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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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5
magicalmadmadamim · 02/02/2026 08:45

YABVU i would have been fuming if someone slapped my car while i was parking over this

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 02/02/2026 08:43

This can’t be real

Paleshelter · 02/02/2026 08:42

YABVVU. I'm fed up with people who think their dogs take priority over everyone and everything else.
Keep your dog on a lead in a car park if you don't want them to be hit by a car.

Also dogs shouldn't be near children's play areas.
And yes I have a dog, DH's job involves dogs and he thinks the same.

OverheardBreakup · 02/02/2026 08:42

Run over a small dog just to prove he doesn’t like them

But he didn’t? Like most SUVs he probably had rear parking cameras and sensors. I can reverse into a spot quickly and confident I’m not going to hit anything as all the tech (and my own eyes) tell me it’s safe to do so.

If he was really going to hit the dogs then this suggests they weren’t well behaved and under control but running around a very dangerous car park?

Screamingabdabz · 02/02/2026 08:42

Another antagonistic and defensive dog owner who has lost all perspective and thinks the world should revolve around your animal. You’ve just verbally attacked someone for parking their car in a car park. YABU.

BellaVita · 02/02/2026 08:41

You are so unreasonable.

NeedSleepNowww · 02/02/2026 08:41

It amazes me someone can be so unreasonable and so self centred that they actually believe they were in the right.

They parked in an empty park. You’re the one who started the aggression and if your dog gets run over because it’s off lead in a car park, then that is solely due to you being a terrible dog owner.

Tinatubby73 · 02/02/2026 08:40

YBVU you are allowed to park anywhere that's legal and not where you want them to park. Also your dogs should've been on a lead. I'd be fuming if you slapped my car too!!

Cosyblankets · 02/02/2026 08:39

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.

Show quote history

I'm a dog lover
Just about to put my well behaved dog in the car to go to the park
He'll stay on the lead until we're away from the car park
Because I won't put him in danger
Because I'm a dog lover

Taweofterror · 02/02/2026 08:39

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:34

It is genuine. I just don't know if I was right or wrong. Obviously, my dog should have been on a lead, and the driver could park where he wanted.
And my dog is my responsibility. I know all this.
I just could not believe a car would come into an empty car park and decide to reverse park right next to us. He passed 200 spaces, and then screeched to a halt and banged his car into reverse so close I could give his car a slap. Why the fuck would he do that?

Show quote history

I wonder what other adjectives for this man's driving will be used as the thread goes on. At first he was 'sweeping' in but when that didn't work he was 'screeching' in. I predict him flying round the corner on two wheels soon!

Boredoflunch1 · 02/02/2026 08:39

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:34

It is genuine. I just don't know if I was right or wrong. Obviously, my dog should have been on a lead, and the driver could park where he wanted.
And my dog is my responsibility. I know all this.
I just could not believe a car would come into an empty car park and decide to reverse park right next to us. He passed 200 spaces, and then screeched to a halt and banged his car into reverse so close I could give his car a slap. Why the fuck would he do that?

Show quote history

To be near the skate park.

Why the fuck would you hit his car?

Dearg · 02/02/2026 08:38

Ok based on your last response ‘I just don’t know if I was right or wrong’

Overwhelming response, including mine ‘you were wrong’

VickyEadieofThigh · 02/02/2026 08:38

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?

Show quote history

But as others have indicated, dogs (little or otherwise) should NOT be "wandering around" a car park. Put your dog on a lead and control it for its safety, FFS.

Waterbaby41 · 02/02/2026 08:37

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.

Show quote history

If you love your dogs that much, why are you letting them off lead in a public space where there are going to be cars? This is all on you. You put your dogs in danger, you lost your temper, you swore at someone in front of their little children.

Mischance · 02/02/2026 08:37

Another post by someone who thinks their dog-ownership takes precedence over everything and everybody else. It is getting rather tedious.

  1. Your dog should have been on a lead.
  2. People can choose whatever space they want in a car park - yuou do not own it.
  3. You slapped the roof of someone's car deliberately - count yourself lucky to have got away with this.
  4. You are indeed being very unreasonable indeed.
  5. Are you likely to learn anything from this? - frankly I doubt it.
Womaninhouse17 · 02/02/2026 08:37

He can park where he wants and the dog should be on a lead. Also, you shouldn't touch his car.

rwalker · 02/02/2026 08:36

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.

Show quote history

Most cars have cameras and sensors so he would of been aware of his surroundings
your making it up about dog shit and he didn’t look to try and justify your behaviour

TheNightingalesStarling · 02/02/2026 08:36

OP if you had just posted "is it strange to park right next to another vehicle ij an empty car park" most would have agreed.

But add Range Rover, kids, dogs and physically attacking a car... the whole narrative shifts.

User1367349 · 02/02/2026 08:35

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:34

It is genuine. I just don't know if I was right or wrong. Obviously, my dog should have been on a lead, and the driver could park where he wanted.
And my dog is my responsibility. I know all this.
I just could not believe a car would come into an empty car park and decide to reverse park right next to us. He passed 200 spaces, and then screeched to a halt and banged his car into reverse so close I could give his car a slap. Why the fuck would he do that?

Show quote history

Why did you choose to park at that end of the car park? Perhaps that will give you a clue as to his choice.

You still don’t know who was in the wrong after all these responses? It was you.

Motomum23 · 02/02/2026 08:35

Your dogs are clearly not cherished at all. You left them at risk. I love my kids - i hold their hands in a car park because most people drive like single minded morons these days. Its my responsibility to keep them safe - no one else's. If you dont want your dogs to get run over - dont leave them wondering around a car park. Simple.

SanFranBear · 02/02/2026 08:34

You told someone to 'Fuck Off' in front of their kids... classy!

Original poster
TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:34

Gobacktotheworld2 · 02/02/2026 08:26

Surely no one believes this is a genuine thread?

It is genuine. I just don't know if I was right or wrong. Obviously, my dog should have been on a lead, and the driver could park where he wanted.
And my dog is my responsibility. I know all this.
I just could not believe a car would come into an empty car park and decide to reverse park right next to us. He passed 200 spaces, and then screeched to a halt and banged his car into reverse so close I could give his car a slap. Why the fuck would he do that?

OP posts:
rwalker · 02/02/2026 08:33

Fuck me there’s an entire park for your dog to wonder around yet you let it wonder around a carpark
hitting people’s car is completely out of Oder one day you will hit the wrong persons car

a prime example of why dogs and dog owners have a bad name and a lot of people hate them

MindYourUsage · 02/02/2026 08:33

My dog is my whole world I love the bones of her. I'm often chatting in the car park before loading up and going home.

I would have just simply moved my dog as I saw him miving into the space.

Probably would have done the same with a child, though I dont have any of those.

User1367349 · 02/02/2026 08:33

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.

Show quote history

If they are so cherished, have you considered putting them on a leash so they don’t run in front of cars?

This is one of those dog posts which is so entitled and mad, that it would still be unreasonable if you substituted a human child for the dog.

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