage or injury to anybody, your cats included.
You can’t possibly take the responsibility and risk a law suit over damages affecting your career.
Take the dog, mark it on your time sheet and when HR/Payroll get involved Greg already created the paper trail for you.
NTA – I’m a dog lover, but your boss is ridiculous.
NTA