Annie’s Mailbox: Family may want grandma’s dog gone

Dear Annie: I often babysit my 3-year-old granddaughter. She recently has developed allergies, and they suspect one trigger is my dog. Her family has a dog that stays outside. Mine is an indoor pet. My granddaughter loves the dogs.

Before my granddaughter visits, I vacuum, clean, dust and put my dog in a separate room. I do not have any carpeting. The allergic reaction doesn’t occur every time she visits, but I’m getting the impression that her parents want me to get rid of my dog. My dog is part of the family, and I cannot see doing this. But I also don’t like seeing my granddaughter suffer. What should I do? – Torn Grandma

Dear Torn: We know you are doing your best to keep your home dander-free for your grandchild, but it’s difficult to achieve that goal. Ask the parents whether you can go with them to the girl’s next pediatrician appointment and discuss your options. The doctor may offer alternatives that will allow you to keep your beloved animal.

Dear Annie: I felt the need to respond to “Disgusted Parent,” whose son’s teacher accused him of plagiarism.

I am a middle school language arts teacher. As part of our curriculum, especially now that we have adopted the Common Core Standards, I teach my seventh graders the difference between what is and is not plagiarism. I teach them to remember “when in doubt, cite it!”

In spite of what “Disgusted Parent” said, the majority of teachers do indeed teach their students how to think, read and write. I also require them to support their thinking in their writing. If this young man used someone else’s information, even if he put it in his own words, he still must cite the source – Nash County, N.C.