Unwanted pet presence at parties causes discomfort

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a friend, “Cindy,” who frequently brings her pet to every social gathering we have, whether it’s a dinner party, a movie night or a casual get-together. 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 Cindy 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? — Pet-Permeated Parties DEAR PET-PERMEATED PARTIES: Unless your friend’s pet is a service animal that has been prescribed to help her cope with life, you have the right to decide whether the dog is invited. You need to be direct because clearly Cindy is not getting the message.