Dog burst my son's football

Are you one of the thick people that says ‘oh he’s just being friendly’, when your dog leaps up at strangers?

This is true but if someone legitimately does not have the money they do do not have the money. Not much can be done about it then.

If people around you are angry all the time, you can see whether ensuring that your dog doesn't bother them and destroy their things won't help.

I wondered how long it would be before someone threw in the 'friendly dog' remark. So predictable.

Sorry but I don't want your friendly dog approaching me or my dogs when I'm out thanks. And I certainly wouldn't want them damaging my property. If that makes me a twat then I'll happily accept it.

Or, conversely, maybe the real twats are those who are either too dumb or too selfish to prevent their dogs from bothering other people in public places. Once again, why is it so difficult to keep a dog on a lead?

Your poor son must be upset and that dog should have been under control but to be honest if you had told me it would be £45 to replace a 3 year olds ball I would thought you were trying it on.
I appreciate you werent but I wouldnt believe it cost so much - I am not saying it didnt but as a person with no interest in football at all (DS is into Basketball) I would assume it cost no more than £20 or so

100% agree. Permanently angry people. I avoid them as much as possible.

They won’t accept it, but the twats are the posters who are calling for an ordinary apologetic bloke, with a friendly dog, who couldn’t afford to pay £45 for a football, to be shamed on Social Media!

This kind of person so often leaps for a punitive, aggressive response to any perceived slight. It’s the same group that the poster who wanted compensation because a clock alarm went off at 6am belongs to. Maybe they are too young to remember when society just accepted that ‘shit happens’ and moved on.

You did the right thing by telling him his dog should be on a lead, and that he should pay for a new ball. Unfortunately you can't make him pay for a new ball, but at least he said he was sorry. For next time I'd take a cheap ball to the park. I always keep mine on the lead when we see kids play football, because he would do the same too. Most people wouldn't be able to afford £45 to give you on the spot, but asking for a tenner might have encouraged payment.

Look under section 2.2 of the Animals Act 1971: the owner is liable and the law is crystal clear.
If you know who he is, you can pursue the dog owner in the small claims court for replacement of the football.

So the offender can choose whether or not to rectify the situation based on whether the victim behaves nicely? Wtf?

Shit dog owners are the reason why I've taught my kids to kick out at approaching, off lead dogs, if they don't want to interact with them.

@Everanewbie while I agree that small kids and high value items don't always go hand in hand, I would assume that taking a football to the park is a fairly safe activity. Swinging an iPhone around in a boot bag, maybe not. Climbing trees in expensive clothing, again risky.

But a ball at the park is perfectly sensible behaviour and all would have been fine had it not been for one irresponsible dog owner.

It wasn't accidental. It was a poor choice made by the owner that resulted in damage and loss to a child. The least he could have done was pay up.

He should have paid for it, but also it is completely plausible he couldn't afford it. Money is very tight for people ATM. I appreciate you too, but tbh if I had to give £45 to a stranger I wouldn't be able to eat and so in this situation I wouldn't replace the football either not at £45.

How does an apology fix anything? His dog destroyed other people's property.

Children's play area's are mostly fenced off, it was a open park.

I might be a wimp-but the OP said she was very vocal and her kid was hysterical. I’d probably want to get out of there as quickly as possible and not want to get out my phone and start googling. The problem is with getting aggressive is it shuts people down. I’m not saying that OP was wrong but if someone was getting really verbal with me it wouldn’t even cross my mind to get out my phone-I’d want to scarper!!!!

The dog owner should’ve had control, and should have been apologetic but I have to say that if someone told me a football cost £45 I’d think they were trying it on!!

A dog popped a ball in a park. Get over yourselves.

This is the crux of it. You and xenobitch are the worst kinds of owners. You genuinely can’t see it. If my kid damaged something I would replace it if possible or pay and see it as entirely my fault. I would not expect the victim to ‘get over it’. Same as if I damaged something by accident. You are a disgrace.

The dog shouldn’t have been exercising in a children’s play area at all. Yanbu.

The dog should have been under control and the owner should have paid for the football. The price is irrelevant it damaged your property.

You can likely fix the football yourself though with a bike picture repair kit.

Why would you assume the £45 ball was a scam? You could have looked up the ball on Google and saw the price. My kids aren’t into football but I know that branded ones are expensive.

I agree with you @pontypine69 the dog should have been under control.

What I am saying is that is is perfectly possible to hold two thoughts in your head at the same time here. 1. The dog owner should have the dog under control and it shouldn't have wrecked the football, 2. That kind of football for a 5 year old is just stupid, its unsuitable in terms of its properties and is therefore doubly ridiculous to spend that kind of money on it, and life will be tough if you send young kids into the world with items of unnecessarily high value.

The things you mention are accidents. With the exception of a kid tripping up another kid and ripping their clothes which would piss me off to be honest. But I would accept that kids are kids and these things happen.

But an adult dog owner should have control over their dog in a public place. This is an issue in its own right.

Minimise away...it's only a ball bla bla bla. But the wider problem is there are too many entitled and irresponsible dog owners out there who allow this sort of thing (and much worse) to happen through sheer selfishness. Why is it so hard to have a dog on a leash in public? I just don't get it.

I honestly feel really depressed about the way this thread has progressed.
Have we really lost our way so much?

The way that language is being thrown around about neglligent dog owners, entitled arseholes, justice, public shaming, involving the police, rectifying mistakes, selfish, etc etc etc.
Haranguing the OP for daring to have bought a nice ball, stating that she shouldn't have nice things in public spaces.
Demonising the dog owner, who, by the OPs own admission was immediately apologetic....

A dog popped a ball in a park. Get over yourselves.

I have never let my dogs play with footballs for this reason. A dog tried to take my son's ball once and I stood in front of it and called the owner over and she put it on lead. It is upsetting but the ball is very expensive. I would have offered to replace the ball (but not for £45 and a standard football). I would take a cheap ball and keep a close eye out. The owner is at fault and I'm sure this will have taught them to keep the dog on lead in future.

Unfortunately if you play football where dogs are walked you can't 💯 protect from this. I hope your son is ok.