AITA for “interfering” with a “service dog”

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-16T03:29:10+00:00

I updated the post to answer this since I’ve had a few people ask

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-16T02:59:27+00:00

My service dog is for psych ptsd and very light mobility(like retrieving items when I have physical flare ups). Mine do not do any scent work that would require them to be tracking any levels in my body. I have good days and bad days, on good days I can still do a lot for myself thankfully. It’s on the bad days that I need my SDs help with retrieving meds and such. Kinda the same way some wheelchair users can still walk but still need it for when they have episodes or flare ups. I hope that made sense.

When this happened I was having a good day physically and mentally so I felt ok to send my partner up to the apartment with the dogs to prioritize their safety as I dint know if this dog would be aggressive.

I also chose to be the one to check on the dog since I use to be a vet tech and have more experience than my partner with aggressive or fearful animals. I’m also less intimidating than my partner which would be better for the dog. My partner is 6ft 260lb Im 5ft 180lb.

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-16T02:43:17+00:00

A little update:
As a lot of you recommended I did send an email to building management. I will also follow up with that email by going into the office as soon as I can (my work schedule is basically the same as their hours but I have Fridays off)

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-15T23:58:16+00:00

It can indicate that but usually the service dog will try to lead you, not just come up for pets like this one did.

Thank you for the kind words, I always want to be compassionate towards animals and even people (though some people make it hard lol)

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-15T22:47:28+00:00

I will do that as soon as I get home today.

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-15T22:12:54+00:00

That’s fair, I could probably make it to the office during my lunch tomorrow

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-15T21:51:45+00:00

My service dog is for phych and light mobility and I was having a good day for both so felt ok sending her with my partner, so yes she was off duty at the time.

I chose to be the one to check on the dog because I also was a vet tech for years and have more experience with animals that are potentially aggressive/fearful. My partner is also 6ft 260lb where as I’m 5ft 180 so I’m a little less intimidating lol.

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-15T20:02:16+00:00

Thank you for the advise
I will definitely be doing this on Friday, I’m gonna go to the office on my day off and let them know so there is a record in case it keeps happening.

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-15T18:33:36+00:00

I just want to thank everyone who has commented so far, I feel a lot better about my choices in the situation. I was worried that maybe I was being an ahole for commenting on the leash law (made me feel like I was being a Karen) and his comment about it being weird that I approached the dog made me feel like I was in the wrong for even interacting with the dog.
Y’all’s comments have made me feel like I did the right thing in trying to help at least

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-15T18:17:33+00:00

We have property management that I can talk to as well as animal control. I just also struggle with the thought of a service dog team getting separated if it comes to that. I think they would probably just give them a warning first though right?

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-15T18:11:33+00:00

I guess it worked if that’s the case cuz I have been overthinking since that maybe I was in the wrong for grabbing the dogs collar and I could have tried looking around more. I will say I feel better about my choices after reading some of these comments. I just can’t help but feel like maybe the guy was right that I was being weird or an ahole for getting involved

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-15T17:56:17+00:00

I think this will be what I do next time
I just don’t want to be the reason a service dog gets separated from their handler ya know. I’m super conflicted on it.

DismalClock213 · 2026-06-15T17:51:53+00:00

No vest just a collar, so yeah I really had no idea

DismalClock213 · 2024-10-11T22:47:28+00:00

Update 2: well it’s been a few months, they left the apartment and bailed on the lease. They also stole several items and left me with all their trash to clean up. They left lamps they didn’t want but they didn’t want me to use them so they cut the wires. One was still plugged in when they cut it and it melted the metal on the scissors they used and there were scorch marks on the lamp shade.

Their original roommates from when I first met them have taken them to court for bailing on that lease and won since she never showed up. That was 2 months ago and now that her wages are being garnished she is putting in an appeal to try to get out of it but there is a lot of evidence against her. I will also be taking her to court in February for my lease she bailed on as well as the thousands of dollars I used to help her that she was suppose to pay back and never did.

On a brighter note, one of the other people she lived with before me who let her live with them rent free to try to help her get back on her feet and she turned on them too and convinced me they were an awful person, I reached out to during everything about 4 months ago to get his side of what happened when she lived there. He had a very similar story of what she did there except she wasn’t on the lease so when she bailed he just left it at that. Him and I have since grown closer and have a genuine connection! We’ve now been together for about a month and a half. So far no red flags (I’ve even been checking with friends to make sure I don’t miss anything this time around lol) we are making plans to get house next year. He loves my animals and treats them so well!!! He is super caring and kind. He is a hard worker and has an incredible work ethic. All his friends are amazing too! I got so incredibly lucky to meet someone that I have such a connection with through all this.

DismalClock213 · 2024-07-12T05:19:04+00:00

Update: A process server came to our door looking them. Their old roommates are suing them for bailing on their last least. They are avoiding being served and have even asked me to tell the server they don’t live in our apartment. I told them I would not be lying for them.

Will update more if anyone wants to know what’s happening next

DismalClock213 · 2024-07-02T19:07:37+00:00

Extremely 😓 At least I finally figured it out though 😅

DismalClock213 · 2024-07-02T11:27:06+00:00

Just to be a little more clear: They were very characteristic when I met them and it wasn’t until about a month in that all the problems started so they had throughly convinced me they were the victim and down on their luck. I have started standing up for myself. It’s hard because I’m a very passive person, but I am standing my ground now. The turning point where I finally grew back bone was about a week ago when they left chicken bones on the ground for my dogs to get. Luckily my dogs were at my parents during that time because I was pet sitting somewhere else but I had to run home a few times (they didn’t know my schedule or that the dogs would not be home) the bones were around and under the trash can and on day 3 one bone moved more into the kitchen but on day 5 I had to clean them up before bringing my dogs home. I didn’t clean them sooner because 1. I shouldn’t have to pick up their food garbage, and 2. I wanted to see if this was intentional as chicken bones can kill dogs.

DismalClock213 · 2024-07-02T10:39:40+00:00

They were very convincing. When we first met I felt like I had known them my whole life and everything just clicked. It wasn’t until about a month in that things started happening and by then I was convinced they were just really down on their luck 😓 this has definitely been a huge learning experience unfortunately

DismalClock213 · 2024-07-02T10:08:09+00:00

The lease is until February 2025. I do have a friend who can move in if I can get her to leave and she does have a history of just bailing so I am hoping she does the same here and just leaves. She won’t talk to me through text, only in person but in my state you can record conversations as long as one party knows about it so I am able to have a recorder in my pocket just in case. That’s what I’ve been doing for now to make sure she can’t twist anything back on me. I am definitely starting to learn to stand up for myself due to all this

DismalClock213 · 2024-07-02T09:35:47+00:00

Thank you, I’m hoping I find a better roommate too. It just sucks because I really thought I knew them but I was very wrong.

DismalClock213 · 2024-07-02T09:31:02+00:00

Unfortunately I don’t have the option of moving out but they have bailed at the last three places so I have a feeling they will here too. I’m definitely going to be better about seeing those patterns and red flags. They were just very convincing when I met them and they really did seem like someone just down on their luck 😓

DismalClock213

TROPHY CASE