by CONNIE CRONLEY
Let’s talk about entertaining with pets in the home.
Some people think the pets are entertainment enough, but those who add people may encounter complications. Or, disasters. I know a dog who ate the entire just-out-of-the-oven chicken before a dinner party.
A little pre-planning and preparation can ease stress and ward off calamity.
Guest list. Sure, if guests are your jam, invite them. We recommend alerting both guests and pets ahead of time to avoid unpleasant surprises. While it is permissible for dogs to bark and snap at people crawling in through windows or bursting through the door, different behavior is expected toward people arriving with flowers and a bottle of wine. Tell your dog people are coming. Some people claim to be allergic to cats, although I personally think this is a sham excuse to stay home, so guests need to be forewarned that cats will be present.
After advising the guests, you have done your duty. Pets are very good at psychology. Warning: pets have a wicked sense of humor. Allergic to cats or repelled by cat hair? (“Oh, let me get as close to you as I can. Let me rub against your pant leg one more time.”) Fearful of dogs? (“Hi. Hi. Hi. I’m sticking to you like a magnet. Mind a few slurpy licks on you shoe? How about I sit on your lap?”)
It is unfair to suggest that bad behavior falls only to pets. I know a man who didn’t keep a close eye on his guests, and after they had left, he discovered one had stolen his pet snake.
Menu. This is a big one. Nothing says hospitality like seeing a guest pick a pet hair out of her glass of wine. Food and drink are the soul of a party, so, of course, you should have some. My dog Zeke is gifted at sussing out which guests are most likely to sneak him bites. This is not good. People food can be toxic or harmful to pets, especially onions, grapes, garlic, alcohol, caffeinated beverages, chocolate, avocados, diet foods with artificial sweeteners, nuts and bones. Besides, no matter what Zeke says, he has not missed any meals, and he doesn’t need extra calories.
Even well-behaved dogs and cats can be tempted if plates are left unattended, so it is helpful if guests keep full plates out of reach of pets and remove empty plates. Any dog worth their salt could execute a swift and stealthy theft. (“Hey, look over there!” Lick. Gulp.)
Food preparation is not easy with pets. Once I made a tidy tray of finger sandwiches for a tea party and had them primly covered with a damp tea towel when my cats Phoebe and Abigail roared across the kitchen counter in a spirited catch-me-if-you-can chase. And across the sandwich tray. Some sandwiches served were much flatter than others. I witnessed that misadventure, but the surest way I know something has gone amiss with the party food is to see one of my pets strolling nonchalantly out of the kitchen, whistling innocently.
Let’s go back to that phrase “across the kitchen counter.” Of course, the cats were on the kitchen counter; they live here. One small dinner party was memorable because my cat Isabelle leapt to the table with the grace of a fairy and delicately threaded her way around the serving dishes to visit her favorite person. The guests were charmed. That’s another reason they were my guests.
Costumes. Are we talking about costumes for everyone or just the pet? A special collar is nice; a tasteful scarf is acceptable. But think about it. How would you feel if you were the only one wearing an ugly Christmas sweater or had St. Patrick’s Day shamrocks bouncing on your head? On the other hand, a Cairnauzer named Lola wore strands of pearls to a dinner party, and everyone said she was the most glamorous one there.
Floral arrangements. Particularly popular with some cats. Display them at your own risk. Temptation is a mighty force, and all it takes is the tiniest little…
Music and noise. As the party gets its legs, the volume rises. This can be unsettling to pets. Some slink away and hide. When Phoebe disappeared during a large party, I was so distressed I had the guests out on the street looking for her. After the party, she crept out of a secret hiding place in the closet, but I learned a lesson and never had so many people in the house again. Some pets stick it out and grow agitated, so authorities suggest we have a comforting crate or quiet room available for their escape. That didn’t work for my dog Bucky, so disturbed by strangers he became aggressive. My solution, not for everybody, was not to have parties for the 10 years he lived here.
It’s not easy being a conscientious pet owner and party host. We must find our own comfort zone, somewhere between chill and meltdown.
