In a dog-friendly high-rise with a built-in dog park, a 28-year-old Redditor thought her 8-month-old, 5kg pup would be a welcome neighbor. But one resident’s piercing screams at the sight of her leashed, cradled dog turned every elevator ride into a battle.
After repeatedly stepping aside to avoid the neighbor’s hysterics, only to face long waits due to unreliable elevators, the Redditor finally boarded despite the screams.
The neighbor’s husband branded her heartless, leaving her questioning her choice. With Reddit buzzing, she wonders: was she wrong to prioritize her routine, or is the neighbor’s fear unfairly dictating the rules?
This high-rise hassle is wilder than a puppy chase – here’s the full story:
An Elevator Showdown in a Pet-Friendly Building
The Redditor’s high-rise, home to 25 dogs and a dedicated dog park, seemed like a haven for her tiny puppy. She always carried or leashed her pup in the elevator, respecting shared spaces.
But one neighbor’s extreme fear of dogs, even small ones, led to dramatic meltdowns, screaming and cowering behind her husband whenever the Redditor approached.
At first, she complied, waiting for the next elevator, but delays, sometimes lasting minutes due to spotty service, grew frustrating. After multiple incidents, she stepped into the elevator mid-scream, prioritizing her need to get downstairs.
“It’s a dog-friendly building, not her private fortress,” she vented on Reddit, exasperated by the ongoing demands. The neighbor’s husband confronted her later, calling her insensitive for ignoring his wife’s phobia.
Some building residents whispered support for the couple, citing compassion, but Reddit’s AITA community backed the Redditor, with comments like, “NTA! She chose to live in a dog paradise, deal with it!”
Still, guilt nagged at her; she wondered if she should’ve waited again to avoid the scene. A polite chat with building management clarified pet policies, calming the situation.
The Redditor’s choice to board was practical, but a less confrontational approach might have kept the peace in her building.
The Other Side and the Bigger Picture
The neighbor’s fear is legitimate, cynophobia affects about 9% of people, often causing intense distress (Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 2023). Her screams likely stem from genuine panic, not drama, and her husband’s defense reflects a desire to protect her.
But choosing a dog-friendly building with 25 canine residents and expecting others to alter their routines is unrealistic. The Redditor’s small, controlled dog poses minimal risk, and constant elevator delays disrupt her daily life.
The neighbor could manage her phobia through therapy or by taking the stairs, rather than demanding others accommodate her fear. Dr. John Grohol notes, “Phobias don’t grant control over shared spaces; compromise is essential in communal living” (Psych Central, 2024).
The Redditor’s initial willingness to wait showed kindness, but the neighbor’s repeated demands tipped into entitlement. A gentler approach, like suggesting the neighbor exit the elevator or coordinating with management for solutions, might have avoided the clash.
The broader issue is balancing personal fears with community rules; in pet-friendly spaces, both sides need to adapt without imposing unfair burdens.
What Could Have Worked
A softer approach could have eased the tension. The Redditor might have calmly explained the building’s pet-friendly policy, suggesting the neighbor wait for the next elevator if uncomfortable.
If the issue persisted, a chat with building management to clarify rules or post signage about shared spaces could set expectations. Dr. John Gottman advocates “soft startups” in conflicts, like saying, “I see you’re scared, but my dog’s secure, can we work this out?” (Gottman Institute, 2024).
For the neighbor, seeking phobia treatment or avoiding peak elevator times would show accountability. In similar disputes, clear communication and management involvement can prevent personal fears from disrupting shared spaces.
Here’s the comments of Reddit users:
Many reddit users support the individual as not at fault for refusing to repeatedly accommodate a neighbor’s extreme dog phobia in a pet-friendly apartment’s elevator.
The consensus leans solidly toward NTA – commenters point out that living in a pet-friendly building means running into dogs is inevitable.
In a dog-friendly building, it’s her responsibility to manage her fear, not your job to inconvenience yourself or your dog.
This neighbor’s screams aren’t winning her any fans!
The Redditor’s decision to board the elevator with her dog, despite her neighbor’s screams, was a stand for her rights in a pet-friendly building, but it left tensions simmering in her high-rise.
Was ignoring the hysterics too harsh, or was the neighbor’s demand to control a shared space unreasonable? Should she push for building-wide rules to settle the dispute, or keep riding as is?
When personal fears clash with community norms, who sets the boundaries, and what’s the cost of standing firm?
