It's so true.... making the original animals still feel special while adding a new one to the pack is tough... maybe there's another article in there, too!
We went through that when we added our cat to the mix... fortunately, she came from a hoarder home and was used to other animals and chaos... so her short time there prepared her for cattle dog playmates, lol. It's all about picking the right animals to bring into the fold, I think!
Good for you for not partaking in the family drama - sad that's what holidays seem to be for, rather than enjoying those we really want to be with. At least you can look forward to your pack coming home
