To not include the dog in a Christmas card

[WeCalledTheDogIndiana]

Writing Christmas card to sister in law and brother in law (DH’s sister and her husband) and remembered that last time they sent us a card (a few months ago) it was signed “from SIL, BIL, and Fido” - Fido being their dog…

Can we just write “Dear SIL, BIL, and DS” and leave it at that? Or is this doomed to be taken as a passive aggressive slight that will spawn it’s own mumsnet thread and lead to them going NC?!

I am veering towards “it’s a bit ridiculous but if it makes them happy just do it”. DH is firmly in the camp of “I am not addressing a fucking card to a fucking dog”

For context: we’re not particularly close, we don’t see them often as they live in the US, the family has a history of finding fault in everything everyone does, yes we both like dogs but no we don’t have our own (cause small children), and they didn’t have the dog last Christmas so it wasn’t an issue then. And yes I do have more important things to worry about but this is a pleasing distraction (and I am genuinely interested in views of dog owners and non dog owners alike!)

Can’t do voting on the app but:
YABU - just include the dog, why wouldn’t you
YANBU - fucking dogs don’t get fucking cards

In the past, I had the bright idea of getting an inkpad and putting the dog's pawprints in my Christmas cards. Jasper the Staffie made his views on this abundantly clear by escaping before I could get the wet-wipe to him and leaving his inky pawtographs all over the cream carpet. Served me right.

I did this with one of the cats for a birthday card. But I thought I’d better not use ink, so I picked a small strawberry that had been nibbled by slugs, squashed it onto the cat’s paw and pressed the paw down firmly on the card. The look of incredulity the cat gave me was something to behold. And the print didn’t even come out well. Mud works better.

@GodIsAVegan

That's perfectly OK. You just need to send a separate card to the dog.

and another

AIBU = 100% yes

You unreasonable cheeeeep skaaaate !!😃

Buy the dog it's own card.
🐶🐶✉✉✉🐶🐶

Now I'm off to get a coffee ☕🍩 before reading thread.

No paw prints where and when we want them, yet plentiful paw prints where and when we don't. Typical.

I'd sign off a card with family names including the dog. But I'd find it bizarre to receive a card addressed to my family and dog. Just not what I expect, and I've lived with dogs for most of my life.

It wouldn't occur to me to leave out the dog, given the way they've signed previous cards.

It costs you nothing.

@WeCalledTheDogIndiana

I send a Christmas card to my DB and DSIL, and a separate card just to their dog, I draw little paws and bones inside, so I'm not the best person to comment here I adore their dog.

I find this delightful. Just read it to DH who says if I do it in this card he'll divorce me

Divorce him right now and replace him with a dog

@orchardgirl4

I'd sign off a card with family names including the dog. But I'd find it bizarre to receive a card addressed to my family and dog. Just not what I expect, and I've lived with dogs for most of my life.

Oh that would confuse me. I’ve always assumed the way people sign off is the way they like to be addressed.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

That's perfectly OK. You just need to send a separate card to the dog.

Something to bear in mind if you’ve had enough of him at some point in the future. 😂

Tbf he knows that a significant upside of divorce for me is that I could finally get a cat (he's allergic). He knows not to push me too far...😂

I do well to remember the name of friends' children, let alone their pets.

Including the pets is a sort of funny thing I did with my parents when I was young, or my kids when they were little to make them smile, but it's batshit to do it on general Christmas cards.

In the past, I had the bright idea of getting an inkpad and putting the dog's pawprints in my Christmas cards. Jasper the Staffie made his views on this abundantly clear by escaping before I could get the wet-wipe to him and leaving his inky pawtographs all over the cream carpet. Served me right.

Now this is commitment. Though gives me horrible flashbacks of painting DC1's tiny little feet to get a perfect completely pointless and unrecognisable footprint in a Father's Day card. Funnily enough, didn't bother with DCs 2 and 3

I usually include the dog when signing cards from us. It’s nice when others address them to him too but I don’t expect it. He’s getting on a bit now so I can’t leave him off in case people think he’s died!

Ah, see this the precedent point an earlier poster mentioned. Once you've done it once you're locked in 😬

I did this with one of the cats for a birthday card. But I thought I’d better not use ink, so I picked a small strawberry that had been nibbled by slugs, squashed it onto the cat’s paw and pressed the paw down firmly on the card. The look of incredulity the cat gave me was something to behold. And the print didn’t even come out well.

😂😂

A friend of mine sends Christmas cards with a photo of her dog in a Santa hat printed on the front. Simply signing the dogs name is for amateurs.

I do like the cards though!

Would it be a step too far to write 'Meowy Christmas & Yappy New Year' ?

Why does it bother you so much? Dogs are part of families. You and your husband sound like mean people.

Why does it bother you so much? Dogs are part of families. You and your husband sound like mean people.

Mean? Which particular bit of what OP said made you come to that conclusion. 🤪

@fournonblondes

Why does it bother you so much? Dogs are part of families. You and your husband sound like mean people.

And you sound a little unhinged.

I wouldn’t include a dog in a card, because it would never occur to me. It wouldn’t be a deliberate thought of “how ridiculous to include a dog, I’m not doing it”, it just wouldn’t occur to me to include it anymore than I’d include their goldfish.

I'm amazed that you're worried enough about this to start a thread...

One of mils friends sends us a card (no idea why) and includes her budgie!!

Oh god, this has really made me laugh. I don't know why budgie is even madder than dog, but is definitely is 😂^
^
It's also kind of lovely though. Thing is I am terribly soft-hearted (under a mean exterior ) and think Christmas cards are quite lovely things - so while I find it all a bit mad I do find it a charming, sweet, maybe even life-enhancing, kind of mad

Would it be a step too far to write 'Meowy Christmas & Yappy New Year' ?

Read this one to DH too, he says he's filing the papers 😂

LTB. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

Yes of course it's ridiculous but it will make them smile!

And that's pretty much the point of sending the card!

Our kids send their own cards to our friends' dogs and cats. And make cards for our cats. Etc.

A very dour ex-colleague still sends a very formal 'Best wishes of the season' type card from him, his wife, their daughter... and the cat

It's part of the nonsense of it all