AIBU bloody “dog people”

[mumof2exhausted]

Ok so I know there are some decent, responsible dog people out there but AIBU to say that there are some absolute arseholes who genuinely don’t seem to understand that not everyone loves dogs?? My 4 year old was recently bitten by a random dog so understandably is little nervous around them. A huge dog has just ran after him in the park (double the size of him) and he was petrified. Dog obviously thought he was playing game of chase. I don’t blame the dogs, I blame the owners. They didn’t call him off immediately just laughed and shouted “oh he’s just being friendly”. This happens all the time. Another big dog jumped up and pushed over my 2 year old couple of weeks ago. And no sorry or anything. Again a “he’s just being friendly ha ha” and off they walked without so much as a backwards glance to check my crying 2 year old was ok. I don’t have a dog but if I did and this happened I would be mortified and would apologise immediately and dog would go straight on a lead. Nearly lost my shit today with the owners but honestly don’t think they would have even cared.

We have zones where dogs are not allowed. Guess what! DOGS! Dog people seem not to see the signs.

As for reasonable dog owners, you THINK you are reasonable, but to the non-dog fans, you most likely aren't. Cote posted upthread that we non-dog people should not get so het up about a dog licking our child's hand. To her, she is reasonable. To me!? Hell no.

Alba as I stated in an earlier post we have designated dog on lead areas in our park which are Ignored in the main. Picnics, Dc playing and dogs running into picnics and the cafe and then screaming DC. It is a dog on lead area. I am glad they have brought in on the spot fines. And I am an owner but have daily experience with irritating dog owners. Letting there off lead approach my on lead dog when I ask them to take them away, off lead dogs jumping up at me, trying to urinate on my babies buggy, take food out of his hand and drool on his buggy. It’s truly gross. And the best was owners strolling along taking no notice of there dog as it’s having a poo. There was a terrible story about a off lead dog killing a puppy in a local park, another dog attacking another dog in the park and it needed surgery and the owner ran off with her dog. I don’t hate dogs, I am a responsible dog owner, I live on a street where three DC have a fear of dogs and I walk my dog to the other side of the road if I see them. We are not all bad...

Dogs must be on lead on designated roads. Check local council (is it bye laws?) Speak to dog warden.
No dog should be off lead (or on a bloody extending lead by a road) Lunacy.
When I say dogs can be off lead in public I mean away from roads, livestock, anywhere kids are playing football or children's play areas.
My dog is off lead along footpaths (off road), park (away from children), woodland (we have a stand and wait command for runners and horses etc) and the dog friendly beach.
Certainly not on the school run.

@aaronburr here www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/27

If your council is not listening to you - well try again - or take photographs and pursue it. Seriously I am with you on this one in that it is actually ( I believe ) incumbent on a dog owner to have their dog on a lead on a proper road & pavement. I was told off a while ago because I chased a couple down a busy shopping street because their dog was not on a lead , and they quite snapped at me and said "she's fine" . Yes well until she sees a pigeon and runs off. I am a dog owner and seriously I think anyone who leaves their dog off a lead on a road and pavement is bonkers.

I phoned the local council last year and they said it was legal

But I've just googled and yes what you're saying is quite clear - it is a criminal offence for a dog to be off lead on a designated road.

What should I do? As I said there are 2 people who walk daily with their dogs off lead. I have asked both on more than one occasion to use a lead but they refuse. We live on a busy road and I have to make sure I am holding DD's hand at all times as I worry that she could easily dart into the road to get away from a dog. She's otherwise very sensible but all reason goes out the window when she's scared.

Could I report them to the police then?

Thanks Basilisk.

(when I say pursue it - I mean the argument - not the dog ) But I think I agree with @wolfiefan here - a dog should be on a proper lead on a proper road or pavement. Check the wording in the link above but there may be something you could find to help.

I've just checked our council's website and there is a section on dog control. I am going to take photos and report these people. I can't believe the council told me it was ok!

They clearly CBA to enforce their own rules. Check the definition of designated roads.
I apologise that when I argued dogs should be allowed off lead I certainly didn't mean by a road. Stupid and dangerous.

YANBU! It is the owners not the dogs. At the moment I have a real issue with a mum at school who keeps asking my DD for tea but keeps 2 ex protection reactive shepherds. It’s embarrassing how little awareness she has of why I may have an issue with this , and how she tries to tell me they’re fine. They’re not fine, they’ve attacked other dogs and have to be walked individually on a muzzle! Yet she will blame other dog owners because she ‘warns’ them not to bring their dog close. Ffs make your dog safe and respectful- end of - or keep it at home.

Dogs on leads by roads only applies if your council adopted that part of the legislation. So it may very well be true what your Council said Aaronburr, it probably wasn't adopted in your area