ANNIE'S MAILBOX She doesn't like dogs licking dinner plates

Dear Annie: My husband and I recently moved to the same state as his mother. We have been invited over to her house many times and have noticed that she allows her little dogs to eat from the same plates as the humans. I find this quite unsanitary.
After the meal is finished, my mother-in-law usually places the dishes on the floor so the dogs can lick the plates and cups before the dishes are washed. While she is cooking, Mom encourages the dogs to lick her fingers, and she allows them to jump on the table.
I do not feel comfortable eating there, but I don't know how to tactfully decline without hurting anyone's feelings. Any suggestions? Atlanta
Dear Atlanta: As long as the dishes are washed thoroughly after the dogs lick them, it is OK. Unappetizing, maybe, but not unsanitary. If the dogs lick Mom's fingers while she is cooking and she then puts her fingers in the food, you have a valid complaint. Of course, it's no worse than Mom licking her own fingers and sticking one in the soup to see if it's hot enough. There is, however, no reason for the dogs to be on the table.
Explain to your husband why you are uncomfortable eating at Mom's, and try to arrange your visits so you are not there at mealtimes. You also might consider inviting Mom out to a restaurant or to your home for dinner.
Dear Annie: My husband and I are part of a growing number of people in their 50s and 60s who supplement their fixed incomes by delivering newspapers door-to-door. The daily exercise is good, and we don't have to deal with traffic.
Now that snow and ice are on the ground, the risk of falling is once again on our minds. Some folks want their newspapers delivered to their front door, so we cannot toss it on the driveway or in the yard. We have to walk up their front steps, which is often hazardous.
Please tell all homeowners to keep their front porch lighted and hazard-free for those of us who deliver their newspapers in the wee, dark hours of the morning. Thank you. Paper Carrier in Spokane, Wash.
Dear Paper Carrier: All homeowners should turn on an outside light at night, and keep their steps and sidewalks ice-free at all times. Thanks for the reminder.
Dear Annie: I was interested in your response to "Leland, N.C.," who complained about the excessive use of cussing in society.
As an English teacher in an urban high school, I am constantly reminded of this. Profanities fly through the hallway like pigeons swarming breadcrumbs. Young adults need to be aware that their vocabulary is a reflection of their character. We should not ignore it because it's pervasive. That's the same as saying, "It's OK."
I have my own classroom policy: "Pay or Stay." Students who swear, or use a degrading term, are given the option of paying 25 cents or staying a half-hour after school. The money goes into "The Swear Jar," as the kids call it, and at the end of the year, the class decides on a charity to receive the students' donations.
The students, while reluctant and defensive at first, are now "vulgar vigilantes." I wanted you to know that while it may be impossible to stop the cursing altogether, it is possible to make individuals more aware of what they are saying. Manchester, Conn.
Dear Manchester: Your attention and determination have taught these students a valuable lesson. However, your approach might not work for everyone. Kudos to you for being such a great teacher!
XE-mail your questions to anniesmailbox@tbi.com, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, Ill. 60611.
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