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Original poster

Dog ate my picnic

711 replies

givingitupok · 12/07/2025 20:36

Had a picnic with my child today in our local park. Random dog (Shar Pei) appeared out of nowhere and ran over to us. I stood up and picked up my child and ran in a panic and stood behind a tree (probably looked like a total fool doing so but there was nowhere else to go without running towards the dog!). No idea where the owner was at this point. Watched the dog eating our food and also drooling all over our lunch box. Owner suddenly appeared from a path that lead into the park screaming at her dog to 'get here now'. Dog totally ignored her and she had to grab it and literally drag it away and put the lead on it. She apologised but when I asked her if she was going to pay for our food she actually had the gall to say 'you should have picked it up when you saw him coming' !!! I have just got home and this literally only happend 45 mins ago so am still fuming. She did not pay for our food and despite initially apologising, was incredibly arsey and walked off in the opposite direction. My child is very upset and the worst bit is, he has SEN and made everything in the lunch box himself (spread the sandwiches, cut up the apples, broke the chocolate into pieces to fit it in the container, etc). This was quite a big thing for him and he's really upset. I am also on a low income and spent a lot on the food. I took a photo of her and it clearly has her face in it. Not sure why but I just felt like I had to do something. I am not going to name and shame, but I'm just so angry.

Not sure what I want from this thread. Just rather pissed off.

OP posts:
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AngelicKaty · 15/07/2025 19:20

PreciousMomentsHun · 14/07/2025 10:21

Goady nonsense, or you wouldn't have carefully listed all the food most poisonous to dogs. 0/10. Really poor effort.

OP listed:

  • Cream cheese sandwiches
  • Cheese and crackers
  • Bread sticks
  • Hummus
  • Apple
  • Grapes
  • Chocolate
Only the last two of these are highly toxic to dogs. Goady nonsense comment. 0/10. Really poor effort. 🙄
Beancounter69 · 15/07/2025 10:42

I cannot believe some of the replies here. I have a dog, super friendly, but it’s on me, not him, to make sure he doesn’t bound up to people and/or eat their food. It’s why, after one or two horrible trips to the beach, he is no longer let off the lead when we are in parks/at the beach as he cannot be trusted! It’s on me to manage him, and to take that responsibility seriously- it’s not for anyone else to manage what/where they eat just in case there’s an idiot owner not controlling their dog🤦🏼‍♀️

NotMyKidsThough · 15/07/2025 10:41

Any and every dog is safe and any and every dog can bite - it depends what sets them off and how they've been trained. There's no shame in being wary, but no need to be afraid of every dog. The food has been eaten and there's nothing much you can do about that. But one thing you can do for your son is tell him that his hard work wasn't for nothing, he did a really good job and the dog really enjoyed it - look how much he ate! Not being funny, just trying to turn the situation around for him and you. Salvage what you can!

Mama2many73 · 14/07/2025 22:16

Grapes sre really toxic. We have a large lab cross. We ended up at tge emergency vets as he had eaten pretty much a whole nail brush.

They made him sick and he brought up some nsilbrush pieces and part of a sock AND a small bunch of grapes, obviously eaten from outside as we dont buy them.
The grapes became the issue. He was treated and observed for a couple of hrs and allowed home with charcoal treatment for several days, it absorbs the toxins so they dont get into bloodstream.

echt · 14/07/2025 21:55

On lead one hopes, because that's what the area was.

BruFord · 14/07/2025 19:57

SistaPB · 14/07/2025 17:56

I personally don’t think dogs can have a very fulfilling life if they are on the lead all the time. I do however think they should be trained for a solid recall (which takes quite a bit a lot of work).
I also think occasionally things can go a little bit wrong (with dogs, kids, other animals) and people need to get a bit less hysterical about it - running and hiding behind a tree was stupid behaviour.

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@SistaPB Ultimately we dog owners are responsible for their behavior in public though and things can go more than a little bit wrong if someone gets badly bitten or a small dog gets mauled by a large one, for example. I wouldn’t let mine off-leash in a park, it’s too risky. When he was attacked by a German Shepherd, he was on-leash and she was off, she bounded up to him and attacked.
Her owner was far behind chatting and didn’t immediately notice that she was attacking a small dog. DDog was making this awful screaming noise and I was trying to protect him. It was a mess!

