A woman has been backed online for leaving her boyfriend after he demanded she pay his dog $10,000 of her lottery winnings.
A 26-year-old woman, u/Happy_Philosophy_977, shared her dilemma following her $50,000 win on the popular Reddit forum “Am I The A******?” (AITA)”, which has since garnered 6,400 upvotes and countless reactions.
Before her win, the couple had shared a running joke about splitting any future lottery winnings three ways: between her, him, and Baxter, his dog. But when the joke turned into reality, the boyfriend’s expectations became serious.
“Well, fast forward to me actually winning, and my boyfriend is now dead serious about wanting me to give ‘Baxter’s share’ of the money,” the woman wrote in her post.
“He insists I promised, and that Baxter deserves $10k in a ‘dog trust fund’ for future vet bills, toys, and ‘whatever he needs.’ I told him that’s ridiculous—Baxter’s a dog and doesn’t need a trust fund.”
Her refusal sparked a heated argument. “Now, my boyfriend is calling me selfish and saying I went back on my word. He says it’s not about the dog, it’s about me not keeping promises and that it shows I don’t take our relationship seriously.”
Even though she’d already bought Baxter some fancy toys and treats, her boyfriend dismissed these gestures, claiming they didn’t count towards the official $10,000. He even suggested he would seek legal advice to set up a formal “dog fund.”
The woman expressed her disbelief in her post: “I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone.”
In the end, she turned to Reddit to ask, “AITA for not giving a literal dog a chunk of my lottery winnings, even though I might’ve jokingly promised? Or is this whole thing just absurd?”
Stock image of a couple arguing. The original poster ultimately decided to end the relationship because of her boyfriend’s request.
Sunan Wongsa-nga/iStock / Getty Images Plus
Expert Opinion
Rachel Marmor, a licensed mental health counselor from South Florida, weighed in on the situation with Newsweek. “The scenario certainly feels intense and confusing, but let’s unpack it with some clarity and insight,” she said.
“In relationships, even light-hearted jokes can carry underlying emotional significance, especially when those jokes involve promises, however casual they may seem. The woman’s partner might have seen her playful promise to include Baxter as a symbol of unity or trust. In his eyes, she not following through could feel like a breach of an unspoken bond, more than a literal disagreement about money for a pet.”
Marmor pointed out that the woman’s side of the story is equally valid. Expecting someone to set up a $10,000 trust fund for a dog is, by many standards, unreasonable. It also signals a deeper disconnect in how the couple views commitment and priorities.
“Moving forward, she should allow herself to grieve the relationship but also recognize that this situation brought out essential truths about their compatibility.
“The fact that a disagreement over a joke could unravel the relationship so dramatically suggests that, even if they had stayed together, they might have faced deeper challenges in navigating trust, communication, and shared values,” she said.
Family law attorney Holly Davis, from the Austin, Texas-based Kirker Davis LLP, told Newsweek: “This lady has no obligation to split any proceeds with a dog. There’s no contract, there’s no breach of contract, and she is right to be concerned about her boyfriend’s behavior.”
Davis emphasized how money can reveal deeper issues in relationships: “Money changes things. It’s hard to see someone’s true colors shining through but this boyfriend’s obsession with his pet receiving a share of the lottery winnings, which he would conveniently control, is just a thinly veiled attempt to manage more of the proceeds compared to his girlfriend.”
She also highlighted the importance of financial compatibility in relationships and being on the same page on money issues on smaller issues such as the grocery shop and vacation budgets, to be able to foresee harmony when facing bigger financial questions.
Reddit Reacts
The Reddit community overwhelmingly rallied behind u/Happy_Philosophy_977, urging her to stand her ground. One user, Character-Food-6574, commented, “Your boyfriend is using this as a way to get 2/3 of your winnings, would be my guess. Tell him no!”
Another chimed in, “Please please don’t give your boyfriend a penny of it. Dump him and invest the money.”
A third user shared a cautionary sentiment: “Your mistake was telling your BF that you’d won.”
What Happened Next
In a follow-up post, u/Happy_Philosophy_977 shared the outcome of her conversation with her boyfriend. His response only solidified her decision to end the relationship.
“His reaction? He doubled down. He kept going on about how it’s ‘not about the money’ (even though it’s clearly all about the money) and that this is really about trust and me ‘not keeping promises.’ He even said that if I can’t keep this ‘promise’ (again, about a DOG), how can he trust me to keep my word on bigger things?”
Her post revealed that his continued defensiveness and accusations of broken trust led her to break things off after two years together. “At that point, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I told him that this whole situation has raised huge red flags, and after two years together, I can’t believe he’s acting like this.”
Despite her efforts to explain, the relationship couldn’t withstand the bizarre dispute. “Instead of reflecting on what I said, he got defensive and accused me of breaking trust,” she explained.
Reddit Applauds Her Decision
The internet erupted in applause for her decision to leave her boyfriend. One user summed it up succinctly: “If he’s prioritizing a dog trust fund over your relationship, that’s a pretty massive red flag. Breaking up over this just shows you’re not willing to waste time on someone whose values are so off. Trust your instincts—this isn’t just about the dog.”
Newsweek reached out to u/Happy_Philosophy_977 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
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