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Original poster

A dog ate my butcher meat

46 replies

Rae36 · 27/08/2020 14:56

Walked down to the shops today, bought a load of meat from the butchers, decided to stop for a coffee on the way home. I was sat on a bench outside the coffee shop with my carrier bag of butcher meat beside me on the bench.

Next thing I know a massive dog (German Shepherd looking thing I would guess) has appeared from nowhere, grabbed the bag off the seat and is ripping into it, scattering the meat everywhere.

The owner started running over yelling "Stop feeding my dog, she's on a special diet, if she chokes on any plastic I"m sending you the f-ing vets bill you stupid cow" and running towards us. There was no way in hell I was putting my hands anywhere between that dog and the meat to try and stop it, it was going nuts.

He grabbed it by the collar and pulled it away, with it growling and snapping at him as it was trying to get back to the meat, twisting all around as he was holding on to it. A little kid at the next table was crying, people were getting up and moving away, it was scary.

The cafe owner came out and sent the dog and owner packing, cleared up the meat from the ground and brought me another coffee. She couldn't have been nicer to me.

The dog owner is a parent I recognise from school. As he was leaving he shouted back that he knows my kid and if anything happens to his dog he'll be "coming after me".

The cafe owner said that if there was any further trouble she would happily speak to the police or whatever for me and say what happened. They also have cctv in their patio area so it was all recorded. Another customer also came over and asked if I was okay and offered his name and number.

I'm home now and okay, but just really shaky. And without any meat. I'm sure the dog had no interest in eating me but it just appeared so fast and was tearing into the meat like a crazy thing. Imagine if it had gone for a small kid for some reason? (Although it wasn't a kid, just a bag of raw meat, I know I'm over-reacting a bit)

I'm hoping we won't hear from him again, I didn't do anything wrong, did I? Should I have done anything different? I've never owned a dog so have no idea what's reasonable. But I suspect this owner was not reasonable.

OP posts:

TeapotCollection · 27/08/2020 14:59

I’d have yelled back that I had no intention of feeding his dog, he’d stolen the meat and he needed to pay for it

Can understand it being scary though

HirplesWithHaggis · 27/08/2020 15:01

No, the owner is not reasonable. The dog should have been leashed and under control, and the owner owes you for the meat. You will not be responsible for any vet bills either.

Elouera · 27/08/2020 15:02

Did you tell the owner that the dog stole your dinner?

ScorchioScorchio · 27/08/2020 15:03

He's a fuckwit. You didn't feed his dog - the dog stole your shopping. I'm glad that everyone else was nice and reasonable.

Beachbodylonggone · 27/08/2020 15:05

Our dodg once ate ndn whole cooked chicken.
My dm was mortified..
If you know their address report them for a ddog out of control in a public place.

Smallsteps88 · 27/08/2020 15:06

I’d phone the police, report his dog for being out fo control and request that the resolution to the report will be him reimbursing you for the stolen meat. The police will want a resolution and ask you what you would like. Tell them this. It’s very reasonable.

Original poster

Rae36 · 27/08/2020 15:10

I know, now I'm home I can think of a million things I wish I had shouted at him.

I think if I don't hear anything from him I will just leave it. I suspect there is zero chance of him offering to pay me and I don't think I want any more drama. I just want it to go away. Especially because I'll see him or his partner around the school with my kids.

I wish I hadn't stopped for that coffee, I wasn't planning to, but the sun was out for the first time in days and there was an empty bench and I just thought I would. Then it rained as I was walking home. Shit day.

OP posts:

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 27/08/2020 15:11

Wow, of course YANBU. IMO the owner shouldn’t have his large ( and clearly aggressive at times) dog off-leash in a pedestrian area anyway. As for you doing anything to prevent the dog from eating the meat...ridiculous! My small dog was attacked by a German Shepherd a few months ago in a popular walking spot and it was terrifying, they’re powerful animals with sharp teeth.

Glad everyone else was kind and backed you up. Try to forget about it, OP, he’s an idiot.

WaltzfortheMars · 27/08/2020 15:11

I am so sorry that happens to you. It must have been so scary.
Is it even allowed him to keep his dog off lead in a public place?
I would make it official, though don't know how. Report to the police(or whatever, don't know really where to)for being attacked by unleaded dog on the public space, along with cctv and help from cafe owner and people offered you the help? I wouldn't leave it as it is, since the man seems out of order and can cause trouble at your children's school.

Spidey66 · 27/08/2020 15:13

My dog once stole a scone in a dog friendly cafe in Cornwall. I was paying for my tea and she was on the lead but behind me. I turned around and she'd nicked a scone from the tray of a baby buggy parked nearby.

I was MORTIFIED and straight away offered to buy a replacement but the family thought it was funny and refused.

