Dog ate my picnic

You should definately do this.
Poor dog.

I'd be mindful of teaching your dc to be scared of dogs. The dog should have been on a lead but I'd also do more of a check next time to see what kind of place you are setting up your picnic. I walk my dog in a set of fields and this week suddenly there are people picnicking everywhere. For the dog owners who use the field 365 days a year with no one there it's a bit of a surprise. It's not a park though. It's also not great for the picnickers as they are tending to set up in the areas without long grass which is also where most dogs pee and poo! It's picked up but still, I wouldn't want to be eating in those spots.

And the chocolate.
Poor thing
Bloody twat of an owner.

What do you mean by "Karma may be coming her way"?
Do you mean the dog or the owner?
Do you want the dog to be ill or worse because the dog did what dogs do?

I took that as a joke not a suggestion

We had this happen recently, a dog ate our slobbered on my daughter's entire lunch box. Her sister and friends rallied round and shared their food with her, which was lovely, but the dog owner couldn't care less tbh. I love dogs, we always had a pet dog growing up, but after multiple incidents of dogs jumping up at my daughters and the sheer amount of dog poo on the pavements locally, I am really sick of irresponsible dog owners.

I hope your little boy is OK OP and not too disheartened after all his effort.

Yes, this is happening more often. Our children's playground has a clear sign on every gate saying there will be a £100 fine for any dogs found in the playground- yet some idiot will always take their dog in there!

The problem is there is no number given to report the problem to. I am always tempted to take a picture of the dog and owner but not sure where to send it or how they will be able to contact them from just a picture.

There's always one! How was she irresponsible? The dog's owner should have had it on a lead!

OP, sounds like a very stressful situation for you, I hope you and your son are over the shock of it. I love dogs but I can understand the fight/flight instinct kicking in. You’ve done the right/kind thing in alerting the dog’s owner to the grapes and chocolate. The only appropriate reaction from her should be gratitude for getting this info to her. Hopefully it hasn’t put your son off picnics and your next one will be extra tasty and dog-free. All the best to you. 💐

Or just someone stirring the pot.

Sounds like it would have all happened so quickly too seeing this huge dog run over. I think you did what many would do OP and look after your child above everything else.

I find many dogs off lead in places they should be on and owners are amused to say the least at my reaction asking them to call the dog away. I am often mocked and told the dog is fine. The other week DH and our toddler DC was in a park on a swing and the family had their huge dog off lead (definitely not a dog-free park). I try to keep calm to show my kid not to be afraid (inside I’m shaking!). Suddenly the huge dog bounded towards us and came right up to me. DH looked after toddler and I said, “Do you mind calling your dog away I’ve got a phobia.” While they did (snickering away) I was hyperventilating for the next 10 minutes. I know my reaction probably sounds a bit much but truly big dogs charging out of the blue is confronting. I feel the owners should have more control.

When I go with my DC and if it is somewhere I feel may have off lead dogs, I will carry a long umbrella or a kids bat and a whistle specifically for dogs, just to have more gear in my hands just in case an aggressive dog did come over. Thankfully haven’t had anything happen yet.

Sorry that happened to you! If you're scared of dogs, you're going to run, when one comes running towards you. As for the dog owner, have you heard anything from her regarding the Facebook post?

There should be dog parks and parks for people and dogs should not allowed in the people parks.

I went to a park with a closed off area for young dc/picnics that dogs aren't allowed in. Of course there were dogs in there.

I’m in California.
I have a small dog - she’s current on all her shots.
It’s plain old common sense to have your dog on a leash regardless of the leash laws.
The dog park might be the exception.

@givingitupok I’m very sorry your picnic with your son was ruined by this awful woman. I can’t imagine #1 allowing my dog to destroy somebody’s lunch lovingly made by their boy and then #2 being a jackass about it.
Sending love ❤️

I don’t know what else you could have done in this situation but I would have been absolutely fuming too! What a stupid person thinking this was ok. I’d be mortified if my dog did that!

Oh hang on..if you are so nervous of dogs why are you picnicking somewhere people walk dogs off leads?

Do people write this crap because they are bored & want to be contrary or is it just stupidity?

YANBU, what a crap dog owner. I’m fuming for you x

I say this because I have a deep fear of cows. As a result, my sons grew up rather nervous of them. I didn’t realise early enough I really had to get a grip

How often were cows running up to you in a park?

I’m very much a dog person so not at all bothered by them coming to say hello. I’m quite happy to grab collars etc if they get too annoying. But the level of entitlement this woman showed was outrageous. I can only guess she was embarrassed because she knew she was in the wrong. It’s always easier to get angry at someone rather than admit you’ve been completely irresponsible.

Perhaps a large vet bill for a pumped stomach might make her think twice about putting her dog on the lead next time she’s walking past the park. She’s lucky the dog ran in there and not into the road.

A dog ran up & took a sandwich out of one of my dc's hands. Dc had filled said sandwich with his choc buttons though. I felt better imagining the dog shitting himself later on & the owner having to clean it up.

Which she'll probably expect OP to pay, for "letting" the dog eat the picnic/s

Dogs are unpredictable & it is impossible for someone to know whether a dog running up to them is going to be an annoyance, pest or dangerous (sorry friendly is not a valid excuse here).

If a random man run into you shouting most people would react by jumping up and grabbing their child.

and yes you should be nervous of cows, especially when they have calves as the herd will charge to protect them.

I’m so sorry. Your poor son. That’s awful.

PS. I have also had a large out of control dog run towards my toddler son in a park, and it was very frightening indeed. The owner couldn’t care less and was rude as well. You are in a very vulnerable position because you can’t really argue when you are in that state. I have been brought up with dogs and I’m not frightened of dogs - well normal dogs that are not out of control and aggressive looking running towards my children in a park.

It’s very worrying that there are so many posters blaming you in this situation. Which goes to show how many total idiots there are on Mumsnet, and how many idiots there are in the world.