Dog ate my picnic

I actually saw a dog in John Lewis back in March and did a double-take. I hadn't been there in a few years (do most shopping online these days) and didn't know this was now allowed. I don't mind though as I love dogs and would assume (hope!) that only owners with well-behaved and toilet-trained dogs would take them shopping and even then, only because they have no other choice (e.g. maybe they're visiting the town). Personally, I wouldn't take a dog shopping for no good reason - it's probably not much fun for them.

How on earth is that petty? She could have figured it out were she a decent person. We all manage to pay for stuff somehow.

How annoying. But really, how could she have paid you? No-one carries cash and would you have attempted to get her to transfer money? Seems too petty.

I have a 10cm scar from a dog bite. The dog was on a lead and had just enough slack to attack me.

Muzzles are great IMO.

Well it is a mercy no harm befell the child and the dog instead preferred grapes and chocolate. The very worst things he could have chosen sadly. Thoughts and prayers Mr Sharpei.

You mentioned a tight budget OP. Were any items untouched?

To ease the traumatic memory, why not have a second go next week if your kid enjoyed cutting things up and putting them in boxes? Maybe just with whatever you would usually have for lunch?

If it rains, indoor picnics can be great fun and no risk of canine intrusion. Just a thought.

Thanks for the edit - no, I didn't see that post, but it's irrelevant because I was responding to the one about your "flippant" comment, which now makes even less sense to me if you actually support OP's position. As I asked you previously, what point were you making with your "flippant" comment then? I still don't get it.

Never heard of Google image search?

Not necessarily. There’s a ratio of the number of grapes to dog weight. A 20lb animal probably wouldn’t be affected by up to around 20-24 grapes. I wouldn’t risk it though, and together with the chocolate l’d be getting it to a vet.

😂😂😂Fool.

I agree with leads in public (and my dog always is) but ther eis no reason at all for muzzles

Dogs shouldn't be off lead in park's anyway. Can't stand dog owners like this stupid woman. They just expect you to know their dog is friendly and are confident around dogs.

I found a mddle-aged couple blundering about in my back garden. They were looking for their dog's 'favourite ball'.

ln the end, I had to insist that they leave and told them I'd pop the ball on top of my hedge if I found it. It never did turn up. Quite bizarre.

I also had to replace my stick fence at the rear because a dog had slipped through and the owner had crashed through to chase it. (The council had massacred the hawthorn hedge on their side, hence the dog being able to get through.)

A path leading to a football pitch and some trees and shrubs beyond runs along the length of my back garden, which is why I get so many dog owners around here. For some strange reason, many of them let their dogs off the lead while they're on the path. Not a good idea, since the football pitch is actually meant for youngsters to play football and there are two primary schools very close by.

Don’t be ridiculous

YANBU to be upset at the loss of your picnic - anyone would be, but especially when your son has made it himself.

I think you know YABU to react that way to the dog though for the sake of your son. I understand you were so afraid that ignoring the dog or pushing it away wasn’t possible - so if similar ever happens again you need to make yourself stand tall - arms out, with your son behind you so the dog can’t get to him.

Luckily this dog wasnt aggressive, but as you hopefully know from this thread now, running away from a dog just excites its chase instincts. In future you need to be the “bigger dog” if a dog is out of control like that and that means squaring up to it and trying not to show fear unfortunately. I’m sorry that this owners poor control over their dog has made this a horrible learning experience for you.

(and on a side note, thank you for trying to find the owner as a bunch of grapes is a nasty death for a dog, poor thing).

Really hate how entitled and selfish so many dog owners are.

She didn't. OP wrote in her very first post that she wouldn't "name and shame" the dog- owner. She subsequently wrote she knows nothing about dogs and was clearly worried when other PPs explained to her that grapes and chocolate are toxic to them and then she did her own research which made her even more concerned for the dog. She posted the photo she'd taken on FB just long enough for a relative of the owner to recognise her and contact OP to tell her she would advise the owner to take her dog to the vet - she then deleted the photo. If you think this makes OP a "vigilante" then you don't understand the meaning of the word.

it has been suggested for many years, perhaps in the last 20, that grapes should be cut up for small children

Thank you.

Maybe teach children to chew? No cut grapes or cherry tomatoes where I am from.

Dogs are a menace in our local park. It's only a small one with a football area and a few swings etc but there are always off lead dogs in there meaning that sometimes children have to leave. The owners are usually the don't care/my dog can do what it likes types and they allow them to run up to people, chase children, poo and just leave it etc. Anyone challenging them gets threats and foul mouthed abuse. I'm not going to risk my child being bitten by some out of control dog. Dogs should be banned altogether from such a small park and on leads in the larger ones other than in areas for dogs to be off lead which should be separate and clearly identifiable so people who don't want to be around dogs don't go there. I've also had a dog eat our picnic food. It snatched DS's sandwich right out of his hand. He was only little and scared and in tears and the dog owner just shrugged it off. It was actually a beautiful dog but completely out of control.

RIP uncontrolled bad dog and shitty dog owner.

Send her pic and what happened to the local council Dog Warden. (Or I’d post on facebook group 😂).

people who don’t have control of their dogs shouldn’t have them off leads (and shouldn’t be allowed to own them tbh).

Maybe dog owners could have the therapy (training) instead and learn how to keep their pets under control and ensure that they do not adversely affect other people. After all, they're the ones who chose to have them.

If dog owners were responsible, people wouldn't be scared of dogs because they wouldn't bother people.

I really hope the tide is turning. At the moment dogs are allowed more or less everywhere except supermarkets and even then some entitled owners take them in anyway.

I would! Feel bad for your son and the dog 😢