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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu to still walk my dog somewhere I've been asked/told not to.

89 replies

SaggingTits · 16/03/2016 21:33

Pita dog will not toilet in our garden, or on concrete (although I'd rather she didn't crap on the pavement anyway). This means I have to take her out several times a day.

There is a small fenced 'park' type thing a few minutes walk away. There is a block of flats one side of it, a row of houses the other. Today while walking my dog (on the lead) a woman called from her ground floor flat to ask where I lived, when I said round the corner she asked if I could leave and muttered something about the council.

It is owned by the council, there is no sign saying dogs aren't allowed, or even that they should be kept on leads. It isn't the block of flats 'communal garden', they have one round the other side, and the ground floor ones have their own garden.

So, aibu to consider sneaking my dog round there for a late night wee? The other nearest grass area is a 15-20 minutes away. Am I doomed to have to do this 3 times a day with a toddler?! And before anyone asks, yes I always pick up poo so it's not that.

OP posts:
juls1888 · 16/03/2016 21:35

Tell her to away and have a stern word with herself! You pick up the poo and its a public park. Go back to daytime TV Mrs Curtain Twitcher lol

OhShutUpThomas · 16/03/2016 21:35

Define 'park type thing.'

I feel that will be crucial info here.

If it's anything other than wasteland then yes, I would say YABU to take your dog to shit there. Picking up never gets all of it.

londonrach · 16/03/2016 21:37

Depends if a public park or private land. If fenced sounds like private land in which case yabu as its like pooing on someones garden.

Original poster
SaggingTits · 16/03/2016 21:41

Is council owned, we live on a large estate, hence the lack of grass Grin

Park type thing is a shite description, sorry! Basically it is a 20ft patch of grass that has fencing around, but isn't attached to anyone's block of flats /garden. Might take a picture as I walk past shortly

OP posts:
OhShutUpThomas · 16/03/2016 21:42

But why is it fenced? It must be used for something?

Original poster
SaggingTits · 16/03/2016 21:45

No idea, it's been there 20 years and never been used as anything except when the council mow it. Never thought I was doing anything wrong as I've seen the local housing officer while there. And to be clear, this woman's issue wasn't that it was public property, more than I was using this 'park' when I don't live in the flats or houses directly opposite.

Looks like I'm going to be doing a lot more walking bloody dog

OP posts:
WeAllHaveWings · 16/03/2016 22:09

If its that small, fenced and in a residential area I think YABU to use it as a dog toilet.

BastardGoDarkly · 16/03/2016 22:09

If its a public place, and dogs are allowed, just ignore her.

TheOnlyColditz · 16/03/2016 22:12

IGNORE HER.

I've lived on estates like this, and this sort of land patch is usually for exactly the purpose you are using it for - to walk a dog.

She probably moans at kids kicking balls there too

LimpidPools · 16/03/2016 22:15

Ignore her. It's not up to her. It's not her grass, you clean up after your dog, you're not doing anything wrong.

She doesn't have to like it, but there's really nothing she can do about it. Bet she never even goes near it and it was just bad luck she looked out of her window right then.

Trollicking · 16/03/2016 22:21

Is it an area that is likely to be used by children? If so then YABU, if not then YANBU.

Lockheart · 16/03/2016 22:22

If she doesn't have a clipboard and a badge from the council then she's not official, just a prat.

If you're sure there are no signs relating to dogs, and you're cleaning up after it, there is no issue.

Sallyingforth · 16/03/2016 22:26

If its that small, fenced and in a residential area I think YABU to use it as a dog toilet.
Very likely the fencing is there to keep dogs off the grass. Do people go and sit there on sunny days?
And of course bitches' urine kills grass.

MattDillonsPants · 16/03/2016 22:27

It sounds like the estate I grew up on and children probably play there OP. Find somewhere else.

SilverBirchWithout · 16/03/2016 22:34

We used to have a neighbour who used to let her dog out every morning and it would always crap on our open plan front garden. When I asked her not to let their dog out to do this, her reply was if you ask we will pick it up!!

Crap smears left on a piece of grass that people use recreationally is gross and anti-social. Ffs, you don't even live there.

I wonder how you would feel about someone taking a dump at the edge of your front path daily and picking it up before they went on their way.

zzzzz · 16/03/2016 22:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
SaggingTits · 16/03/2016 22:47

Well silver I wouldn't like it no, but my dog isn't shitting in her garden. She objects to it because we don't live near enough. It would be 'her' garden if she had to go through it to access her home. Like any private/shared garden.

No, kids don't use it. It's mostly mud and full of cat shit. The children (well, flat residents) have their own community garden and park at the back of their block.

Maybe I should find somewhere else then Sad

OP posts:
Sallyingforth · 16/03/2016 22:52

I'm trying to be sympathetic OP, but I do think your dog, your poo, your garden.

SanityClause · 16/03/2016 22:55

Do you pick up after your dog? If so, YANBU.

zzzzz · 16/03/2016 22:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
SaggingTits · 16/03/2016 23:03

your dog, your poo, your garden could be said about the local park, the beach, etc? Maybe I'm being one those people that refuses to accept they are being U but surely the fact it's in front of her house doesn't mean she gets to dictate who uses it? Fair enough If she was annoyed about poo being left. Before moving I had a communal garden that had gates either side, I never thought to question anyone walking in it because it's public property?

OP posts:
ElderlyKoreanLady · 16/03/2016 23:05

I'm amazed you answered her when she asked where you lived!

By the sounds of it you're probably not doing anything wrong as such. Do you have to step over a low fence or anything like that to get in? Are you absolutely certain that kids don't play there?

Confused about the assertion that your dog won't go in the garden. I can guarantee you he will. It may take time but he will. Praise the hell out of him when he does.

Alasalas2 · 16/03/2016 23:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RainbowMeadow · 16/03/2016 23:05

We had a neighbour that always let their dog wee and poo on our grass. They always picked up the poo but I really didn't like the thought of all that dog wee and traces of dog poo on the grass my children played on. I never confronted her but I was very pleased when she moved.
Perhaps this lady walks on the grass herself and feels like I did, maybe children do play there sometimes, maybe she doesn't like looking out seeing people coming there purely to use it as a dogs toilet.
Sorry but I do agree with a PP that if it's your dog he/she should be strongly encouraged to do as much pooing/weeing on your property as possible.

Babymamamama · 16/03/2016 23:09

I'm not a dog owner and I'm not in favour of dogs defecating anywhere other than on the owner's property. I find it so unpleasant when they do their business on main walk ways, pavements etc. Even if the owners pick it up it is still messy and gross. And as for the weeing on every lamppost. Surely they should be trained out of this? This is not directed at you op of course but I do get frustrated at stepping over and around toileting dogs on my street most morning. Dd finds it as nasty as I do.