Generally, pet rescues have specific requirements for adopters who want to take on a pet. Staff needs to choose a suitable owner for each animal by assessing their financial conditions, health, and even accommodation. In the story below, a worker at the animal shelter refused a woman by judging her appearance.
Source: stock.adobe.com
A man turned to
Reddit to look for approval after he turned down an obese woman who wanted to take a dog to his animal rescue. The post has evoked a fierce debate from netizens and gained 9,000 votes and 3,599 comments.
According to the poster, the mentioned dog, Rocky, was so hyperactive that he would cause damage to the house without sufficient exercise.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
During months of caring for the dog, the poster recognized that Rocky needed an active owner who could adapt to his energetic disposition. Unfortunately, that was the reason he did not have adoption applicants.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
The dog met the woman at an adoption event when he welcomed her with myriad kisses. They seemed to hit it off immediately, so she hoped she could bring the dog home. After assessing the woman’s oversized shape, the worker thought this woman was unlikely to live with the dog as she supposedly could not chase after him for a long time.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
After questioning the woman, the Redditor was satisfied with most of her conditions, except her “active lifestyle”. He thought her answer about lifestyle was suspicious as her appearance showed the opposite.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Despite the hesitation, the worker believed this woman was not the right owner for Rocky. He imagined his lovely dog might suffer from anxiety due to the owner’s sedentary lifestyle.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Putting the dog over the woman’s feelings, the man refused her requirement and suggested smaller
animals for her. Consequently, the woman threw a fit and ranted at him. He guessed she knew the exact reason why he turned her down. Although having a sense of guilt, he determined his action and received concurrence from his boss.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Unexpectedly, the problem kept snowballing when the woman took advantage of her influence to disparage the animal shelter. She encouraged people to leave negative feedback on the center and stop their donations.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Some also irritated the rescue’s owner via emails with insulting content, which made the poster uneasy. He insisted his top priority was the animals, but he was unsure about the previous decision.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Under the post, many criticized him for his mindset about overweight people. They stated that trial time was necessary to offer the right decision. Some also shared that their weight and inactive lifestyle did not significantly affect their dynamic dogs.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Redditors also saw the poster’s behavior as the explanation for people’s hesitation when it comes to animal rescues. They claimed that there were many unreasonable requirements they had to meet, so they preferred breeders to animal shelters.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
In contrast, many had an opposite view when they thought the man’s action was understandable. They appreciated his love for animals and his responsibility in the job. They believed the time the poster spent with Rocky could help him realize the dog’s suitable owner.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Others saw the woman’s response to the refusal as evidence of her mean personality. Therefore, they believed the poster’s decision was right when he turned her down.
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
Source: r/AmItheAsshole
What is your opinion about this circumstance? Was the man or the woman in the wrong? If you were the poster, what would you do? Do you prefer breeders or animal shelters? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section below!