A man who was dog sitting for his friend has been backed by the internet after racking up a $1,400 vet bill while caring for her pet.
Reddit user u/BlackDynamite, 20, was looking after his friend's dog, Cherry, while she attended a festival for a week. On the third day, Cherry began vomiting and refusing to eat. Concerned, he attempted to contact his friend, Alma, 22, but received no response.
"I panicked and took Cherry to the emergency vet, where they diagnosed her with a blockage and did a $1,400 surgery. Cherry is fine now," he wrote in the subreddit "AITA [Am I The A*****]," where the post garnered 5,500 upvotes.
When Alma returned, he explained the situation and presented her with the bill.
"She completely blew up, saying she'd never have approved such an expensive option and would've waited to see if Cherry improved. She says she's broke and can't pay me back," he added.
Their mutual friends were divided—some praised him for saving Cherry's life, while others felt he had overstepped by not waiting.
"Alma is now ignoring me and told everyone we know that I 'forced her into debt.'
"AITA?" he asked the internet.
Expert Insight
Evon Inyang, a licensed associate marriage and family therapist, weighed in on the dilemma with Newsweek.
"Blockages aren't something you wait and see about. They can be a serious and potentially fatal condition. Dogs don't deliberately decline food for a day to bounce back. Things can take a drastic turn for the worse. He had no way to reach her, no guarantee there would be improvement, and a very sick dog in his care and responsibility. Sitting around hoping for the best was not an option," the therapist said.
However, the financial aspect complicates matters, she added. A lot of people do not have $1,400 as pocket change, though it was possibly a life-or-death situation.
Inyang also addressed Alma's emotional response: "Her anger isn't just about money. It's about control and her sense of autonomy. She came home to a massive bill for a decision she didn't have a say in. That's a rough feeling to process. However, she was completely unavailable when it mattered, and that's a crucial detail. He didn't override her or ignore her wishes—he simply had no choice."
As for next steps, Inyang suggests damage control through open communication, clearly empathizing and stating why he made the decision.
Reddit Reacts
The Reddit community largely sided with the OP, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
"NTA, a blockage can kill any dog quickly. You literally saved her life by taking her. Well done for noticing she was really unwell, it can be tricky to spot," said one user.
"All vets are expensive, and in an emergency situation, they are very expensive. You did the right thing," added another.
"You did a good job. Honestly, $1,400 doesn't even strike me as that bad for emergency surgery," noted another commenter.
Newsweek reached out to u/BlackDynamite for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
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