TheGreenUser · 14/07/2025 19:28

givingitupok · 12/07/2025 21:07

Yes there are signs everywhere saying dogs should be ok leads. Technically she wasn't in the park though and was on a path that runs alongside it. The dog ran away from her and entered the park. Not that I'm defending her!

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Report it to the council. Explain what happened and the dog was off the lead, they might do anything, but may send a dog patrol around.
Or alternatively start a go fund me to have someone kidnap her dog.

Suffocating Hostage Situation GIF by Bens Watch Club
WD40SuccessStories · 14/07/2025 18:59

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Loving your work on this thread!

Manypets · 14/07/2025 18:51

Gasp..😦 you show no sign of having digested the information in any of them.

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 18:48

This reply has been deleted

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Funnywonder · 14/07/2025 18:45

Manypets · 14/07/2025 18:38

I was more making the point if the food had been elevated it might have been helpful for the OP rather than wanting to get in to another debate about my use if the correct terminology.

Of course variables, someone will say "it could have been a bigger dog or one who bounced up or something could have swooped". Who knows 😵‍💫 it is a minefield but in the case she stated with the food at ground level she might have been more comfortable at a table. No idea if one was even there just a random concept.

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Another debate? I didn’t realise anyone else had mentioned it. Anyway, I wasn’t referring specifically to you. Loads of posters have said ‘floor’. Just pondering.

nocoolnamesleft · 14/07/2025 18:45

Manypets · 14/07/2025 18:38

I was more making the point if the food had been elevated it might have been helpful for the OP rather than wanting to get in to another debate about my use if the correct terminology.

Of course variables, someone will say "it could have been a bigger dog or one who bounced up or something could have swooped". Who knows 😵‍💫 it is a minefield but in the case she stated with the food at ground level she might have been more comfortable at a table. No idea if one was even there just a random concept.

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She’d have been even more comfortable with no off lead out of control dog in an on lead only area.

Gardeninrags · 14/07/2025 18:43

At least the OP won’t be having a picnic there again so dogs can enjoy themselves without causing such unnecessary drama

Manypets · 14/07/2025 18:38

Funnywonder · 14/07/2025 18:26

Completely off topic, but when did the ground outside become the floor?

I was more making the point if the food had been elevated it might have been helpful for the OP rather than wanting to get in to another debate about my use if the correct terminology.

Of course variables, someone will say "it could have been a bigger dog or one who bounced up or something could have swooped". Who knows 😵‍💫 it is a minefield but in the case she stated with the food at ground level she might have been more comfortable at a table. No idea if one was even there just a random concept.

Funnywonder · 14/07/2025 18:26

Completely off topic, but when did the ground outside become the floor?

BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 14/07/2025 18:19

pinkstripeycat · 14/07/2025 17:32

Of course it’s normal to run away OP! Anyone who says you should have done anything different has no idea how they’d react!

My large dog will often run towards people who are sitting on the ground as he thinks they’re eating and there may be something for him.

He does come back as soon as I can him as he knows a treat is on offer.

The people sitting on the floor (usually teenagers) run around screaming before he even reaches them.

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Why do you let him run at them?

SistaPB · 14/07/2025 17:56

Horses7 · 14/07/2025 14:22

Jeez some gormless people here …. STOP BLAMING THE OP!!!
Keep your dogs on a lead….and I’m a dog owner with a very well trained dog and I keep her on a lead because you never know what will spook dogs and what they’ll do next.
I love my dog and she sleeps on my bed but dogs are not your furry babies, they are animals.
I’m truly sorry for poor dogs with rubbish owners!

I personally don’t think dogs can have a very fulfilling life if they are on the lead all the time. I do however think they should be trained for a solid recall (which takes quite a bit a lot of work).
I also think occasionally things can go a little bit wrong (with dogs, kids, other animals) and people need to get a bit less hysterical about it - running and hiding behind a tree was stupid behaviour.

Manypets · 14/07/2025 17:33

I have not said she was wrong if you read back I have said she would have better off the floor and that her picnic might have had a more of a chance against the dog.

