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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My fault that someone's dog ran across the road?

85 replies

Heathercob · 07/07/2020 10:14

This morning I was taking Sally for a walk and there was a family who were walking two golden retrievers on the other side of the road. I stopped to pop pick and one of their dogs saw Sally and ran across the road in front of a car (luckily the car stopped in time)!
The Woman then proceeded to tell at me saying that I shouldn't have been stood there, that it was my fault that her dog ran across the road and asked me whether I was trying to get her dog killed!

OP posts:
theemmadilemma · 07/07/2020 10:52

Shouldn't have the dogs off lead if they can't be trusted not to dart across the road full stop.

I do imagine though she was just shaken up and lashed out stupidly.

AmberShadesofGold · 07/07/2020 10:52

My guess - she was scared and upset and said the first thing on her mind, not what she really means.

heartsonacake · 07/07/2020 10:53

YANBU. I’d have told her to stop being such a negligent pet owner.

bengalcat · 07/07/2020 10:53

I always worry for those dogs walking beside a road without a lead no matter how " bombproof " they are .

SlothMama · 07/07/2020 10:55

She should keep her dogs on leads and under control by a road, any responsible owner does that.

RaveOnThisCrazyFeeling · 07/07/2020 10:55

Obviously she got a fright and said something stupid. Obviously you weren't wrong to stop and pick up dog poo. You were a model of virtuous dog ownership and she behaved badly.

Do you really need a thread full of people telling you another person in a bad moment is a "stupid bitch," in order to be sure it's not unreasonable to leash your dog and pick up after it?

spiderlight · 07/07/2020 10:57

Why on earth was her dog off the lead on a road anyway?? 100% her fault.

LemmysAceCard · 07/07/2020 10:59

I dont care how shocked she was i would have given her a mouthful back. It is not your fault she didnt adequately secure her dog not to run into the road.

You are not her verbal punch bag

Lightswitches · 07/07/2020 11:03

This wasn't your fault!

It brought back a memory - a child around 12 I used to stop and pat a dog walked by an older gentleman.

One day I was on one side of a main road and I saw the man and the dog on the other side of the road. Being 12 and stupid, I waved to the man and shouted Hello to the dog. The dog was off the lead (you couldn't see this due to angle and the man's overcoat and the dog's fur) and very unexpectedly came running over the main road to see me. Luckily completely unharmed as there were fortunately no cars passing at that time. The man crossed the road after it and proceeded to shout at me on the street so badly I cried, for calling to the dog. I crossed the path to avoid him after that naturally and never spoke to him or the dog again.

At the time I was absolutely wracked with guilt and shame and re-ran the scenario in my head for many months over, even though the worst didn't happen and the dog was fine it was the thought over what could have happened. I just never expected the dog to burst across the road at me as I'd assumed it would be on the lead, next to a main road.

Looking back I still think that I was stupid and naive - but have realised in time it wasn't 100% my fault in that the man had chosen not to secure his dog on a lead next to a main road. As a dog owner myself, I would never walk my dog loose next to a busy main road.

Glad I got that out Smile

chrislilleyswig · 07/07/2020 11:03

Well clearly anyone who has their dogs off a lead near a road is at fault

Some of the gleeful name calling on this thread is a bit OTT though.

And Sally? Is that your dog?

Am I missing out on a new clique?

Flittingabout · 07/07/2020 11:03

I think she just reacted in panic.

Shinesweetfreedom · 07/07/2020 11:04

That must have been a long fucking lead it was on to stretch across the road.Hope you told her

SmileyClare · 07/07/2020 11:06

I'm trying to think how it could have been your fault.

Were you wearing that Lady Gaga meat dress and shouting Come on boy.

Or is "Sally" actually a giant bone that you drag around on a string.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 07/07/2020 11:11

She's a knob. If they cant be trusted then keep the on lead near roads. I have to with one of mine. The older one is good as gold but the younger has the road sense of a squirrel.

Graciebobcat · 07/07/2020 11:12

How did you reply, OP?

Socialdistancegintonic · 07/07/2020 11:13

People with off lead dogs are the most annoying people on earth! I walk my dog regularly and have to fend off these dogs all the time. Including the dogs who run across a road to ‘say hello’ to mine, with a child running after them...

So bloody irresponsible.

LadyofTheManners · 07/07/2020 11:15

Not your fault she has no control over her dogs. She should either have it on a garnish leash or practice recall.
Would it have been your fault if you'd have stopped with a toddler and it ran in the road to attack/smell the child?

FairNotFair · 07/07/2020 11:15

… Sally's a dog, right? Wink

LadyofTheManners · 07/07/2020 11:16

Harness not garnish

Hovverry · 07/07/2020 11:18

I recently met a huge dog whose small owner could not hold him when he lunged at my dog, who struggled to get away, slipped his collar and ran into the busy road.
Thank God all the traffic stopped. I was angry and upset but learned to use a harness instead of a collar and to avoid that dog forever more.

sillysmiles · 07/07/2020 11:21

She got a fright and lashed out. Is it really that surprising? It must have been a terrible shock for her.
Yes she was wrong to lash out at you, but surely you just shrug it off and move on.

KeepingPlain · 07/07/2020 11:22

Shes an idiot, ignore her.

Astrabees · 07/07/2020 11:24

I think that when your dog nearly has an accident or gets hurt puts an end to all rational thought ( even though it may be your own fault).

Our dog very unexpectedly and out of character shoved its way between DH's legs when he was going through the door to put rubbish out and dashed straight across a quite busy road where she charged into but did not attack a poor spaniel that was on a lead while its owners were standing talking. She knocked the dog straight over and ten must have realised it wasn't what she thought because she just stood there. DH charged across the road relieved she had not been knocked down by a car only to be greeted with shouts that he was a bad and evil man who should not be allowed to own a dog!
We also got a visit from the dog warden who was rather bemused by the incident.

Billben · 07/07/2020 11:30

She’s a knob. So are the 4% who have voted YABU 🙄

pictish · 07/07/2020 11:31

I hope you told her to fuck off and control her own dog.