u/SplitFew9313

For context, I (32f) hosted a backyard bbq party for family / friends this weekend. It was a gathering of about 30 people who I have had round my house many times before, and they are all familiar with my rule...

I do not allow dogs in my house or in my yard. I reminded everyone that dogs are not welcome in my house or yard when sending out invites to the party also and when confirming peoples attendance.

Regardless... One of my friends turned up to the party with their dog (a big slobbering highly energetic barking 80lb labrador type thing). I told them at my door that the dog was not allowed in, and that they were welcome to take the dog home and come back and join the party, but there was no way the dog was coming into my house or yard.

(for the record, I do not allow dogs even in my yard, because they poop and urinate on the grass and it can never be fully 'cleaned up' properly, and I like to be able to sit/lay on my grass and enjoy my backyard without worries of getting my clothes ruined with remains of dog poop/slobber/urine. I also just don't like being around dogs, because of the constant begging, staring at you 24/7, the barking, chewing up furniture, getting up on tables to steal food, constant attempts to lick your face/legs, so in my home at least, they are simply not welcome).

My friend threw a massive scene, shouting at me, saying that I was 'discriminating' against her and 'bullying / excluding her' for having a dog. She said her dog was an 'emotional support animal' and that she needs to have it with her at the party because of her anxiety. I told her she is more than welcome at the party and that i'd love to have her here, but the dog is not welcome and it is not coming in. If she is unable to be here without the dog (which is a lie, because she has been round many times before without the dog and been fine) then she will just have to go home and give this party a miss.

She left in a huff with dog-in-tow. But messaged a bunch of our shared friends during the party, turning them against me and getting them to gang up on me for being a 'horrible person' and 'animal ab\*ser' etc etc (for the record, I would never harm an animal, I just prefer to not touch or be up close to certain animals that I find gross, or even terrifying depending on the breed, if possible. Im not a fan of them, so I just leave them be).

Anyway, the party went on, and most people had a great time, including myself when I eventually just ignored all this dog-related faff and enjoyed my time hosting. But I cant help feel the party was tainted at least a little bit by this horrible interaction with this friend and her dog, and the other friends involved in making me feel bad for not allowing a dog in my home.

Am I in the wrong here / AITA for holding the boundary on not allowing dogs in my home/yard?

Im just not sure what to make of all this really.

For context, I (32f) hosted a backyard bbq party for family / friends this weekend. It was a gathering of about 30 people who I have had round my house many times before, and they are all familiar with my rule... I do not allow dogs in my house or in my yard. I reminded everyone that dogs are not welcome in my house or yard when sending out invites to the party also and when confirming peoples attendance.

Regardless... One of my friends turned up to the party with their dog (a big slobbering highly energetic barking 80lb labrador type thing). I told them at my door that the dog was not allowed in, and that they were welcome to take the dog home and come back and join the party, but there was no way the dog was coming into my house or yard.

(for the record, I do not allow dogs even in my yard, because they poop and urinate on the grass and it can never be fully 'cleaned up' properly, and I like to be able to sit/lay on my grass and enjoy my backyard without worries of getting my clothes ruined with remains of dog poop/slobber/urine. I also just don't like being around dogs, because of the constant begging, staring at you 24/7, the barking, chewing up furniture, getting up on tables to steal food, constant attempts to lick your face/legs, so in my home at least, they are simply not welcome).

My friend threw a massive scene, shouting at me, saying that I was 'discriminating' against her and 'bullying / excluding her' for having a dog. She said her dog was an 'emotional support animal' and that she needs to have it with her at the party because of her anxiety. I told her she is more than welcome at the party and that i'd love to have her here, but the dog is not welcome and it is not coming in. If she is unable to be here without the dog (which is a lie, because she has been round many times before without the dog and been fine) then she will just have to go home and give this party a miss.

She left in a huff with dog-in-tow. But messaged a bunch of our shared friends during the party, turning them against me and getting them to gang up on me for being a 'horrible person' and 'animal ab\*ser' etc etc (for the record, I would never harm an animal, I just prefer to not touch or be up close to certain animals that I find gross, or even terrifying depending on the breed, if possible. Im not a fan of them, so I just leave them be).

Anyway, the party went on, and most people had a great time, including myself when I eventually just ignored all this dog-related faff and enjoyed my time hosting. But I cant help feel the party was tainted at least a little bit by this horrible interaction with this friend and her dog, and the other friends involved in making me feel bad for not allowing a dog in my home.

Am I in the wrong here / AITA for holding the boundary on not allowing dogs in my home/yard? Im just not sure what to make of all this really.