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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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ConnieHeart · 02/02/2026 09:26

Surely he could have run over your dog whether it was on a lead or not if the driver parked that close to you & your dog hadn't walked off at all. Otherwise I'm assuming your dog was a distance from you which us unacceptable in a car park

Taweofterror · 02/02/2026 09:26

Oh and the proportionate response to someone parking next to you in an empty car park is maybe an eye roll or a tut or a shake of the head. If you're banging on their car and telling them to fuck off then you are a far bigger twat imo

BMW6 · 02/02/2026 09:26

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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Now you're frothing at the mouth..........again.

Perhaps see someone about Anger Management?

Taweofterror · 02/02/2026 09:24

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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The irony! Take some responsibility for your behaviour yourself!!

watermybegonias · 02/02/2026 09:24

You can’t reason with stoopid. Hopefully you have learned your lesson and will put your dog on a lead in a car park in future. That way it will have a chance to die of old age rather than trauma.

bloodredfeaturewall · 02/02/2026 09:24

ohhh parking AND dogs in one thread

Gin
CloakedInGucci · 02/02/2026 09:24

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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Little dogs “wandering around”? It’s a car park - maybe don’t let them wander around?

Plus, since you haven’t mentioned it, and I get the feeling you would if it had happened, he didn’t actually nearly hit a dog. So you are complaining that someone parked near you, without causing any problems.

mydogisthebest · 02/02/2026 09:24

Who are the twats who park next to another car in an almost empty car park? Fucking idiots

Taweofterror · 02/02/2026 09:23

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:19

They are fit enough to use a skate park, but can't walk 50 meters to it? Is that what you are suggesting? How does that work? Is it on their phones? Then they don't need top go to a park.

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You have made up all sorts about this poor man.

You've decided you're justified to do something you shouldn't really be doing - having dogs loose in a car park - because they're old, you're old, etc etc

This man could equally have his reasons for wanting to get as close to the skate park as possible. He could have a child who likes to run off or has special needs. He could have all sorts going on in his life. It's not just you that has issues that make you 'angry at the world" you know? You don't get to treat other human beings as emotional punch bags.

ConstanzeMozart · 02/02/2026 09:23

I think dogs should always be on a lead in a car park. No exceptions, no matter how unlikely they are to go anywhere. Then you 100% know they're safe and you would not be to blame for anything that might happen.

Having said that, if I had a big car and a choice of spaces, I'd park at least a couple of spots away from anyone standing in the car park, whether or not they had dogs. Again, then I'd know I'd done my best to give them a wide berth.
I also think kids should jolly well walk a bit and it is not life or death whether or not their parents park as close as humanly possible to wherever they're going.

Clefable · 02/02/2026 09:23

If your dogs are your ‘cherished company’ then maybe look after them? I would never have my 12yo spaniel off lead in a car park and even if I did, the minute a car entered I would have her back on lead. You’re angry and lashed out because you know you’ve done a stupid thing but it’s easier to blame someone else.

Shamesame · 02/02/2026 09:23

there is a psychological phenomenon called flocking which explains why people gravitate to others in a space with lots of options such as an empty car park or cafe.

Original poster
TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:23

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 02/02/2026 09:20

It works however he wants it to work. He was parked in a car park which he is entitled to do and his children are entitled to walk from where he’s parked the car.
It’s literally as simple as that.

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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?

OP posts:
NoWordForFluffy · 02/02/2026 09:21

BIossomtoes · 02/02/2026 09:20

Who doesn’t keep their dogs on lead in a car park of all places?

Fucking idiots, that's who!

Donimo · 02/02/2026 09:21

If I was taking my children to the skate park I would also park as close as possible. Try carrying 3 children and 3 scooters/bikes across a car park. Much easier and safer to park as close as possible. I would also be mad if you were banging on my car and swearing at me as it would terrify my children.

MaidOfSteel · 02/02/2026 09:21

Why didn’t you choose to park further away in this empty car park?

CarlaH · 02/02/2026 09:20

At this moment 94% of people think you are being unreasonable so you have your answer.

NeedSleepNowww · 02/02/2026 09:20

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:19

They are fit enough to use a skate park, but can't walk 50 meters to it? Is that what you are suggesting? How does that work? Is it on their phones? Then they don't need top go to a park.

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Why do your needs and wants take priority?

BIossomtoes · 02/02/2026 09:20

Who doesn’t keep their dogs on lead in a car park of all places?

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 02/02/2026 09:20

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:19

They are fit enough to use a skate park, but can't walk 50 meters to it? Is that what you are suggesting? How does that work? Is it on their phones? Then they don't need top go to a park.

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It works however he wants it to work. He was parked in a car park which he is entitled to do and his children are entitled to walk from where he’s parked the car.
It’s literally as simple as that.

chunkyBoo · 02/02/2026 09:20

I had a dog and she always goes on lead when near cars, so YABU as your dogs aren’t safe but could easily be safe if you took precautions

Original poster
TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:19

Mymanyellow · 02/02/2026 09:14

Why should his kids have to walk to the skate park because your dog isn’t on a lead? He can park where he wants in a car park.
Not his fault your dog is elderly.

They are fit enough to use a skate park, but can't walk 50 meters to it? Is that what you are suggesting? How does that work? Is it on their phones? Then they don't need top go to a park.

OP posts:
NoWordForFluffy · 02/02/2026 09:18

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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'Little dogs wandering around.'

Dogs shouldn't be 'wandering around' in car parks. If your dog is wandering around, you should put it on a lead so it's under control.

You were stupid to risk your dogs' safety and very unreasonable to boot.

thefamous5 · 02/02/2026 09:17

Im a multiple dog owner.

No way would i be standing in a car park, no matter how many empty spaces there are talking while my dogs were off lead. Its a car park, not a dog park.

Yesterday I took my dogs out. There were three other cars in the large car park. Before I even walked through the gate to the carpark the dogs were back on lead (it was a wide open country park, almost no one around because of the rain and my dogs have excellent recall, otherwise they'd have been on lead as they are in most public spaces) because its a car park. Cars have the right to park wherever they want (obviously excluding disabled spaces) even if that is next to you

You were out of order and guve responsible dog owners a bad name.

ProfessionalPirate · 02/02/2026 09:17

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:08

She was somewhere safe, until he decided to drive 2 feet away from us, needlessly. What idiot would decide, in an empty car park, to park bang next to the only 2 cars there? 150 empty spaces on the way in, 50 empty spaces past us, an almost totally empty car park, and he decides to stop and reverse in the space next us? So close I could slap his car.
I'm getting flack but he was a cunt.

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How can loose in a car park possibly be safe? If you’re going to hang around in a car park, you have to expect that cars might drive in and park there.

I can see it could be mildly irritating that he parked right next to you, but not to the extent that you should have slapped his car and told him to fuck off.