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AIBU?

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Original poster

Parking when there are dogs around

738 replies

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:05

I was in our local park yesterday, talking to another dog owner, when an SUV swept in right beside us, halted, and reversed into a parking space. As it reversed, I slapped it on the roof. The driver jumped out, angry, and I think was ready to give me a slap. I said the car park was empty (it was, it serves about 200 cars) and he had no need to park next to us and potentially hit a dog. He said he was parking near the skate park for his children, and our dogs should be on a lead (they weren't). They are elderly, obedient little dogs, and don't need to be on a leash but they are little and could be hit by a car.
I told him to "F--- Off" and felt okay at the time but couldn't sleep last night for worrying who was in the right.
Was I the unreasonable one?

OP posts:
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ZookeeperSE · 02/02/2026 10:58

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:23

Everybody is entitled. No one has responsibility. We can do whatever we want. Who needs to work or get an education- it is all on TikTok, know what I mean?

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Calm down love, you sound like you’re about to have a conniption.

KoiTetra · 02/02/2026 10:56

If everything is exactly as you said... 200 spaces with you being the only car in the whole place and he parked right next to you then yes it was a bit silly of him but still absolutely his prerogative and fully entitled to.

Personally I would have parked 2-3 spaces down from you but your reaction is way out of line, your dog is dying, that is very sad but it is not a free pass to be a dick.

Mangelwurzelfortea · 02/02/2026 10:55

He was free to park in any empty space so it was a bit annoying that he picked the one next to you, but not a reason to have a go at him. Also it's your responsibility to make sure your dogs don't get run over in public spaces. Speaking as a dog owner and lover, it was a bit out of order to have a pop at him.

Idleplum · 02/02/2026 10:55

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:23

Everybody is entitled. No one has responsibility. We can do whatever we want. Who needs to work or get an education- it is all on TikTok, know what I mean?

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What the actual fuck are you on about?

You're spiralling. For real, you need some sort of meditation or something.

Also how the fuck is someone in their car supposed to know that your dog is on it's last legs? He saw a space, wanted it, parked in it. You feel like you and your dog are somehow more important (by the way, this is why some people hate dogs/dog owners) and YOU acted out in aggression.

He didn't hit you. And you're the one here calling him a cunt.

And despite hundreds of people telling you YABU, which YOU ASKED, you still want to throw your toys out the pram. You seem like a really unpleasant person.

Seriously get help.

StrangerThingsHappenRoundTheTwist · 02/02/2026 10:51

You were in the park but also the car park?

You have the right to park where you want in an empty car park but he couldn't?

He was 2 foot away but also right next to you?

He rolled in but also came to a screeching stop?

He obviously did it because he hates dogs?

What are you on?

Obviously, if this is real, you're massive unreasonable

He's not unreasonable nor a c*nt

Namechangefordaughterevasion · 02/02/2026 10:51

I always park near other cars in a car park. It's easier to see I'm straight against another car than to see lines painted on the ground.

ColourThief · 02/02/2026 10:49

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:05

I was in our local park yesterday, talking to another dog owner, when an SUV swept in right beside us, halted, and reversed into a parking space. As it reversed, I slapped it on the roof. The driver jumped out, angry, and I think was ready to give me a slap. I said the car park was empty (it was, it serves about 200 cars) and he had no need to park next to us and potentially hit a dog. He said he was parking near the skate park for his children, and our dogs should be on a lead (they weren't). They are elderly, obedient little dogs, and don't need to be on a leash but they are little and could be hit by a car.
I told him to "F--- Off" and felt okay at the time but couldn't sleep last night for worrying who was in the right.
Was I the unreasonable one?

Your dog should be on a leash whether elderly or not.

YABU.

SchnizelVonKrumm · 02/02/2026 10:49

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:23

No it was just random parking in a huge empty car park. He just rolled near us and reversed without looking. From the viewpoint of the posters here, I think it was deliberate- perhaps he was angry about dog shit in the park (I always clean it up) and wanted to make his feelings plain. For dog lovers, dogs are sometimes our most cherished company, which non-dog-lovers never understand.

