I don't even have my puppy yet (counting the days!) but I already know that I'm going to hate to go ANYWHERE without her.
However, I agree with the poster who said, let's give ourselves a little reality check....our pets, however beloved, ARE 'just' animals. Hopefully none of us would let otherwise happy and beneficial human relationships go to ruin over whether or not someone wanted a dog at their house (their right and their choice, whether we agree or not.)
I have a huge lab who is the absolute apple of our eye, and a big part of my son's life, and luckily my mom loves her too, and loves her to come along with us when we visit. My dad....not so much.
He's just not a dog person. If he became a stickler on the point, and told me that I couldn't bring my dog over there anymore, would I turn my back on him, or spend any less time with them? NO!
(however, we all may have family and "friends" that we might WANT to use this as an excuse to distance ourselves from!
)
As for the original poster and the situation with her niece....given all the details of that situation, I certainly do understand why it would tick you off! I think you're probably right to chalk it up to age and immaturity. And maybe she was PMSing or something.