: I have a friend who frequently brings her pet to our social gatherings, whether it’s a dinner party, a movie night or a casual get-together. Related Articles While I understand that her pet is important to her, the constant presence of the animal is starting to make some of our gatherings uncomfortable for the rest of us, particularly those who are allergic or have phobias. I’ve tried to address this delicately by suggesting pet-free events or offering alternative solutions, but my friend seems to be resistant to the idea and insists that her pet should be included in all activities.
Is there any other approach I should try before officially cutting her from the invite list? : Unless it’s a service animal that has been prescribed to help your friend cope with life, you have the right to decide whether the pet is invited. You need to be direct, because clearly she is not getting the message. Sit her down and tell her that some of your friends are sensitive about it — due to allergy or fear or whatever else the reason may be.
Add that your friend group does not feel comfortable having an animal around all the time, so you are kindly requesting that she leave her pet home sometimes. If she balks, tell her that she may be excluded from certain activities if the group wants it to be a pet-free zone. : To the letter-writer regarding helping a bullied student: As a teacher, I always knew the reliable, responsible students in my classes.
Some of those were definitely not th.