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Jesus, reaching much? 😂

You've admitted yourself that you told the guy to fuck off, and you've called him a cunt on here.

The arsehole is you in this situation.

Bluddyellfire · 02/02/2026 10:46

Dgll · 02/02/2026 10:32

It could be the same person who thought farmers should stop keeping livestock in their fields because they weren't considering the needs of dog walkers. She felt she had the right to walk her dog off lead and was quite cross about it.

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No, that will have been a friend of mine whose bloody mutt ludicrously intelligent perfect pooch is in fact an aggressive utter pain in the arse. I have actually heard her say stuff like that 🤣

Spookyspaghetti · 02/02/2026 10:45

Yes, that’s very sad about your dog and must be extremely tough for you but can you see that you took your distress and upset about your elderly dog, turned it into anger, and put it into that man and his kids. Did it make you feel better? I’d suggest not if you have been still thinking about it. Taking away from other people through angry or unpleasant outbursts if proven to make people feel worse in the long run. Acts of kindness are proven to make people feel better and more positive in themselves. Maybe next time just say good morning.

*edited as quote about elderly dog dying did not show up

Nearly50omg · 02/02/2026 10:45

You also swore at a complete stranger in front of their children!! Seriously you need to have a look at your behaviour and stop going out if you can’t control yourself!

LeedsLoiner · 02/02/2026 10:40

FlowerFairyDaisy · 02/02/2026 10:28

I am with you, OP!

In a car park full of spaces, why be reversing close to an area where people are standing with dogs? The fact that the dogs were off or on their leads is irrelevant.

The guys was driving an SUV so of course the lazy, entitled man believes that he can park wherever he likes and obviously that MUST be as close to the intended destination as possible. I see this all al time at our local school, SUV's parking as close to the school gates as they can get, dangerously maneuvering. Many of these people live well within walking distance of the school. People will retort with all kinds of excuses but some shame needs to be attached to this kind of behavior for it to change.

The guy behaved like an entitled idiot.

That's more assumptions than a century of August 15th's !!

Nearly50omg · 02/02/2026 10:40

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:13

Okay, maybe I was in the wrong. But an empty car park? Why decide to park near other cars anyway? And little dogs wandering around?

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People can park where they like!!! The law though is that dogs are kept on leads and especially places where it’s unsafe like a car park!! If someone hit your dog in the car park with their car the police would tell you that it was your responsibility as an owner to keep them safe and it was YOUR fault your dogs were hit by the car!!

LeedsLoiner · 02/02/2026 10:38

TY78910 · 02/02/2026 10:34

My DH always parks in between two nice cars. His logic is that if someone has a nice car they’re going to be a lot more careful opening doors / driving it so they won’t damage ours. I have no idea if that’s sustained but it works for him 😂

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I always park beside the most expensive car I can on the principle that if someone's going to steal/rob a car they're going to pick that over my rust bucket.

Blinkingbother · 02/02/2026 10:38

This has to be a wind up😂. If your dog is elderly and deaf (as you say in a later post) they should absolutely be on a lead in the car park. It’s a public car park, other users can park in any legitimate space. I’m afraid your use of (foul) language in another post definitely implies you are not the most pleasant individual…. Your dog may be the centre of your world but that does not put its requirements over anyone else’s!

Floatlikeafeather2 · 02/02/2026 10:37

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:38

What is all about, is my little collie is dying of old age, she can't climb stairs, jump into cars, chase balls, hear cars approaching, I just don't know what we emotionally load on to dogs, but their deaths tear our hearts. Life is hard enough without those little babies sleeping next to us, with their breaths getting slower and slower.

