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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
Portakalkedi · 02/02/2026 22:16

i would park as normal, looking out for pedestrians, both adult and child, but if a thicko dog owner lets their dog off a lead in such an area, well that's too bad if they get hurt,not the drivers' fault.

Megirlan123 · 02/02/2026 22:16

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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The clue is in the name! Car park. Not dog park.

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 02/02/2026 22:12

I've been caught drink driving three times. Never had to declare it, and I have travelled just about everywhere around the world. I don't feel particular guilt either, just think I was stupid to do it and regret endangering other people.

Bloody hell, OP. And you’re whining about someone parking in a space in a car park.

Original poster
TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 22:12

dadtoateen · 02/02/2026 22:08

Oh dear…. Not exactly a glowing past from the op…
was she more concerned she may have spilt her voddy?

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Irrelevant to this thread. And you might recognize recovery may have been mentioned.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 22:10

sparrowhawkhere · 02/02/2026 22:04

By your logic he could take it out on you that you were chatting with your dog off lead in a convenient space that he might have been put off using and feel angry that the problems he or his children have are then compounded by you banging his car. You want him to think of dog owners and their cherished dogs, what about parents and their cherished children?

Yes it might have annoyed me slightly but then people stood around talking in the best spaces in car parks are annoying!

Did you consider the impact on his children when you slammed on their car? Or when you swore at their dad?

You don't get it. It was a large empty car park. Two people were loading dogs and chatting in two spaces out of 200. If you can't see he was entitled cunt I expect you have an SUV which you straddle parking spaces with.

OP posts:
dadtoateen · 02/02/2026 22:08

kittensinthekitchen · 02/02/2026 22:05

Wouldn't be the the first time... she's been caught 3 times

Ashamed and life ruined | Mumsnet

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Oh dear…. Not exactly a glowing past from the op…
was she more concerned she may have spilt her voddy?

dadtoateen · 02/02/2026 22:06

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 22:00

Collies can be little- my dog is. She was off leash because the car park (which is large) was empty! It was a huge, empty, car park and an SUV pulled in and reversed so close I could hit it- which I did! SUV drivers are so safe and entitled they think road rules don't apply to them. Just so they didn't have to walk a few yards to the skate park! They could have hit one of us! Really, I should have taken their number and reported them.

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You still think you were in the right?

who the hell were you going to report it to? What would you say? Oh sorry to bother you but someone came into the car park, parked perfectly legally so I tested his car, told him to fuck off in front of his kids then called him a cunt on a forum, please side with me cause my doggy that should have been on a lead but wasn’t ran over???

seriously, read the room….

sparrowhawkhere · 02/02/2026 22:04

By your logic he could take it out on you that you were chatting with your dog off lead in a convenient space that he might have been put off using and feel angry that the problems he or his children have are then compounded by you banging his car. You want him to think of dog owners and their cherished dogs, what about parents and their cherished children?

Yes it might have annoyed me slightly but then people stood around talking in the best spaces in car parks are annoying!

Did you consider the impact on his children when you slammed on their car? Or when you swore at their dad?

purpleme12 · 02/02/2026 22:04

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 22:00

Collies can be little- my dog is. She was off leash because the car park (which is large) was empty! It was a huge, empty, car park and an SUV pulled in and reversed so close I could hit it- which I did! SUV drivers are so safe and entitled they think road rules don't apply to them. Just so they didn't have to walk a few yards to the skate park! They could have hit one of us! Really, I should have taken their number and reported them.

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Oh dear this is getting even more silly

properidiot · 02/02/2026 22:02

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 22:00

Collies can be little- my dog is. She was off leash because the car park (which is large) was empty! It was a huge, empty, car park and an SUV pulled in and reversed so close I could hit it- which I did! SUV drivers are so safe and entitled they think road rules don't apply to them. Just so they didn't have to walk a few yards to the skate park! They could have hit one of us! Really, I should have taken their number and reported them.

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Report them for what? Driving into a car park and parking next to you?

I drive an SUV and I don't think I'm entitled.

Your anxiety about your elderly dog is clouding your reasoning.

Original poster
TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 22:00

SplendiferousKnickers · 02/02/2026 16:21

This has wind-up written all over it. OP keeps referring to her collie as 'little', but collies are large dogs (think Lassie). Border collies are smaller, but definitely not small.

