‘Fur babies’ wreck Christmas
DEAR AMY >> We are starting to have trouble with family members who are dog lovers.
This Christmas we were asked to host the family gathering.
As we have only elderly cats in our home, we asked family members to leave their dogs at home, find accommodation for their dogs, or perhaps host Christmas themselves. We do not have a fenced yard, nor any facility to host their dogs.
People brought their dogs anyway.
We were told that we had to fence in our yard before next year to accommodate dogs that we don’t have.
Some insisted that we should confine our cats to a bedroom so that these family members could bring their dogs inside.
This isn’t fair to us or our cats, who have lived in a dog-free house for over 15 years.
One dog always jumps up on people, and we have disabled and elderly members of the family who can’t withstand having a larger dog jump up on them.
One of these family members is currently recovering from a compound fracture that occurred as a result of one of the dogs jumping on them. Some dogs have stolen food off the table, and others don’t get along well with the other dogs.
I’m sorry that it is difficult for us to accommodate them, but owning a dog is their choice and comes with responsibility that perhaps they may have to find a pet sitter for one or two days if the place they are traveling to cannot accommodate their animals.
Or they could host the holiday themselves!
I arrange for pet care for our cats when we are out of town, and don’t force them on other family members. I ask for the same consideration in return.
Your thoughts?
— Family Member
Before I had a dog, I was assured that I would see my own dog as a “fur baby,” and as a sort of child substitute.
Then I got a dog. And nope — this beloved animal is not my baby.
Yes, this dog is definitely a member of the family (as my many cats have been), but good and responsible parenting — of the human or canine kind — requires that you occasionally find good outside care, because your baby (human or “fur”) can’t go everywhere with you.
And if you can’t find care, you may have to stay home.
You have the right to ask family members not to bring their dogs to your holiday party, and they should respect this understandable request.
When they host family gatherings, you will find care for your feline family members and put up with their dogs, but it looks like you’re off the hook for hosting next year.