AITA: Sister gets Internet support as she refuses to host brother's family for Christmas over dog's toy

A woman has received support from people online after she refused to host her brother and his family for Christmas over an incident that happened last Christmas. She explained the reason behind her decision on a Reddit post and fellow Redditors agreed with her point of view.

Beginning her post on Reddit's popular 'Am I The A*****e' subreddit', the woman under the username Throwway-120, wrote, “Last Christmas, my brother, his wife, and their two kids stayed at my house for the holidays. It was a bit chaotic, but I was happy to host.”

In her Reddit share, the woman also said that she has a golden retriever named Max, who is the “love of my life” and her pet has a “favorite stuffed toy— a beat-up duck.”

The stuffed duck is the dog’s “comfort object, and he always carries it around.”

Dog’s toy was taken away by woman's brother without informing her

The Reddit user revealed that during her brother’s family time at her home, her six-year-old niece “got very attached to Max’s duck.”

“I told her it was Max’s favorite toy and even showed her how much he loved it. But when they left, I realized they had taken it home with them,” she wrote.

To clear any misunderstandings, the woman even texted her brother if they had taken the toy and even asked him to return it. But to her surprise, she was asked to “buy another one.”

She shared in her post, “I told him they needed to send it back, but they refused. I even offered to buy my niece a new duck toy that looked the same, but they still said no because she was ‘too attracted to it now.’”

Woman refuses to host her brother and his family for Christmas

Further elaborating on her dog’s condition, the woman noted that he “was visibly sad for weeks afterward. He looked for his duck every day, and it broke my heart. I ended up scouring the internet to find the exact same duck, but never loved it as much as the original.”

The woman then revealed that his brother wanted to spend this year’s Christmas also at her house with his family but she refused him.

When her brother asked why she was doing so, she told her about the “duck incident and how disrespectful it was.”

But instead of understanding her point, the woman was called “petty” and “grinch” by her brother and his family. However, concluding her post, the woman added, “It’s not about the toy—it’s about the principle and the blatant disregard for my boundaries.”

Redditors support woman for ‘protecting’ herself

Many people backed the woman in the comment section with one saying, “If only your poor niece had decent parents who would help her understand. Children who are never taught right from wrong have such a hard time learning how to become decent members of society. You aren’t reacting to your niece’s mistake. She was just a child.”

“You are protecting yourself and your family from adults who are devoid of compassion to others and have shown that they have no respect or regard for their own family when it inconveniences them. They have shown they can’t be trusted in your home or car or allowed unsupervised access to basically anything. Because of their own choices they have to deal with the consequences and can pay for a hotel or let someone else host them. NTA,” they added.

Another Reddit user mentioned, “NTA, You're not punishing your niece. You are punishing your brother for stealing something from your home. Dogs get attached by scent, and taste, he knew it wasn't the same duck. Your brother could have gotten an identical/clean one and no one would know. *Seriously tho, that's a dog toy and your brother lets a 6 year old use it as a comfort item? So gross.* Also if they are willing to take a dog toy because your niece liked it, who knows what else they stole from you.”

The third one shared, “NTA and wow they stole from a dog because their daughter was upset? They knew it was wrong, otherwise they would have talked to you about it. I don’t care if they don’t understand or have dogs, taking something that doesn’t belong to you is wrong. What if she really liked a diamond bracelet or heirloom? Does she just get to take it? Anyone who thinks you are overreacting can host this family.”

A Redditor wrote, “NTA. God, some people are so entitled… Would they have taken that toy if it was your (human) child’s favourite toy? If not, then they’re just dumb. If so, god are they entitled…”

Another one added, “NTA Yeah, it isn't about the toy. It is about the callous, unfeeling entitlement and general disrespect. You had a thing, they stole a thing, you asked for it back, they told you that you don't have any rights to it back AND that your dog's well-being doesn't matter. Of course, they aren't welcome to stay with you.”

“I hate people like your brother. I would’ve driven over there and stole Max’s duck back. NTA never let that thief back in your house,” a person said.

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