Dog ate my picnic

Dogs should be on a lead in all public places. The garden at home is the place for off-lead play.

I have to say, people do seem to abide by the rule here - largely because they're challenged by others if they don't.

Those Shar Pei dogs look quite aggressive and tend to be owned by people of the same ilk as those who own XL bulldogs, mastiffs etc. I would absolutely pick my children up and hide if one of those came towards us. She should have had the dog on a lead, for that reason, she is responsible for the damage to your property. You could circulate her image on local Facebook groups and see if you can get a name. She should absolutely pay for the food that her dog damaged/stole. It must have been upsetting for both you and your son. Society has no respect anymore. If it's any consolation, the chocolate in the lunch box will likely make the dog very poorly...maybe the owner will then regret not controlling her dog but then again, shar pei/bulldog owners tend to be lacking in brain cells. I would have been fuming if it were my picnic. I'm so fed up of dog owners thinking the park belongs to them. I was always very mindful of others when I used to walk dogs and always kept them on a lead.

A dog pissed on our bags and towels at the beach recently. Owner utterly useless, first tried to deny it (we'd both watched him do it) and then said "oh he pisses on everything at the beach!" Well maybe you should keep him on a lead then?? Furious doesn't describe it.

I love dogs and have one, but owners like this are giving all of us a bad name.
DD had a new trainer picked up off the beach by a Labrador recently who swam out to sea with it and abandoned it.
Owner thought it was absolutely hilarious.
Actually got out her phone to film it.
When I asked if she was going to pay the £70 to replace them I was told I was an idiot for paying that much (among a lot of other expletives).

What was going on with the replies on this thread yesterday did the heat turn people nutty? Blimey some of these responses

I don't blame you OP. I saw so many threads yesterday with loons commenting on them like this. It's such a pity that their comments are allowed because it just makes a joke of the very reason MN exists for (and why I would never start a thread on here). You did nothing wrong OP. 🤗

That’s fine if all dog owners actually abide by that. They don’t in our area (well, the responsible ones do - and the dogs belonging to the others are under exactly as much control as you’d expect from people who think the rules don’t apply to them)

Oh, she already has been! Along with others accusing her of making it all up. There were some absolute loons on MN yesterday - it must have been the heat so better buckle up for today too. 🙄

I do have a dog and she is never off the lead in public. I am a responsible owner. If you read my previous posts you will see this. You have no justification whatsoever for saying this and I take it as a personal attack.

It was intended as a lighthearted flippant comment, if you can't see it as such then that is your problem. But I can hand on heart say that I have never had a complaint about any of my dogs in the last 48 years.

Totally all of this. Especially the absolute over reaction to a dog having some grapes and chocolate. I know they’re bad for dogs, and I would actively discourage mine from eating those things, but dogs survived at least 80 years of mass chocolate manufacturing before it became a thing in the public consciousness that it’s not good for them. But now dog owners literally freak out and sob if their dog has the tiniest bit! Like they’re ok. And grapes. Pretty sure they grow in nature so dogs have survived as a species despite having had access to them for thousands of years. The dog will be fine and the owner is a dick and the op should try to introduce her kid to a few safe dogs so he doesn’t end up terrified of them.

As a multiple dog owner...

You're definitely not unreasonable. I'd be furious!
She should absolutely have offered to pay and apologised. She clearly has no control over her dogs - and also what sort of twat us taking their dogs out in this heat anyway?

I wouldn't be out at all with dogs in this weather, and certainly not off lead in a public space with children and food around ' and I havee two well behaved dogs who have excellent recall.

She sounds like a dick.

Also - i understand id you dont like dogs or are frightened by them your instict is gping to be run, but that can sometimes trigger an out of control dog to chase so always best to stay put if you can - but that's easier said than done when you have an u ffsmiloar, our of dog running towards you, i know

@AngelicKaty I’d possibly relocate for a council who can make decent decisions for its constituents 🤣

Is where you live nice in general?

Do you have a dog? If so, you are showing us exactly the kind of owner you are.

@Zanatdy "... and if it’s off lead in a public place it’s not going to a threat." This is arrant nonsense and I don't know how you can even believe this, much less write it on a public forum. 🙄

If this isn’t a joke, it’s a ridiculous laughable and unintelligent comment.

The main part of our local beach is designated dog-free from May - September (there's another part, wilder and with no facilities, that allows dogs all year). It's a pity that all local authorities with beaches can't arrange something like this.

Ignore them. They are bored or silly or their dog-love has driven common sense out of their brains.

Because a) it is not the OP's responsibility to control other people's uncontrolled, ill-mannered dogs b) random dogs can attack. OP does not know if this one if aggressive, aggressive around food etc and she has a young child. I have had labs growl at me because they wanted something in my hand.

So you think giving it a treat for having no manners and raiding a picnic is the way to go? explains why there are so many dogs which are just a pest to everyone else.

Has the owner responded to you OP?

I'd be so cross about the picnic. My DD made me lunch yesterday and she was so proud of herself. I can imagine her being devastated if this happened.

It's totally natural to act instinctively in the moment. Instinctive even...

I hope the dog is ok. That owner is a fool. Why didn't she check what he'd eaten? Of course she should have replaced the picnic.

I was volunteering for Park Run yesterday and stressed about not being late. The park is slightly confusing where to turn off the mini roundabout when you come in so I was checking the exit signs as I drove around (slowly). Suddenly a dog darted out in front of me with his lead swinging. I slammed on the brakes. The owner was running after him screaming. I rolled down the window and leaned out saying "hi, are you ok?" as I was sympathetic to the fright she got.

"FUCK YOU" is what I got back.

Please please say this is a joke 🙏🤞

Because chucking it a bit of sandwich to distract wouldn't create a dramatic enough thread to make The Daily Fail. Whereas the absurdity of a "huge" Shar-Pei terrorising a small child for a punnet of unwashed grapes has it all.

Sharpeis are pretty muscular. I'm an experienced dog owner and would have picked my child up too. My dog has good recall and I still keep her on a lead. I won't take her on the park at busy times around children either. She absolutely isn't dangerous, she's a mini labradoodle but why would I ruin others fun? Parents and children are often nervous of her. I think that there needs to be a law about leads as some dogs I see absolutely shouldn't be off-lead.

Btw, the dog certainly won't be dead by the morning because of grapes!