My friend keeps bringing her uninvited dog to our monthly book club.
By @maraish · Friends
We rotate hosting, and my apartment is strictly no-pets because of allergies and space. She knows this, but continues to bring her dog to other people's houses, and my turn to host is next week.
The full story
Our book club has been going strong for about two years. There are six of us, we're all pretty close, and we take turns hosting at our apartments each month. The issue started about four months ago when one friend got a new Golden Retriever puppy. It was fine when she hosted, obviously. But then she started bringing him along when other people hosted, without asking first. It's a sweet dog, but he's big, sheds a lot, and is still in that jumpy puppy phase. My turn to host is coming up, and this is where I need to figure out a plan. I'm mildly allergic, and my apartment is a small one-bedroom. I've made it clear in our group chat in the past (in a general way, not directed at her) that my place is a pet-free zone. Last month, at another friend's house, she brought the dog and you could tell the host was annoyed. The dog was trying to get on the couch and begging from everyone. So now I'm stuck. Do I send her a private text beforehand and explicitly say "Hey, looking forward to seeing you, but please leave the pup at home"? That feels so confrontational and awkward. Or do I wait and see if she shows up with the dog, and then have the even more awkward conversation at the door? The third option is to just let it happen and be uncomfortable and sneezy in my own home, which doesn't seem right. I'm trying to find the most logical way to handle this without causing a huge rift in the friend group.
Keep reading
- We cannot agree on if you have to pay for food you ordered but didn't eat.
- Every time my friend group splits the bill at dinner, somehow I owe the most.
- I have been formally banned from choosing the restaurant for my friend group.
- Our friend group chat now has a 'no memes' during work hours rule.
- At what point does being 'thrifty' just become rude?