Background: I rescued a shepadoodle just about 12 years ago from an Amish farm where he was very abused and neglected. When I rescued him he was 45lbs and currently 115lbs (he’s perfectly healthy. My vet just called him “an oldie but goodie” as he’s almost 13yo). I can’t go into details of the abuse on this sub but it was so bad he had seizures from TBI and some lasting trauma. One of the things they did was cause harm to him when he’d try to eat or drink. Because of this to this day he will only drink in private… I’m the toilet is his favorite. I’ve tried many other things including putting a bowl of water in the bathroom but my Benny (Benedict Cumberbitch) will not have it. I’ve had to take him to the vets multiple times for dehydration. Eventually my vet said, “if it’s between Benny dying and drinking out of the toilet, let him drink out of the toilet. Just keep it clean.”

Now my dad, who is a “I don’t like dogs” guy, went and built a bathroom in our basement just for our dog. It’s not a place for him to go to the bathroom but is a bathroom just for Benny. It has a toilet just for him to drink out of. No human is allowed to use it for any reason. We have two other bathrooms for that. We’re all happy and most importantly, my Benny is happy and healthy.

More background. I’m almost aromantic. I like the idea of romance but really I just don’t want to be inconvenienced by a relationship. I like sex and I’m a unicorn (iykyk) so a relationship is not needed. So I really do not care if I’m in a relationship. Once in awhile I’ll get that “maybe I’ll see what’s out there” desire and quickly remember why I prefer being single. Stupidly, I decided to see what’s out there.

A few months ago I met a guy who seemed fun and we started loosely dating. He was over and we were in my basement when he saw my dog sneak into the bathroom. This motherfucker goes into the bathroom and starts yelling at my dog. We don’t yell at Benny. EVER. I told the guy to stop. And he says “the dogs drinking out of the toilet. It’s disgusting”. I said “so is yelling at a traumatized animal. And that’s his bathroom. No one uses that bathroom”. He goes in to say “it’s still a toilet!”

So remember, I don’t give a shit about relationships. I tell the guy to leave and that this isn’t working out. He gets all upset saying that I’m choosing a dog over him. I say, “yes. I will ALWAYS choose my dog over you”. He’s yelling so loud my Benny is about to go all half German Shepard on him and even my dad is yelling down asking if I need him.

Guy finally leaves in a huff. But now I’m getting mysterious texts saying I’m an AH for choosing a dog over a guy (whom I’ve known for a whopping 6 weeks) and that I’m disgusting for letting my dog drink out of a toilet (it’s Benny’s toilet).

So… AITA for choosing my dog’s health over some rando? AITA for letting my dog drink out of his personal toilet?

Benny tax