I have inferred the dog walker should have done better.

Btw for those taking the piss we have a lot of red kite swoops here, our schools don't let the kids take packed lunch outside because of it. They are a real pest though beautiful.

pinkstripeycat · 14/07/2025 17:32

givingitupok · 13/07/2025 10:16

This thread has actually become embarrassing to read. I came on here for advice after a seemingly ownerless dog ran towards me and my ND son (I have no idea how he would have reacted and it could have been badly), and I'm being accused of being a liar, that I reacted incorrectly and should have either given the dog my food to distract it, ignored my fight or flight and grabbed it to move it despite not knowing it's temperament, washed my grapes, not used the word pot and punnet interchangeably, shouted 'no' at the dog and sat there and waited to see what happened. I appreciate most people are supportive, equally I think it's very sad that a panicked and tired mum who had he food eaten by a random dog is being picked apart for not doing everything perfectly.

The fact that I got my son to contribute to the picnic, make it there without a meltdown, even get up in the morning after no sleep was an achievement for exhausted me yesterday, and I just needed to vent. I am leaving this thread now. Hiding it and not looking at it again.

Thank you those who get it and have been helpful.

Next time I will make sure only to pack dog treats.

Of course it’s normal to run away OP! Anyone who says you should have done anything different has no idea how they’d react!

My large dog will often run towards people who are sitting on the ground as he thinks they’re eating and there may be something for him.

He does come back as soon as I can him as he knows a treat is on offer.

The people sitting on the floor (usually teenagers) run around screaming before he even reaches them.

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 17:26

MyDadWasAnArse · 14/07/2025 16:51

My cat went to my neighbour's house and ate his tuna sandwich.

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😂What a CF! Years ago one of our own cats "surgically" removed the ham from a bap my DH had bought from a bakery for his lunch - the only evidence was that the bap was on the kitchen floor with a hole chewed in the corner of the bag! 😱😂

Cherrytree86 · 14/07/2025 17:07

Manypets · 14/07/2025 16:10

Food on the floor is something an animal would be interested in. We are all getting pedantic.

OP had her picnic on the floor also a fact. She was entitled to enjoy it.

Its a huge shame that the dog was not on the lead (point the finger at the dog owner for that not me), but its not unintelligent to suggest if there were a bench or table it might have been less stressful for her.

I am now done with this endless pedantic debate of dog v human.

@Manypets

because deep down you know that OP wasn’t at all in the wrong and you’re running out of ways to try and suggest she is .

Cherrytree86 · 14/07/2025 17:06

OonaStubbs · 14/07/2025 16:40

Dogs should be banned from picnicking areas.

@OonaStubbs

absolutely!
it’s not just the food thing, but also dog shit that’s an issue

MyDadWasAnArse · 14/07/2025 16:51

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 11:22

OP posted "... there are signs everywhere saying dogs should be on leads."
I'm sure, following this experience, OP will now know what to do when an uncontrolled dog approaches (as a number of PPs have advised her), but she also posted that she "has no knowledge of dogs" so why would she know how to handle a dog when she's never owned one?
And, unlike dogs, cats have a "right to roam" so it's a false comparison, but if you knew who the owner was you could have complained to them as cat owners still have a duty of care to ensure their cats don't cause harm or nuisance to others.

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My cat went to my neighbour's house and ate his tuna sandwich.

OonaStubbs · 14/07/2025 16:40

Dogs should be banned from picnicking areas.

BlueyNeedsToFuckOff · 14/07/2025 16:32

Manypets · 14/07/2025 16:10

Food on the floor is something an animal would be interested in. We are all getting pedantic.

OP had her picnic on the floor also a fact. She was entitled to enjoy it.

Its a huge shame that the dog was not on the lead (point the finger at the dog owner for that not me), but its not unintelligent to suggest if there were a bench or table it might have been less stressful for her.

I am now done with this endless pedantic debate of dog v human.

It might, but I’ve had dogs run up and take food from a picnic table before (also in an “on lead” area).

And that’s if there are any tables available.

It’s the dog owners that need to change their behaviour, not OP.