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So not even a "little" dog then.
And shame on you for not protecting your poor dog, who can't hear what's going on around her and isn't agile enough to move quckly out of the way of danger, by not having her wandering around in a car park. I also think this blatant attempt to garner sympathy is disgusting.

Oh well, at least, as she's deaf, she didn't hear you yelling "fuck off" in a public space, in front of children.

takealettermsjones · 02/02/2026 10:37

FlowerFairyDaisy · 02/02/2026 10:28

I am with you, OP!

In a car park full of spaces, why be reversing close to an area where people are standing with dogs? The fact that the dogs were off or on their leads is irrelevant.

The guys was driving an SUV so of course the lazy, entitled man believes that he can park wherever he likes and obviously that MUST be as close to the intended destination as possible. I see this all al time at our local school, SUV's parking as close to the school gates as they can get, dangerously maneuvering. Many of these people live well within walking distance of the school. People will retort with all kinds of excuses but some shame needs to be attached to this kind of behavior for it to change.

The guy behaved like an entitled idiot.

Oh, give over. Why on earth is it entitled to think you can park your car in an empty car parking space? Who cares if it's close to someone or their dog? It's pretty entitled of the OP to demand a 10ft buffer around her and her dog at all times. She should find somewhere else to have a chat.

And I'll bite re. the car and the kids - I drive a (small) SUV and I park as close to the park gates as I can - because I'm managing three young kids on my own and it's far safer for me to not have them walk across the car park if I don't have to. Yes it was empty when they arrived but presumably it wouldn't have been when they were leaving.

CautiousLurker2 · 02/02/2026 10:37

Nope. You were totally unreasonable. Put your dog on a lead in the carpark (or anywhere where they could be injured/run off if startled) or put them in the car.

We walk our dogs off lead in a local forestry site as they are dreadful on leads, but they always go back on the lead as we near the carpark. Their safety is OUR responsibility, not that of people parking - who can reasonably expect other people to take care of their children and dogs in that area.

Spookyspaghetti · 02/02/2026 10:36

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 02/02/2026 08:11

Yes, of course you were unreasonable.

He parked his car in a legitimate space in a car park. He could have parked further away if there was lots of space, but he did nothing wrong.

You had your dogs off lead in a car park, which was stupid imo in any case. You then behaved incredibly rudely and aggressively by hitting his car and swearing at him?

You're completely in the wrong here. It is your job to keep your dog safe in a car park.

Yes. Standing around chatting in a car park. Then swearing at the man, presumably in front of his children?! 🦇

BellaBlister · 02/02/2026 10:36

Why did you park near the skate park when there were 200 other spaces? You were totally in the wrong but I am sorry about your dog.

TY78910 · 02/02/2026 10:34

Brefugee · 02/02/2026 10:06

behave

People can park where they like. Some people prefer to park next to another car because it helps them orient their own (mad but true, people i know have told me this)

Don't police other people's perfectly legal actions.

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My DH always parks in between two nice cars. His logic is that if someone has a nice car they’re going to be a lot more careful opening doors / driving it so they won’t damage ours. I have no idea if that’s sustained but it works for him 😂

oncemoreuntothebeachdearfriends · 02/02/2026 10:34

"It wasn't through longing for our company."

Of course not, nobody would want to be near someone who behaves in a very irrational & unpredictable manner.

LeedsLoiner · 02/02/2026 10:34

This is either top trolling or if it's not you're nucking futs...

Booksandwine80 · 02/02/2026 10:33

Oh my, so he parked in a space in a car park?! Alert the church elders at once😂

You were in the wrong and dreadfully rude! And as for hitting his car?! You sound unhinged.

Put your manky dogs on leads and take some responsibility.

Dgll · 02/02/2026 10:32

Gobacktotheworld2 · 02/02/2026 08:26

Surely no one believes this is a genuine thread?

It could be the same person who thought farmers should stop keeping livestock in their fields because they weren't considering the needs of dog walkers. She felt she had the right to walk her dog off lead and was quite cross about it.