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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder what parks would be like with out dogs?

93 replies

longjane · 29/12/2011 08:13

Who else goes to park to at least 2 times a day come rain or shine?

Would their people camping/living there?
Would there people having sex there ?
Would there be people there doing illegal stuff there?
Would want to walk/run there on your own if you were a women?

Do you think dog walkers stop any of the above?

Just wondering really how long our parks would last with out dog walkers?

OP posts:
Crabapple99 · 29/12/2011 08:16

In my exprience more people avoid parks because of dogs, than use them because they have dogs.

We have a large park ner us, but children cannot play on the grass because of all the dogs muck, so the children play in the road that runs areounf it insteasd.

Megatron · 29/12/2011 08:16

I don't think they would be any different at all.

TheAnnoyingSatsuma · 29/12/2011 08:20

Dog shit and piss everywhere
'friendly' dogs snarling and barking at children

I don't normally swear on here, but seriously you can F* right off.

SesameSnapped · 29/12/2011 08:21

Children would be able to safely play on the grass! (Disclaimer: I know not every dog owner neglects to clean up after their canine friend.)

Dustinthewind · 29/12/2011 08:21

Depends on the area you live in I think. I used to live in Greater Manchester.
Didn't let my children play in the local parks, they were full of dog shit, unattended dogs, dog walkers, glue bags, broken glass, drunks. After dark the gangs usually took over.
Now I live in Sussex.
The parks, the majority of the people and their dogs are lovely and considerate, the drinkers use the recycling bins and the parks are safe for small children to play in, often unattended. Women jog here at all hours of the day and night, sometimes together, sometimes alone.
What makes open spaces, parks and woodlands, fields and towns pleasant and relatively safe to be out and about in is the people that make up the community, and the consideration and respect they show others and the environment they live in.
Not their pet of choice.

BelleDameSansMerci · 29/12/2011 08:21

Well, my dog loving DD would be very disappointed. We can't have a dog at the moment, so it's a real treat for her to meet dogs at the park.

We always ask the owner before approaching, btw.

TheAnnoyingSatsuma · 29/12/2011 08:21

Soemthing I'm always curious about - why do lazy-arsed dog owners drive to parks? Why not walk the dog around the block?

Dustinthewind · 29/12/2011 08:22

And yes, I know there are dodgy areas of Sussex too. Grin

BelleDameSansMerci · 29/12/2011 08:22

And what Dustinthewind said.

Grumpla · 29/12/2011 08:26

Fairly sure that having a dog doesn't automatically disbar you from sleeping rough, taking drugs, doing illegal things or being a threat to women. In fact there are plenty of folk who use dogs to actively facilitate such activities. And I am sure some of them do so in parks.

Is this a thread about a thread, anyway? Should parents of toddlers suck it up when their kids are scared by out of control dogs, because the alternative is parks full of rapey drug dealers in tents? Is that your point?

I really don't think owning a dog automatically elevates you to the level of Superior Citizen. Sorry to disappoint.

Dustinthewind · 29/12/2011 08:29

Quite a few of the rough sleepers I've seen have got dogs with them, often because the hostels won't admit animals.

MorelliOrRanger · 29/12/2011 08:29

They would be dog shit free

ditavonteesed · 29/12/2011 08:29

satsuma, yes why would you drive to somewhere nice where the dogs can have a lovely walk and a play and run around when you could walk around the block on a lead.

Crabapple99 · 29/12/2011 08:30

There is a park near hear with no dogs allowed, and only one supervised entrance so dogs can't get in. People travel for miles to get there. WE go sometimes, but it is a long bus journey, and often very crowded.

I wish there were more dog free parks around

WillSingForCake · 29/12/2011 08:32

I'd still be there plodding round and round and round.... (I have a 4 month old DD who only naps in the sling)

TheAnnoyingSatsuma · 29/12/2011 08:33

Dita - should've clarified (but was Angry at the inflammatory OP).

I was thinking of neighbourhood parks/recs with playgrounds and football pitches rather than 'country park' type places.

NinkyNonker · 29/12/2011 08:35

I rarely see dogs at our park, certainly never come across a badly behaved one.

Crabapple99 · 29/12/2011 08:35

Perhaps there should be a campaign for dog-free parks

whomovedmychocolate · 29/12/2011 08:35

Our local park is funny. The kids playground is basically in a cage with the dogs prowling round the edge on the grass yapping and shitting. Well I suppose it's a community of sorts. Hmm

If we didn't have the dogs the older kids could play footie.

xyfactor · 29/12/2011 08:35

A dog shit free park would be excellent .

whatstheetiquette · 29/12/2011 08:37

I would go to parks if they were dog free. I rarely go because every time I do go, I see dog shit and I don't want my young DC in it.

Last time I went to a park, we narrowly avoided some and the time before that. It just isn't enjoyable, irresponsible dog owners totally spoil the experience. We got a climbing frame for the garden, even though we are pushed for space so that I don't have to go to the park.

NinkyNonker · 29/12/2011 08:37

Country Parks are nice for a change Satsuma, as they are for everyone else who drives there instead of going to all these nearby neighbourhood places you speak of, obviously.

JaxTellerIsMyFriend · 29/12/2011 08:38

oh wow! now that the MIL/Xmas guest bashing threads are done and dusted we are back to dog bashing.

Well, let me tell you this. When I am up the hills come rain, hail or shine with my well behaved dogs getting soaked to the skin the only people I see then are other dog walkers or runners/walkers. Rarely in the non warm/dry weather do I ever see families out there in the pissing rain or mud.

LoveInASnowyClimate · 29/12/2011 08:38

There would be a delightful absence of dog shit and badly behaved, frightening dogs running free. I appreciate that there would also be an absence of the well-behaved dogs who actually enhance my visits to the park, but I think my joy at the first would overrule my sadness at the second.

whomovedmychocolate · 29/12/2011 08:41

They are only running/jogging to get away from your dog Grin