Pet owners: HELP!

[candy_coated_bitch]

I think you should feel perfectly fine about saying no and drawing a boundary. I know it can be hard to say no to friends, but if you are uncomfortable and worried about the new carpet in your home--it could really end up with everyone being unhappy if an accident happens.

If you are comfortable taking some of the precautions suggested, then great. Ask more questions to get a better sense of the situation. But if you are in any way not wanting to deal with this or take a chance just say NO. It's fine to ask, but hopefully a friend would understand why you wouldn't want to deal with this situation. I personally think no matter what you do there's a CHANCE of an accident happening.

I wouldn't do it.

[Electrocell]

Do you have a garage?

[Blade]

You have every right to say no. If your friend is sensible she should understand. I wouldn't leave my old dog behind. I'd stay home. How about a crate and she can crate the dog and pick it up and take it out when it needs to go to the bathroom.

[ahk]

I had an older dog -- well more like a dog who was afraid to be left alone. He was kenneled and he would flip out. I had to cancel a lot of plans because of him. I just couldn't have him suffer and be in pain. I either had friends over, or just stayed home. Sometimes we just need to do those kinds of things with our elder pets.

Nothing is wrong with saying NO to your friend and sharing your thoughts on why. I think as much as she loves her elder pet, she should understand. I mean if she's mentioned piddle pads, then she does understand about the carpet.

Maybe instead of visiting at your place, she could stay in a hotel where dogs were welcomed. Or you both could just see each other for lunch at a pet friendly pet-io.

Things will work out the way they need--

[dark_crystal]

Originally Posted by Okiebug61

I would not leave an old pet behind. So I would wait to visit when they had gone on to the Rainbow Bridge.

I had a very hard time leaving Ivan the Terrier after he began failing. I can understand not wanting to travel without a geriatric dog. What if I wasn't there when his time came?

Originally Posted by ahk

I had an older dog -- well more like a dog who was afraid to be left alone. He was kenneled and he would flip out. I had to cancel a lot of plans because of him. I just couldn't have him suffer and be in pain. I either had friends over, or just stayed home. Sometimes we just need to do those kinds of things with our elder pets.

Nothing is wrong with saying NO to your friend and sharing your thoughts on why. I think as much as she loves her elder pet, she should understand. I mean if she's mentioned piddle pads, then she does understand about the carpet.

Maybe instead of visiting at your place, she could stay in a hotel where dogs were welcomed. Or you both could just see each other for lunch at a pet friendly pet-io.

Things will work out the way they need--

Yes. La Quinta is the answer here

[Wintermoon]

As a pet owner, whose babies go everywhere with their pet parents I would suggest that it is rather strange this woman never mentioned the dog when she first made plans to visit. My babies come along or I do not make plans to go . Simple. Our family pet-sits dogs on a regular basis and we have had dogs visit who only use pee pads. The cloth re-washable ones are perfect for away visits. We had no issues with carpet messes at all, ever. If you believe your friend would bring a dog who misses, has accidents and will cause damage then you aren't trusting her pet parenting. However since you obviously are not a pet person it sounds like you need to just tell her that you do not want her dog in your home. However... I think being more tactful than saying I don't want your dog to piss on my new carpet.. is definitely important.

[Gemme]

White carpet and pets, even the most well-mannered and trained, usually don't play well together. Hell, white carpet and I don't play well together.

I know you want to see your friend. You have to decide if you want to see her bad enough RIGHT NOW to have your stuff messed up. Pets are messy. Lovable and sweet (mostly), but messy.

If you do want to see her bad enough right now, versus delaying the trip for a while or until she can have someone stay with her dog while she visits, then make sure not to pull some passive aggressive stuff with her when an accident or some sort of messiness does occur. If you opt to let her come, then you have to be prepared for something to occur. If nothing happens and you have a good, clean visit....great! But I'd veer on the side of assuming that if she came, something, somewhere would get soiled and make the best preparations you could.

For the record, they now make pee pads that literally have a giant bullseye in the middle and they inject the pad with pheromones to help draw the pet directly to the middle to wee. That would help with direction but nothing will help if the poor guy is incontinent and becoming senile (which often leads to personality and behavioral changes in pets and humans alike).

[Soft*Silver]

your other option is to offer to put her up in a hotel that allows pets and when she visits, ask her to keep her pet on a leash while in the house. I never went to visit somewhere with a pet, where the pet was not on a leash next to me. My family adores my newfs, as big as they are, because they are leashed...next to me, sitting or laying. Unlike the other dogs of the family who run rampant in the houses during family visits and piss all over the rugs...even tho they are supposedly housebroken. Dogs are territorial and they will pee to mark territory, even female ones.

Pee pads are ok but many dogs will not go right on the pads. My chi, bless his damn little heart, will go on them, near them, next to them, and on corners so it spills over.

Also, is this a lapdog, one that never goes out of a purse or off their lap? If so, pads might work..but...

White carpeting and new wood floors...wow.