Your dogs are NOT members of the family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On the updside, I imagine this has solidified your relationship with your SIL! Good for you for holding firm--and deciding never to host an extended family gathering again!

+1 Thanks for the update, OP!

[Anonymous]

Ok, since there is a vocal minority who consider their pets as members of the family, let's update this to your pets are NOT members of the extended family. So, you should make the assumption that while they are part of your family, your relatives do not consider them family members and to behave accordingly. So, you assume that they are not invited to any event and that they are not welcome where other people are unless you ask and are told explicitly that they are welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think these people are rude and crazy. I would never do this. I don't bring my dog to other people's homes unless they specifically tell me to. But, my dog is part of my family, so I would never do what you did for ONE person to come over to my house for a huge party. It sucks for her, but she can't expect everyone to just board their dogs when she is invited to a party. There are things for her take for the short time she would be there to make it tolerable for her to attend.

Spoken like a person who doesn't suffer from extreme dog allergies. Let's just drug the kid up, maybe even have her get shots, so we don't inconvenience the dog owners!

What OP did was exceedingly kind and generous because she wanted to make her niece feel welcome and it allows niece to stay the weekend with them. From an earlier post by OP:

I don't mind boarding our dog. His doggie daycare/boarding place is better outfitted than our gym. He'll be fine. Its fun for the kids to have SIL/BIL and cousins stay with us. I also joke that it is the only reason our house gets really cleaned thoroughly so we're not put out accommodating niece's allergies.

I highly doubt OP being gracious and empathetic person will result in niece growing up thinking everyone will deep clean their homes and board their dogs for every party.

This! The niece didn't demand it , OP chose to do it. Because she wanted her niece there. And apparently she wanted her niece there more than she wanted dogs there, and certainly more than she wanted rude, entitled dog owners there. If you had a relative who was really allergic to dogs, you could choose not to invite her over, or not to make any accommodations for her, and she could choose to drug herself up or not attend. But OP chose to be gracious and make her home a welcoming place for her niece, and I agree that the niece is unlikely to expect everyone else to do the same, but is quite likely to appreciate her aunt's thoughtfulness.

No one has to invite dogs just because it would be more convenient for dog owners. They can leave their dogs at home, board them, hire a dog sitter, whatever. Not my problem.

[Anonymous]

At the end of the evening after most people had left, aggressive cousin sends out an email announcing that she is hosting Thanksgiving. She adds that this will be an inclusive event and all human and fur relatives are invited. She then added that if anyone is an animal hater then it may simply be best if they did not attend. This will create more email drama because two other relatives always fight about which one of them is going to host Thanksgiving. Cousin has never been in the hosting competition for major events. We are going on a short vacation and have no intention of attending an extended family Thanksgiving trip this year so they can all duke it out.

OP back again. We are still planning on a short vacation so not attending Thanksgiving and have no intentions of hosting anything else in the near (or far) future but we're on the email lists so I thought I would provide an update.

The tables seemed to have turned on aggressive cousin as the family Thanksgiving invitation went out from hamster dog-eating cat aunt that it will be at her house. She included no dogs on her invitation but the dog crazies all started responding again that they are bringing their dogs. This aunt is more brazen than we were on this. She has just written back STOP IT NO DAMN DOGS in all caps. It seems we have started a trend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: This aunt is more brazen than we were on this. She has just written back STOP IT NO DAMN DOGS in all caps. It seems we have started a trend.

I hope it spreads outside your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

At the end of the evening after most people had left, aggressive cousin sends out an email announcing that she is hosting Thanksgiving. She adds that this will be an inclusive event and all human and fur relatives are invited. She then added that if anyone is an animal hater then it may simply be best if they did not attend. This will create more email drama because two other relatives always fight about which one of them is going to host Thanksgiving. Cousin has never been in the hosting competition for major events. We are going on a short vacation and have no intention of attending an extended family Thanksgiving trip this year so they can all duke it out.

OP back again. We are still planning on a short vacation so not attending Thanksgiving and have no intentions of hosting anything else in the near (or far) future but we're on the email lists so I thought I would provide an update.

The tables seemed to have turned on aggressive cousin as the family Thanksgiving invitation went out from hamster dog-eating cat aunt that it will be at her house. She included no dogs on her invitation but the dog crazies all started responding again that they are bringing their dogs. This aunt is more brazen than we were on this. She has just written back STOP IT NO DAMN DOGS in all caps. It seems we have started a trend.

