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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!