AITA for refusing to babysit my sister’s baby after she locked my dog in a laundry room for two days?

My sister had a miracle baby after years of infertility — but she suddenly turned hostile toward my well-behaved dog, and later locked him in a laundry room for two days in my own home. Now she wants free childcare, and I said no. AITA?

My sister struggled with infertility for years and finally had her son last year. We all celebrated him, and I was genuinely happy for her. I’m 28 and have a 5-year-old golden retriever named Benny — the sweetest, calmest dog ever. My whole family has always loved him, including my sister, until the baby arrived. One visit, Benny stayed quietly on his mat, not barking or moving, but when the baby cried, she claimed Benny was “making him nervous” and demanded I put him outside in the middle of winter. I refused and left. Later she told me she didn’t want Benny around her baby at all. Fine — I stopped bringing him. But something in her attitude had shifted.

I agreed to let my sister stay at my house for the weekend — only to come home and find she locked my gentle golden retriever in the laundry room for two days with no food or water. Now she wants me to babysit her child for free.

Things escalated when she asked to stay at my house for two days because her place was being fumigated. I agreed. When I returned, Benny was hiding under my bed trembling — he had no food or water bowls out. She admitted she locked him in the laundry room for two full days because he was “staring too much” and supposedly making her baby fussy. Benny is gentle, trained, and has never harmed anyone. Seeing him terrified broke me.

"She locked my dog in the laundry room for two days — no food, no water — because he ‘stared too much.’"

I told her she’d never set foot in my house again and that she was lucky I didn’t call animal services. We didn’t speak for a month. Then out of nowhere she asked me to babysit her son two days a week, for free, because she’s going back to work. I said no. She exploded, calling me selfish, bitter, and saying I don’t understand unconditional family love. My mom jumped in and said I was “being cruel” by refusing when I “could help.” But this isn’t about babysitting — it’s about how she treated something I love with zero remorse, and now expects me to trust her and bend over backward like nothing happened.

"This isn’t about a dog. It’s about how she treated something I love — and now wants free childcare like nothing happened."

To me, this is a boundary issue and a respect issue. She endangered my pet and violated my trust. Now she feels entitled to my time and labor. My family says I’m overreacting. I think I’m just protecting myself and my dog from someone who’s already shown me she can’t be trusted.

🏠 The Aftermath

Your sister wants you to babysit her child twice a week, despite having treated your dog cruelly while staying in your home. You refused, and she accused you of being selfish. Your mother sided with her, saying you should help “for family.” You’re now dealing with a family rift, a shaken sense of trust, and a dog who was traumatized by someone you assumed would be safe in your home.

Your sister hasn’t apologized or acknowledged the harm she caused — and yet expects access to your time, home, and support. You’ve drawn a boundary that protects your pet and your peace, but your family sees it as a refusal to help rather than a reaction to her behavior.

"Trust doesn’t magically reset just because someone wants something from you."

The consequence is clear: until your sister takes responsibility for what she did, you can’t trust her in your home — let alone trust her with caregiving arrangements. Your family may be focused on babysitting, but you’re focused on the pattern of disrespect that got you here.

💭 Emotional Reflection

This isn’t about choosing a dog over a baby — it’s about trust, safety, and boundaries. Someone who mistreated your pet in your own home, without guilt or apology, has already shown you how little they respect your belongings and your space. Her entitlement to childcare only highlights that she expects unconditional support without offering accountability.

Could you have handled it differently? Perhaps — you might have explained more clearly that the issue is trust, not spite. But your sister’s behavior crossed a major line; locking an animal away without basic needs for two days is serious, and refusing to babysit after that is not petty — it’s protective.

Reasonable people may disagree on how harshly to enforce boundaries, but it’s clear your sister’s expectation that everything return to normal without apology or change is unrealistic. You’re not obligated to offer childcare just to smooth over her wrongdoing.

Here’s how the community might see it:

“She abused your dog. Full stop. You don’t owe her free childcare or access to your home.”

“If someone mistreats what you love, they don’t get to demand your help later.”

“Family doesn’t mean ignoring harm — it means respecting boundaries. Your mom is enabling her.”

Most responses would likely side with you: caring for your dog and protecting your boundaries isn’t cruelty — it’s self-respect.

🌱 Final Thoughts

Your sister’s actions weren’t a small mistake — they were neglectful and harmful. Trust takes time to rebuild, and she hasn’t even acknowledged the damage. Saying no to babysitting isn’t revenge; it’s a logical boundary after someone violated your home and hurt your pet.

If she apologizes sincerely and shows accountability, you can decide how — or if — to rebuild the relationship. What do you think?
Would you forgive her and help anyway, or keep your boundaries firm until she makes things right? Share your thoughts below 👇