to be upset with the woman with dog in a playground

[MumOnAShortFuse]

I was walking my dog at a local area that has a popular playground. It has a strong swing gate in it that has a very obvious sign that quite clearly states no dog by way of a nice little picture of a dog with a red line through it. At least, I thought that the sign made it obvious. I saw a woman with her kid and her dog in the playground whenI drove past to park. As they were still in there 15mins later (with said dog off his lead and running about on, and jumping on and off,some of the play equipment that has a platform on) I approached her and advised her she shouldn't have the dog in there. I've got 2 DD and I often don't take them in there as there is dog poo in there.
They were the only ones in there and she was insistent it was ok as she had bags with her.
I pointed out this wasn't good enough and if it said no dogs, it means no dogs whether they've pooed in there or not. If we know we're going to the playground, my dog stays at home. If it's been spontaneous, he gets tied up to the railings on the outside of the park.
She didn't like this pointed out and seemed to feel I was being unreasonable. Thoughts?

as well as the hygiene aspect- I also think its a tripping hazard. I've seen my son running towards me, stopping, swerving to avoid an excitable dog and only narrowly avoiding falling over. Dogs in enclosed playing areas for children-Bad idea! Another time he was on the climbing frame and afraid to come down because a yappy dog was running round in circles underneath it.

Mainly though it's the fact that every one of the four owners I spoke to thought it didn't apply to them for their own made up reasons. Because everyone's dog is "lovely" or "friendly" or "clean" or "not hurting anyone" or "not staying long".

Regards the hygiene side of things, I'm sure your dog poos in your garden and I'm sure your kids play in your garden. I'm also sure that dogs poo in the park that you walk thru to get to the play park. There's not much you can do about it. I might have said something, had I wanted to go in to the park. Would I leave my kids and dog in the car, to approach her and tell her off. No. That's confrontational and looking for trouble.

No, what's looking for trouble is taking your dog into a play park with a 'no dogs allowed' sign. You do that then you have to accept any bollockings that come your way.

Agree with Sir Chenjin. If you break the rules don't complain about people not liking it.

You don't have to be directly affected by something at that particular moment in order to find it annoying. The OP was right to have a go at the dog owner even if she was just passing.

you'd have to be a pretty mean twisted individual to intentionally encourage a dog to escape a safe area to potentially meet a long painful death on the road outside

Who said the playground was beside a road? I didn't. It was in a bloody great park.

Who said I encouraged the dog to escape? I didn't - it was running around like a maniac, all I did was open the gate so dd and I could leave. It wasn't my responsibility to prevent the dog from running off. That responsibility lay with the owner.

As for escaping a safe area - the area was supposed to be safe FROM dogs, so children could have fun and play without getting dogshit all over themselves or being frightened, jumped on, pushed over, chased or bitten.

I think you'd have to be a pretty odd individual to intentionally put the health and well-being of little children below your desire to take your precious doggy into a playground. Especially one where the sign says "NO DOGS".

Well said dodo

YANBU I also hate dogs on the beach. This summer a dog peed all over my children's sandcastle, the owner couldn't have cared less. Yes I know some beaches are dog friendly, unfortunately my local beach included but there is nothing friendly about dog piss sand.

IKnow - so HILAIRE!! Just as well MN don't mind posters being goady fuckers isn't it

Oh she had bags? First dog I've ever known to shit directly into the bag.