AITAH for not letting my brother meet my baby after what he did to my dog?
A family’s fragile world was shattered in an instant, where love and trust once intertwined.
Their rescue dog, Luna, a beacon of comfort through dark times and a cherished part of their lives, vanished under the careless watch of someone they trusted most.
In the wake of unimaginable loss, the raw pain of betrayal cuts deep as they grapple with the cruel consequences of broken promises.
The heartache of losing Luna is not just about a pet, but the loss of a silent guardian who carried their wounds and stood by them through every storm.
I (33M) live with my husband (31M) and our 7-month-old daughter. We adopted her last year after a long, difficult process, and she’s the center of our world now.
Before becoming parents, we had a rescue dog named Luna. She was a calm, sweet pit-lab mix who’d been through a lot before we adopted her.
She was my emotional support during some really dark years, and we loved her deeply. A few months ago, my younger brother (26M) came to stay with us while looking for work.
When my husband and I had to fly out for a weekend wedding, we asked him to house-sit and take care of Luna.
I left a detailed list of instructions: no off-leash walks, no loud music, no weed inside (Luna had noise and smell sensitivities). He nodded along and said he had it.
We came back Sunday night and Luna was gone. Turns out he took her to the park, let her off the leash while blasting music and high as hell. She bolted. Two days later, we got the call, she’d been hit by a car.
Killed instantly. I confronted my brother and he barely reacted. Just said something like, “I didn’t think she’d run off, my bad.” No real remorse. Since then, he’s been trying to come visit and meet our baby.
But I can’t do it. I told him I don’t trust him, and if he couldn’t respect basic instructions about Luna, there’s no way I’m putting him near our daughter.
My mom says I’m overreacting, holding a grudge, and “it’s just a dog.” But Luna wasn’t just a dog. She was family.
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AFTER THIS STORY DROPPED, REDDIT WENT INTO MELTDOWN MODE – CHECK OUT WHAT PEOPLE SAID.:
The internet jumped in fast, delivering everything from kind advice to cold truth. It’s a mix of empathy, outrage, and no-nonsense takes.
Salty_Thing3144 - :- NTA. Disown your worthless, shit for brains brother. I'm so sorry about your dog. zthank you for being such a good pet and human parent.
Fluid_Commercial_931 - :- If a family member hurt any of my animals they’d no longer be family.
SummerTimeRedSea - :- I would cut him off and your mother too. She clearly does not care about the consequence it could result she just want her son not to be excluded.
And she will say a thing like I did not believe he was a danger to your daughter I promess. Don't play with the fire. We are talking about safety. They are not safe.
xXD0NuTh13FXx - :- NTA. Your brother showed reckless disregard for someone you loved, and protecting your child is completely justified.
Lost-Discount4860 - :- You’re not overreacting. You’re underreacting. Your brother didn’t just “mess up” — he willfully dismantled trust.
He ignored every boundary, got high, blasted music, and let your trauma-scarred dog off leash like he was hosting a frat party — not safeguarding a soul you loved.
And when that reckless arrogance got Luna killed, he didn’t cry, apologize, or even flinch. Just muttered a weak “my bad” like he’d dropped your leftovers, not shattered a piece of your heart under a car.
That’s not forgetfulness. That’s character. And now this soulless shell of a man thinks he deserves to meet your child? Absolutely not.
He’s already shown you who he is — a man who gambles with lives that aren’t his, shrugs off the wreckage, and acts confused when the doors close on him. Let him stay confused. Let him rage.
Let your mother wring her hands about “forgiveness” while she minimizes a violent death into “just a dog.” Luna mattered. Her life counted.
And your daughter’s safety is not a second chance for a man who couldn’t keep a leash on a dog, let alone a grip on basic human decency. This isn’t about revenge.
It’s about recognizing a threat and refusing to let it cross your threshold again. He burned the bridge. All you’re doing is making damn sure he never rebuilds it with your baby standing on the other side.
Liora-Platform610 - :- NTA. He killed your dog by ignoring your clear rules and showed zero remorse. Now he wants to see your baby? Hell no! Your mom’s wrong, and you’re right to protect your kid
cg13a - :- NTA your brother is a worthless dk.
The poster is grappling with profound grief and a complete breakdown of trust stemming from the death of a deeply loved pet, which was caused by his brother's negligence.
His central conflict involves prioritizing the safety and emotional well-being of his infant daughter over maintaining a relationship with his brother, a decision that is being actively challenged by his mother.
Is the poster justified in establishing a firm boundary, completely excluding his brother from contact with his daughter due to the demonstrated failure to respect life and follow critical instructions, or does the bond of immediate family demand forgiveness and acceptance despite this tragic, irreversible loss?