I love this! Thanks for the update, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

At the end of the evening after most people had left, aggressive cousin sends out an email announcing that she is hosting Thanksgiving. She adds that this will be an inclusive event and all human and fur relatives are invited. She then added that if anyone is an animal hater then it may simply be best if they did not attend. This will create more email drama because two other relatives always fight about which one of them is going to host Thanksgiving. Cousin has never been in the hosting competition for major events. We are going on a short vacation and have no intention of attending an extended family Thanksgiving trip this year so they can all duke it out.

OP back again. We are still planning on a short vacation so not attending Thanksgiving and have no intentions of hosting anything else in the near (or far) future but we're on the email lists so I thought I would provide an update.

The tables seemed to have turned on aggressive cousin as the family Thanksgiving invitation went out from hamster dog-eating cat aunt that it will be at her house. She included no dogs on her invitation but the dog crazies all started responding again that they are bringing their dogs. This aunt is more brazen than we were on this. She has just written back STOP IT NO DAMN DOGS in all caps. It seems we have started a trend.

Yeah! Go, go, go crazy cat aunt! Good for you. People can live without their dogs for one evening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

At the end of the evening after most people had left, aggressive cousin sends out an email announcing that she is hosting Thanksgiving. She adds that this will be an inclusive event and all human and fur relatives are invited. She then added that if anyone is an animal hater then it may simply be best if they did not attend. This will create more email drama because two other relatives always fight about which one of them is going to host Thanksgiving. Cousin has never been in the hosting competition for major events. We are going on a short vacation and have no intention of attending an extended family Thanksgiving trip this year so they can all duke it out.

OP back again. We are still planning on a short vacation so not attending Thanksgiving and have no intentions of hosting anything else in the near (or far) future but we're on the email lists so I thought I would provide an update.

The tables seemed to have turned on aggressive cousin as the family Thanksgiving invitation went out from hamster dog-eating cat aunt that it will be at her house. She included no dogs on her invitation but the dog crazies all started responding again that they are bringing their dogs. This aunt is more brazen than we were on this. She has just written back STOP IT NO DAMN DOGS in all caps. It seems we have started a trend.

Oh op, your family is the gift that just keeps giving. I love hamster dog-eating cat aunt (hdeca). Do tell us more. What's her story?

[Anonymous]

Well, she isn't as crazy as she seems, right, OP? Or is this to get back into your good graces?

[Anonymous]

My dog and cat are definitely members of our family. However, we understand they are not members of your family and do not bring them with us when visiting. We also put both in basement when people are visiting who are afraid, allercic, or simply do not like dogs or cats, so they are not bothered by them. Please do the same with your bratty, whining children. My animals are trained and well behaved!

[Anonymous]

My two dogs are definitely members of my family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Well, she isn't as crazy as she seems, right, OP? Or is this to get back into your good graces?

I think you are confusing hamster dog aunt with hamster dog eating cat aunt. The latter, who will be hosting Thanksgiving, was always in OP’s good graces.

OP, do you have a source on the inside who can share details of the Thanksgiving event? We would love more updates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My two dogs are definitely members of my family.

Thank you for this important contribution to the thread.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I can ask a few cousins for details.

Crazy hamster dog-eating cat aunt is different from the other crazy aunt who brings her hamster dog everywhere. Cat aunt was on our side. She is a riot. I posted about her once before on a real estate thread about shared driveways . She's the one in a feud with her neighbors over the driveway. They both now will intentionally block each other in -which takes effort. My aunt will be late to things because she is busy blocking Ida in for a few more hours.

I have never met the hamster-dog eating cat but my DH has told me it is the biggest cat he has ever seen. He thought it was a small lynx the first time he saw it. It sprawls out on the couch and no one dares to move it.

She usually does not push to host but I'm guessing the opportunity to piss off aggressive cousin and get back at Ida by filling the driveway with cars on Thanksgiving was too much to pass up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I can ask a few cousins for details.

Crazy hamster dog-eating cat aunt is different from the other crazy aunt who brings her hamster dog everywhere. Cat aunt was on our side. She is a riot. I posted about her once before on a real estate thread about shared driveways . She's the one in a feud with her neighbors over the driveway. They both now will intentionally block each other in -which takes effort. My aunt will be late to things because she is busy blocking Ida in for a few more hours.

I have never met the hamster-dog eating cat but my DH has told me it is the biggest cat he has ever seen. He thought it was a small lynx the first time he saw it. It sprawls out on the couch and no one dares to move it.

She usually does not push to host but I'm guessing the opportunity to piss off aggressive cousin and get back at Ida by filling the driveway with cars on Thanksgiving was too much to pass up.

I'm so glad I read through this entire thread to get to this post. Hilarious. I love crazy hamster dog-eating cat aunt.