Community Chat

[Oostende]

I would certainly prioritize the child over the pet.

Not only that, I would not go to an event that excluded a vulnerable family member.

There is an appalling cruelty in exposing a petrified child to a situation the child is unable to cope with.  

[Trinity11]

---

@timeless wrote:

My child is horribly afraid of dogs.  He's had this problem for years and it's regardless of what type of dog or whose dog it is.  He refuses to go near them. 

Going out in public where dogs are allowed, he steers clear of them...WIDELY.

My question to you is this:  If you were hosting a family get-together where you hardly ever see someone who is afraid of a pet, would you find a place for your pet to hang out so your family member can come to visit you on a holiday? 

Or would you not ask them to come?

Even if all other family was coming?

---

I have always prioritized people over animals. And the fact that you are dealing on a daily basis with a child with autism is difficult enough without needing to deal with people who are ignorant about your situation. My pet would be put in another room. Sorry, that you are dealing with this @timeless .

[FancyPhillyshopper]

This is not an issue of choosing one over the other, but rather always trying to do the best for the situation/circumstances.

The child has a valid medical issue, and even exposing the child to one or a few dogs will not necessarily make him comfortable with every dog he meets, nor should it.  

All dogs can become dangerous --they have very sharp teeth, and they can get aftraid, or nervous, or anxious, just like children.  They can also be very territorial.  

Yes, I would confine my pets for visitors, unless they were staying multiple days at my home, which would make the process more difficult, and perhaps expensive, as I would have to board my dogs.

Of course my pets are my family, but that does not mean that I take unnecessary risks, or that I am rude to visitors who are afraid.

The discussions here have gone off the rails--this is not a religious issue, or people versus animals.

Let the child visit the family, and keep the dogs away for the small amount of time!  All will feel content and relieved (even the dogs, who might not like all the excitement, anyway.)

[Effie54]

I would not tell a family member or friend not to come. Pets are extremely important, as well as family; I would find a comfy, cozy place for the pet to chill while company visited. 

[Sooner]

This shows the distinct split in how people feel about this issue.  The OP is the host, OP calls the shots like it or not.

But because you don't agree with someone else, no reason to make a big deal about it.  Just understand that different people think differently and leave it there.  Or can that not be tolerated any more?  Is everything right or wrong, my way or the highway?  

Can anything just be let go now days? 

[stevieb]

---

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:

---

@CelticCrafter wrote:

---

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:

People over animals always. Period. 

---

It's the dogs home...

My daughter and son-in-law have one dog that I'm kind of a little leery of but I would never expect them to lock her up while I was there.

---

Humans were given dominion over the animals which means people come first and this thread shows that not all have gotten the memo. Unfortunate that some have their priorities confused.

---

In your opinion... Sorry, but 'dominion' or not, I make the choices for what I'm willing to do in my own home. As for boarding, just no. No way am I boarding a pet because a potential guest wants me to... If that potential guest invites me to their home then perhaps that avoids the sitution, but iin my opinion, you don't go to someone else's home and expect them always to accomodate.

[stevieb]

---

@faeriemoon wrote:

---

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:

People over animals always. Period. 

---

Not in my world.

---

Nor in mine. I think she made her point, repeatedly, but the funny thing about opinions is we need not all agree with those of others, no matter how stridently stated.

[eddyandme]

---

@stevieb wrote:

---

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:

---

@CelticCrafter wrote:

---

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:

People over animals always. Period. 

---

It's the dogs home...

My daughter and son-in-law have one dog that I'm kind of a little leery of but I would never expect them to lock her up while I was there.

---

Humans were given dominion over the animals which means people come first and this thread shows that not all have gotten the memo. Unfortunate that some have their priorities confused.

---

In your opinion... Sorry, but 'dominion' or not, I make the choices for what I'm willing to do in my own home. As for boarding, just no. No way am I boarding a pet because a potential guest wants me to... If that potential guest invites me to their home then perhaps that avoids the sitution, but iin my opinion, you don't go to someone else's home and expect them always to accomodate.

---

Exactly @stevieb.  You said it much better than me.

[stevieb]

@Sooner  I understand and to some extent agre with the point you make about sometimes letting things go, but it sounds as though the OP is NOT the host and is asking whether whoever is the host should be willing to accomodate her request to make scarce the dog for a 'child' of undisclosed age who is autistic.

[stevieb]

@Oostende  Of course, the option is for the family of the 'petrified' child, of whatever age' not to participate in the gathering. Hence, no one would be cruelly exposing him or her to the situation.

@Trinity11  I'm not sure whether the hosts are 'ignorant', such a judgement laden word, of the situation or have merely expressed an unwillingness to accommodate the request to sequester the dog in their own home.