#Middlebury #Thanksgiving
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Last year at Thanksgiving dinner, my dog, Aker, nipped at one of my sister-in-law’s children as they played in the living room. They had opened the door to my room and let Aker out without my knowledge, and when she got caught between a couple of roughhousing kids and hurt, she reacted the way any dog would. Now my sister-in-law is refusing to bring her family to dinner this year unless I get rid of Aker. What would you do? – Janice, Lansing, Michigan
DEAR JANICE: I’d enjoy a quiet dinner with no kids around to torture my dog.
Getting rid of Aker is an absolute no-go. If you still want your sister-in-law and her kids to come to dinner, then let her know that you have ground rules about interacting with Aker. The children are not to let Aker out of your room, where you have put her so she won’t be stressed out by all the activity and strange people in the house. Further, it is your sister-in-law’s responsibility to make sure her kids behave. If they can’t behave, then they shouldn’t be allowed over.
The holidays are a stressful time for pets: Parties, dinners and visits from strangers all contribute to heightened anxiety. Add lots of rich, tempting food on the countertop – some of which can make pets very sick, like chocolate desserts, guacamole or grapes – and a home can be downright dangerous.
Aker shouldn’t suffer or be abandoned just to make one family member happy. I’m very serious about this. If this family tiff can’t be resolved in a way that protects your dog from being hassled, then inform the in-laws that they will need to make other plans.
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