Given woman’s dog history, getting a pet seems unwise

I am not a dog person. I’m not even an animal person. I am, however, surrounded by dog owners — my family, my husband’s family, my neighbors. Back in middle school, I was bitten several times by dogs while making deliveries on my paper route.

My husband has been without a dog for five years ( since the beginning of our relationship). During the past six months, he has begun to ask when he can get “us” a dog.

I absolutely do not want one. They’re not clean, they make “messes,” and we will constantly have to find someone to care for it when we travel. I have told him this, yet he continues asking. We can’t even agree on a hypothetical breed of dog.

I suppose I could say, “Go ahead,” with the condition that my husband will have to shoulder all pet- related responsibilities. But we both know how well that will work out. What do you think?

There’s a saying, “Once bitten, twice shy.” Because you have been bitten more than once, your reason for not wanting a dog seems logical.

Frankly, I think it would be unfair to the animal to bring it into a household in which it wasn’t unanimously welcomed. And if you think your husband would lay the responsibility for caring for the dog on you, you should not agree.

My 62- year- old father has recently started to streak his hair with fluorescent colors. He coordinates his hair color with his outfits. As far as I know, his employer has not said anything as of yet.

Also, Dad has difficulty with social cues. My mother and I are not happy with his “fashion” choices and we plead with him to stop doing this. It’s embarrassing because it looks silly and ridiculous. He claims he doesn’t care what others think and that he has flair.

Are my mother and I wrong to criticize his “flair”? Isn’t this behavior really inappropriate for a man his age? How can we persuade him that he’s making a fool of himself and should stop? Your help is appreciated.

Repeat after me: We cannot change other people; we can only change the way we react to them. Understand that how your father presents himself reflects only on him — not you. Because you and your mother have tried reasoning with him and he refuses to listen, you all might be happier if you stop making fashion choices problem.

— Wary in Wisconsin Dear Wary: — No Fool Like an Old