She was a puppy at the time and has now grown up a bit (though still likes her grub and rarely says no if it's offered and sometimes ''begs'' but rarely steals any more.)

Utrecht · 27/08/2020 15:13

Nothing to add OP except I hope you’re ok and he was absolutely definitely in the wrong.

SissySpacekAteMyHamster · 27/08/2020 15:16

The dog owner is a bloody moron.

I might report it to the police tbh so if there are any repercussions you've got it on record.

You did the absolute right thing not trying to take the meat from the dog. It could easily have gone for you. My own dog steals food from me sometimes and doesn't take kindly to it being removed, no way I'd try with a strange dog!

Obviously the reaction of everyone else shows what a prat the owner is, so don't let it get to you.

WorraLiberty · 27/08/2020 15:17

How did he think you were actually feeding his dog?

Smallsteps88 · 27/08/2020 15:17

I think if I don't hear anything from him I will just leave it.

I can see why you’d prefer to do that. The risk is if he goes to the vet first then you reporting to police etc will be seen as a retaliation and they might doubt there was any meat stolen. In your shoes I’d want to get in first.

Perching · 27/08/2020 15:18

YANBU! I would report to the dog warden as out of control dog. Owners like this gives me the rage.
I have a big dog and would be mortified if my dog behaved like this!

Deardonkey · 27/08/2020 15:19

The dogs owner was very good at deflecting the fact it was their fault away from them.
I agree there was no way you should have been expected to try to take the meat away from the dog, even a small dog could hurt you. They should have offered to pay for the meat.

WorraLiberty · 27/08/2020 15:19

The cafe owner can't keep the CCTV forever, so you need to make a decision about reporting to police.

Original poster

Rae36 · 27/08/2020 15:20

I wouldn't leave it as it is, since the man seems out of order and can cause trouble at your children's school

That's why I'm inclined to leave it, I don't want any more trouble. I'm hoping he'll go home, the dog will be fine and that will be that. I imagine if I get the police involved that will just ramp things up to another level and I really don't need that.

Or is that a bit pathetic of me?

OP posts:

MMN123 · 27/08/2020 15:23

@Rae36

Next thing I know a massive dog (German Shepherd looking thing I would guess) has appeared from nowhere, grabbed the bag off the seat and is ripping into it, scattering the meat everywhere.

The cafe owner came out and sent the dog and owner packing, cleared up the meat from the ground and brought me another coffee. She couldn't have been nicer to me.

The dog owner is a parent I recognise from school. As he was leaving he shouted back that he knows my kid and if anything happens to his dog he'll be "coming after me".

I’d be contacting him asking for the cost of the meat.

WaltzfortheMars · 27/08/2020 15:24

It's up to you, really. But if time has passed and once all the evidence etc has been lost, it will be your words against his. He can make up all the lies of what happened and you may not have the way to prove what really happened.

TSSDNCOP · 27/08/2020 15:25

I never, ever say this on MN but call the police and dob him in.

-his dog was not under control
-it ate your meat
-he verbally abused you
-he threatened you and your children

Fuck that shit.

I'm pleased bystanders were nice to you though.

MMN123 · 27/08/2020 15:25

But first off yes report to the police - he was dangerously out of control of his dog. What if the meat hadn’t been in a bag on the bench? What if it was a burger in the hands of a child or young teenager?

He went on the attack before you could accuse him, in order to get you to STFU. Entirely in order to contact the police.

Elouera · 27/08/2020 15:26

I too would report it. Sounds like a bully. Luckily it was meat and not a child the dog mauled!!! He wont just go away! That man threatend your child and you arent going to do ANYTHING about it, but sweep it under the carpet and HOPE it goes away!?!?

I had a slightly different incident at a fruit/veg stall I frequented for years. The owners mothers was there and collapsed. I was rendering medical assistance whilst waiting for an ambulance, while their dog stole my leg of lamb and woofed into it!

After the ambulance arrived, collected the eldery mother etc I got a small bag of veggies from the stall. They had the cheek to charge me, even though her dog ate 5x the amount the veggies cost and i'd potentially saved their mothers life!

CoronaBollox · 27/08/2020 15:28

Wouldn't have been the smartest idea shouting back while you have an aggressive dog eating your food and snapping at its owner, so you did the right thing there.

I would report though, with the owner of the cafe, cctv and the witness it would be unreasonable of him to try and downplay it. Also you were right, what if it had been a young child, holding the bag or eating outside. It's not your fault I know but I would feel very guilty if anything did happen.

Bunnymumy · 27/08/2020 15:29

100% report to the police asap.
You may face more trouble from him if you don't. He needs a warning for his threatening behaviour if nothing else.

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