Dog-Gone

 

 

July 4, 2025

 

I am frequently bemused by the things that people write in to advice columnists about. Today’s question was (paraphrasing here), “How do I tell my friend that I don’t want her dog swimming in my pool? She loves the dog like a kid, and thinks its antics are hilarious.”

 

The dog has chewed up a $200 pool accessory (no reimbursement offered), and the writer is afraid that the dog’s claws will damage her vinyl pool liner (which would also be expensive to replace).

 

I’m as non-confrontational as the next person but—Really? You can’t say, “I don’t want your dog in my pool.”?

 

Sympathetic readers might point out that the woman is afraid of losing her friend; and also, that the doggy-swimming probably happened once and the owner let it slide, having no idea that it would be such an ongoing expectation, so it got out of hand. I can sympathize, too.

 

But—Really? 

 

Protect your property, ma’am: “No, Fido can’t swim in my pool anymore.”