Collies can be little- my dog is. She was off leash because the car park (which is large) was empty! It was a huge, empty, car park and an SUV pulled in and reversed so close I could hit it- which I did! SUV drivers are so safe and entitled they think road rules don't apply to them. Just so they didn't have to walk a few yards to the skate park! They could have hit one of us! Really, I should have taken their number and reported them.

OP posts:
kittensinthekitchen · 02/02/2026 21:59

pictoosh · 02/02/2026 20:53

Not cool to cast up the separate previous thread.
Behave yourself.

Not cool to slap someone's car
Not cool to tell someone to fuck off in front of their children
Not cool to call someone a cunt for parking next to you
Not cool to display such ignorant ableism

Potato tomato

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 02/02/2026 21:41

ConnieHeart · 02/02/2026 21:33

The OP hasn't said that she was driving

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She says that when she first started bringing her dog to the park, he (or she) would jump up.into the boot or foot well but can no longer do those things due to mobility issues.

It sounds as though the OP was under the influence, lost her temper with someone and behaved abusively. I'd lay money on the fact she drove to/from the park.

And IME, alcoholics don't always give truthful reports of situations.

carly2803 · 02/02/2026 21:35

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:59

Yes I did. I'm angry and upset my little dog has difficulty even jumping into the front footwell, when she would launch herself into the boot when we first came to the park!

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yes he was a dick but you are unreasonable having your dog off lead in a car park

he was unreasonable coming so close to you he could have parked a space away

put your dog on a lead - its your responsibility to keep her safe and live longer!

ConnieHeart · 02/02/2026 21:33

eastegg · 02/02/2026 21:09

Normally I’d agree, but this is unusual. Half a bottle of vodka to get going in the morning, and here she is a few weeks later apparently driving? Don’t blame the pp for raising it.

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The OP hasn't said that she was driving

nocoolnamesleft · 02/02/2026 21:16

You were drink driving? And you think the problem is a man parking legitimately?

Cherrytree86 · 02/02/2026 21:15

acorncrush · 02/02/2026 18:44

If you wanted to be alone in the carpark then you should have parked further away from the entrance, not expect other people to park 50m away from the entrance because you’re the Carpark Princess.

Also, children are more important than dogs. Always.

Edited

You do get some weirdos on here who think dogs are of equal importance to children 🤯

eastegg · 02/02/2026 21:13

NewPapaGuinea · 02/02/2026 20:19

Nowt as scorned as a driver and someone touching their car. I don’t think you’re that unreasonable. I always give animals and children as much space as possible. We’ve surrendered far too much to cars as it is, and it’s animals and children that have suffered most. I even slow and give a wide berth if I see a dog off a lead as I drive down the road.

He wasn’t really ‘scorned’ though was he? Didn’t do much, was just a bit annoyed. It was the OP who told him to fuck off.

Nowt as scorned as a dog owner expecting to have their dog off a lead everywhere, even in a car park.

eastegg · 02/02/2026 21:09

pictoosh · 02/02/2026 20:53

Not cool to cast up the separate previous thread.
Behave yourself.

Normally I’d agree, but this is unusual. Half a bottle of vodka to get going in the morning, and here she is a few weeks later apparently driving? Don’t blame the pp for raising it.

dadtoateen · 02/02/2026 20:59

ahhhhhhhhhh the op’s previous thread kinda gels all this together.

lets be right, what sober person would do what they did then post on here wanting support?

will we see the op back on this thread??….

StrangerThingsHappenRoundTheTwist · 02/02/2026 20:58

Well
Half a bottle of vodie would explain it

rainbowsandraspberrygin · 02/02/2026 20:57

Sorry OP but I’m going to agree with the majority. I’d be furious if you hit my car for parking in a legal parking space. It’s up to him where he parked!

if you love your dog so much then keep it safe - move out of the car park to talk to people and keep it on a lead.

whether you’re annoyed or not you don’t hit other people’s stuff!!

Did you maybe get a fright that your dog could have been hit and feeling guilty and embarrassed so took it out on the car??

Id be very careful with your anger - the guy could have been really nasty and done much worse (or woman). He would have every right to report you if there was damage too.

pictoosh · 02/02/2026 20:53

Not cool to cast up the separate previous thread.
Behave yourself.

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 02/02/2026 20:37

Oh god. This explains the massively unreasonable reaction.