Parking when there are dogs around

OP, you’ve obviously never heard of Herd Mentality Parking. In any empty car park people entering after the first few cars will always park next to a parked car.

I like the way that each of your responses embellishes what happened!

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.

You were in the wrong

It’s horrible to lose a beloved dog but that should make you ultra protective of them and do everything you can to keep them safe. Offlead in a car park is the opposite of that.

Not being funny but owning an elderly dog doesn't give you licence to be entitled, rude, or aggressive to others. I'd have been livid at you banging on my car with my kids in it, and then swearing at us to boot. You should be embarrassed.

To be closer to the skate park? Like they said?

There are no rules that say in a car park that one has to park far away from the existing cars in the car park. If it's a preferable area of the car park, it's going to be a more popular area of the car park to park in.

I'd have been really shaken up if someone banged the roof of my car. Especially if my children were in the car and if I was parking legally in a car park for people to use the park in whatever way they want to - be it dog walking, skateboarding, jogging, bird watching, whatever.

I say this as a dog owner. In the car park, with my elderly dog, it is my responsibility to make sure he's safe and I wouldn't have him off the lead in the car park.

You don't have the right to sole use of a certain part of the car park.

Of course I have preferred spots in car parks at parks where I walk my dog, in one it's the closest bit to the dog route, parking meter, and poo bins rather than the entrance more people use for the playground or cafe. But even still, I don't assume that the only people who can park in that bit are dog walkers.

Hmm I think yabu

i love dogs and have a little dog

you Shouldn’t risk the safety of your dogs by having them off lead in a car park. If you need to get them out of the way of a car, it’s easier with a lead

how do you know whether or not the suv has a reversing camera. He could have had a crystal clear image of behind the car without appearing to look

Also, the bloke is entitled to park near to the facilities he wants to use if the space is free. You say the kids can walk across the car park, probably they can. Bit it’s safer for them not to. Reversing cars can be a menace.

I don't understand why you would not take every precaution and keep her safe.

Oh just stop

I'm sorry that you are having such a tough time with your little dog. That must be really difficult. But I'm sure you know that it isn't appropriate to take that anger out on anyone else.

This

I think your anticipatory grief is making you overprotective, OP 💐

Dogs should always be on the lead in a car park!

Many years ago I was driving very slowly round the Homebase car park when a very small dog that had just shot out of someone’s car and was yapping like mad, went right under my wheels.
It was awful - but there was no way I could possibly have avoided it. A member of the Homebase staff had witnessed it and confirmed that there was nothing I could have done.

Later I phoned several local vets to see whether it had been taken in, but I was pretty sure it could not have survived for long.

Please ALWAYS keep dogs on leads in car parks!

Im sorry your dog’s health is failing. That is indeed very sad. It’s ok to say, that I am protective of her and distressed about what she is going through, and as a result I acted badly. Lots of us replying are dog owners and understand your love but disagree your reaction was acceptable. It’s not nice having your arse handed to you on MN. But I think better to graciously accept that how you behaved wasn’t ok or justified. It’s ok to say that.

He was wondering why you are standing in a car park with a dog off a lead. You have an entire park to have your dog off a lead.
you banged on his car roof because you were worried about your dog that you should’ve put on a lead. Saying fuck off was wrong. Take responsibility for your actions first (dog on lead) before criticising others.

94% disagree with you. He is entitled to park where he wants and you hit his car. Utterly unreasonable and you need to move control over your dogs to prevent them getting run over.

None of this has anything to do with someone else choosing to park in the closest space they want, because you’re standing near.

Your dog should have 100% been on a lead. If it bolted, it would have been your fault, no one else’s. No dog should ever be off lead in a car park, doesn’t matter how old it is (not sure why you think this is even a factor)

I think it sounds like the driver scared you by driving erratically - and possibly without due care and consideration. Dogs or no dogs, you don't need to sweep up to where people are standing in a car park and reverse at speed. I've seen this and it can so easily go wrong. The driver was overconfident and inconsiderate.

I have dealt with the last days and death of old dogs several times now. Its always sad and always hard. It DOES NOT excuse banging on a car roof, having your dog off lead in a car park or expecting people to park where you want them to. Dogs of any age should be on leads in car parks. If you have just arrived at the car park, then the dog should stay in the car until you are ready to leave to walk, and should be on a lead until you are away from the carpark. If you have just arrived back from your walk, dog should be on a lead and should be put back into the car and secured in the car first. Its your job and no one else's to keep your dog safe. I say this as a dog lover who can no longer have dogs due to the state of my knees.

OP, you don't sound like you are coping well with your dog potentially dying, and maybe you're not in a good place emotionally. Please get help for that if you need it. But it's not okay for you to take out your feelings on someone who has done nothing wrong, and to get all arsey to other people who are pointing that out. You are in the wrong about this, so accept that and move on.

But he didn’t hit your dog and it didn’t die. He can park in any empty space he wants to. You say he wasn’t looking but he was probably using parking cameras. You are completely unreasonable.

Where is the Daily Mail when you need it !!

Why would dogs, little or otherwise be wandering around a car park?

Run over a dog to make a point that he doesn't like them?

What dog did he run over?

All the more reason then to keep her safe if she can't hear cars approaching, ie ON HER LEAD. I'm sorry your dog is knocking on a bit but it's part of our responsibility as pet parents to deal with that. It's not anybody else's job to care about your dog's advancing years, this guy was just dropping his kids off, and your behaviour at the time was unreasonable as have been some of your responses here 🤷🏻‍♀️