AIBU to think you don't walk dogs in a school playground?

[LunaLoveg00d]

We live very close to the local Primary school. The gates to the school are never closed, so in the evenings, weekends and school holidays the playground is used by kids riding their bikes or playing. There are two parks within less than quarter of a mile, and a large wooded area. We are not an inner-city location with no green spaces.

So why on earth do people think it's appropriate to walk their dogs in the school playground? Most do pick up if their dog poos, but obviously you can't do that with pee. There is a sign on the gate saying people who allow their dogs to foul will be prosecuted, but I would much prefer a "take your dog elsewhere" sign - there are plenty of alternatives.

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

The gates are never closed and locked, that's very surprising.

[FionaThePrincess]

Oh here we go. The weekly dog haters thread.

[Haggisfish]

Meh. Dog wee will wash away. As long as poo is picked up, it doesn't bother me.

[LunaLoveg00d]

No the gates are never locked. They are closed, but easy to open. The gates and fences are only about 4 feet high anyway, you could very easily get into the playground over the fences if you wanted so locking the gate would be pointless.

I don't hate dogs - i'm not one of those people who thinks they are equivalent to people - I just don't understand why walking them in the school playground is appropriate when there are lots of other places.

[Grassgreendashhabi]

Because dog owners think that their dogs re the most well behaved dogs in the world

They also think that the majority of people pick up the dog poor hey also seem to think that dogs never jump lick or chase people

But that's because they are fucking idiots

[LunaLoveg00d]

To be fair, I haven't seen any piles of poo in the playground from dogs. Kids haven't complained about it either. But because the playground isn't designed for dog walking, there are no bins provided as there are in the park or even in the street.

I just don't get the thinking "Oh I know, let's bypass the park and the wood with the path going round the pond and take Fido to the school playground!"

[FionaThePrincess]

that's because they are fucking idiots

Oh stop with all the compliments. You'll have me blushing!

[gingersam]

Don't want do crap and piss in the playground = dog hater what rubbish am sick of dogs everywhere and their owners completely ignoring rules signs keeping them on leads off beaches etc etc nothing must limit the precious fur babies what crap

[Grassgreendashhabi]

The rules don't apply to dog owners

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Weird place to walk a dog. Weird that the school playground is accessible to all and sundry. Odd behaviour all round. I don't see why dogs shouldnt go in there along with the rest of the community if the mess is cleared up.

[Wolfiefan]

Surely the school site should be secured over the summer. It's private property. What happens if a child has an accident? Is is actually trespassing to be there? Doesn't the lack of locks make theft or vandalism more likely?

[idontlikealdi]

So the school is accessible to anyone, during the day? Odd.

[LunaLoveg00d]

Is it really weird that school playgrounds are accessible? Doesn't seem weird to me at all but that's what I'm used to. All my kids have learned to ride their bikes on the playground at weekends, hubby often takes kids over there for basketball or a kick about, and the kids play there at weekends.

[LunaLoveg00d]

The school isn't accessible, no. The playground is. The school is a 1960s, single level building with lots of large windows. Anyone walking around the playground would be spotted - and to be fair, the dog walkers keep out when the school is occupied. The only way into the school building for visitors is through the front door which has an intercom.

You never see anyone who is not a member of school staff or a child in the playground between 9 and 3, monday to friday.

[LunaLoveg00d]

The school isn't accessible, no. The playground is. The school is a 1960s, single level building with lots of large windows. Anyone walking around the playground would be spotted - and to be fair, the dog walkers keep out when the school is occupied. The only way into the school building for visitors is through the front door which has an intercom.

You never see anyone who is not a member of school staff or a child in the playground between 9 and 3, monday to friday.

[LunaLoveg00d]

Surely the school site should be secured over the summer. It's private property. What happens if a child has an accident? Is is actually trespassing to be there? Doesn't the lack of locks make theft or vandalism more likely?

Seeing as the fences surrounding the school are 4 feet at most, I don't know how it could be secured. We're in Scotland and laws of trespass are very different. I don't get the point about a child having an accident - you mean liability? No idea. I suppose if a child fell off a piece of playground equipment that was faulty and that hadn't been repaired, then the council would be liable, but it's never happened. And in the 10 years we've lived here there have never been any break-ins and only very, very minor vandalism.

[pigsDOfly]

Yeah, we're all fucking idiots. All all think our dogs are actually babies in a fur coat and of course, think our dogs must be allowed to go anywhere they like.

[gingersam]

Glad you agree

[pigsDOfly]

Well I wouldn't want the fact that there are an awful lot of responsible dog owners out there who wouldn't dream of taking their dog into a children's play ground, and don't see their dogs as substitute babies to stand in the way of anyone's ignorant sweeping statement.

[hummingbirdhostage]

Or people waiting with dogs amongst the crush at the school gate. Completely does my head in. Especially when trying to negotiate the crush with holding my toddler twins in each hand and one Dalmatian sniffs and barks right in son's face. He has been terrified of any dog ever since despite our reassurances. I bloody love dogs but I don't think people consider others enough. Rant over or possibly just pended

[Anonymouses]

I can't say I would do it personally. I can't see why when there are so many far more appropriate places to walk a dog. Any place where kids regularly play eg playground, football pitch, school areas seems like a bad idea. Go to a normal park area, dog walking area, public grass/field not specifically set up for sports.

[NotMyMoney]

I thought schools had to have extra high fences around the playgrounds now? I can remember DC1 school moaning about the new law?

[LunaLoveg00d]

High fences around schools? Never heard of it. Drive through any village in rural Scotland and you'll see schools with low walls or low fences.

[ForalltheSaints]

I think the school should be locked. And dogs should be walked elsewhere.

[Miloarmadillo1]

It sounds like the rest of the community use the grounds as a public space, so maybe in the minds of the dog walkers it is no different to the park. A "pick up your dog's poo" sign kind of gives tacit permission for them to be there, doesn't it? It seems very odd to me, my boys' school has 8 ft fences that are only open for a short period for drop off and pick up each day, and big clear "No dogs" notices at the entrance. I would imagine there is a public liability issue, at our school younger siblings are not allowed to use the playground equipment whilst waiting for the bell to go as they are not covered by the school's insurance if there were an accident.