This will probably make me unpopular, but I have to admit....I'm more than a little disturbed by ALL the threads by people who are choosing to STAY HOME from family Christmas get-togethers, over issues with their dogs.
Our dogs are our BABIES, and the amount of enjoyment my husband and sons and I get from them just never ceases to amaze me. They have brought so much love and joy into our lives, and we can't imagine life without them now.
But if I had to choose between spending Christmas with my mom, and Christmas with my dogs, I'd choose my mom. Heck, I'd even choose my MOTHER-IN-LAW
---cuz heck...that's what the holidays are about...being with our FAMILIES. And as much as we love our dogs, and as huge a part of our lives as they are...I just can't see where it would EVER be appropriate to put a pet before human relationships.
Okay, that's my unpopular opinion #1.
Number two....I would think the MAJORITY of holiday family get-togethers would be unsafe and stressful for our fur-babies, anyway. Over and over we read stories of puppies getting passed around too much, and dogs getting dropped, and family members feeding them people food, in spite of our requests otherwise...etc.
Wouldn't it be MUCH less stressful for our dogs to be left at home in their familiar and safe environments, where they will most likely just snooze the entire time we're gone?!
I realize it's sort of easy for me to say, since all my family is local, and I understand that people who have to travel have a MUCH harder choice to make.
But I even think that then, leaving them in kennel care (as HARD as that would be
) would often be the much safer choice for our little ones.
We had three different major family events to attend. The first was in a very small house where there isn't ever enough room for all the PEOPLE there....obviously the dogs stayed home.
The second was at my Mom's house--the dogs all often visit her, are used to her house, and she adores them and doesn't care if they have accidents on her floor.
It was just my little family and my mom and dad....so the dogs got to go.
The last (today) was at a house where there were 20-30 people, and LOTS of little kids. Again, things are always very crowded and chaotic there, so it was a no-brainer to leave the dogs at home.
Obviously I know that A LOT of people on the board disagree with me.
But does anyone AGREE?! Come on....tell the truth....it doesn't make you a bad fur-mommy....did you leave your furbaby HOME for Christmas?!