Dear Abby: I regularly entertain guests at my cabin. Last year, my niece visited with her husband a brought her dog. How do I tell her not to do that again without offending her?
I own a lake cabin and enjoy hosting friends and relatives. Even though I don’t have a pet myself, I like animals and don’t mind if people ask to bring their dogs, because the ground floor is linoleum that’s easy to clean when the inevitable sand and water get tracked in.
Last year, I invited my niece and her husband to spend the weekend, and they showed up with their large, long-haired dog. Even though they hadn’t asked in advance, I didn’t have a problem with it until it was time to go to bed. They brought their dog to bed with them in the upstairs guest room. I was so surprised I didn’t know what to say.
Dogs have never gone upstairs before, much less rolled around in the bed. They have either slept downstairs on their own, or their owners brought crates or had the dogs sleep in their cars. After the couple left, I had to deep-clean the room to remove the dog hair, including dusting, vacuuming and washing all the bed linens . I usually just spiff up the room and change the sheets in preparation for the next visitors.
Abby, this couple is coming to the cabin again, and I assume they still have the dog. Should I broach the subject, after setting a precedent during their last visit, or resign myself to the extra cleaning? My relationship with this niece is cordial but slightly strained due to some past family history, so what’s more important -- relationships or a clean room?They are both important. You can clean up a room, but you can’t repair a severed relationship as easily.
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Abigail-Van-Buren @Rhiggs @Exmeter
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