Man Declines Invitation to Sister’s Thanksgiving Dinner Over Her ‘Obnoxious’ and ‘Gross’ Pets

A man is sharing why he won’t be attending Thanksgiving at his sister’s house this year.

In a now-viral Reddit post, the 35-year-old explains that he and his wife usually alternate which family they spend Thanksgiving with, and this year, it’s their turn to be with his side. While his parents typically host, this year, his 29-year-old sister and her husband offered to take on the job.

However, after his parents gave their approval, he decided to decline the invitation — because of his sister’s pets.

“My sister loves animals, and well … I don’t. I rarely go to her house and when I do it’s without my wife and kids,” he writes on Reddit. “I find the fact she lets her cats into the kitchen and on the counters really f—ing gross. Her dog is super obnoxious, not all that well behaved. It’ll jump on you and that type of stuff. I wouldn’t say it’s dangerous, just annoying.”

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The man adds how when he initially heard the news about his sister hosting the dinner this year, he discussed it with his wife and the two decided to go to her family’s instead. Afterward, he let his parents know, to which they said he was “overreacting.”

“They love her dogs so in my opinion they have a distorted viewpoint,” he says. “The news made it to my sister and she was not happy. I told her we would come if the animals stayed in another room (and didn’t come out at all) and I could clean the kitchen.”

“She said I could clean all I wanted, but that was a disrespectful request to her family,” he adds. “I told her that her pets are not family to me and I don’t want to spend time with them. I’ve left it with the fact that I’m not going to my sister’s, but my sister and parents are upset with my decision.”

Since sharing about the situation on Reddit, the man’s post has gone viral, garnering more than 1,000 likes and comments. Many people have weighed in on the conversation and added their thoughts on how he should’ve handled things.

“You’re allowed to decline an invitation. Period, they asked for a reason you gave one and they didn’t like it. Oh well,” one person writes. “You’re allowed to have feelings and opinions and they are allowed to not like them.”

“Cats on the kitchen counter? Major gross out. Why is your family unable to accept basic domestic hygiene and dog training. Hold your ground,” another user adds.

Someone else chimes in, “You have every right to decline an offer to dinner to someone’s home you find disgusting! As for everyone being up in arms about the offer to clean ….. it’s his sister for petes sake not some stranger. You are not responsible for their feelings, acknowledge them, sorry you feel that way, and enjoy Thanksgiving w/ the in-laws.”