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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog running around children's play area

81 replies

justshocked · 12/06/2021 13:53

Was I unreasonable to report a man allowing his pit bull type dog to run around a kids play enclosure? He told us he wouldn't hurt us but does that make you anymore comfortable when a huge powerful dog runs up to you and jumps up you?
He had no control over the dog, no recall and no lead in sight. It's like the dog didn't even know the man he was just completely ignoring him.
Honestly I'm so shocked someone could be so irresponsible

OP posts:
wetotter · 12/06/2021 13:57

YANBU

The only dogs that shouid be inside designated children's play areas (which usually state 'no dogs') are assistance dogs on duty. They will be beautifully behaved and cause no issues whatsoever.

Noshowlomo · 12/06/2021 13:58

It probably said no dogs. YANBU

mag2305 · 12/06/2021 13:59

Not unreasonable at all. Very worrying.

Spidey66 · 12/06/2021 14:02

No dogs shouldn’t be in a play area. I can understand a aren’t having their own dog but even then it should be on a lead.

And I’m a dog owner/lover.

Curiosity101 · 12/06/2021 14:02

YABU to imply you'd have been ok if it was not a huge powerful dog and/or pit bull type dog.

But YANBU to report someone for having a dog off lead in a children's play area, and I say that as a massive dog lover. Those areas aren't for dogs, and certainly not dogs that are off lead (regardless of how big/small/well behaved they are).

PracticingPerson · 12/06/2021 14:03

YANBU, no. Not appropriate for a kids play area

Spidey66 · 12/06/2021 14:03

A aren’t = a parent.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 12/06/2021 14:04

No, report before a child gets hurt.

Original poster
justshocked · 12/06/2021 14:05

Any big dog would have scared me! And I'm sorry but those dogs do look bloody scary they are huge. I grew up with dogs myself, I'm very weary of them especially when I was with my small son with me. It's more the lack of control the owner had and the fact he didn't seem to care

OP posts:
MaMelon · 12/06/2021 14:07

YANBU - definitely not.

LoopTheLoops · 12/06/2021 14:07

No dogs should be in play parks imo big or little

Librariesmakeshhhhappen · 12/06/2021 14:08

Who did you report them to? And did anyone actually come and do anything?

Original poster
justshocked · 12/06/2021 14:10

I called 101, they said they'd send officers out to the area to see if they could have a chat with him and explain why his dog needs to be on a lead. I doubt they'd have found him as he walked off ten mins earlier when he eventually got the dog to go with him. I just couldn't not report it, I've never reported anyone before but this I couldn't ignore
The dog had cropped ears which I thought was illegal ?

OP posts:
Librariesmakeshhhhappen · 12/06/2021 14:11

Also, I thought pit bulls were banned. Are they not banned? How do people still have pit bulls.

Librariesmakeshhhhappen · 12/06/2021 14:12

Yes, ear docking is illegal. Disguting practice.
I hope they did catch him in that case. Banned breed with docked ears.

cupsofcoffee · 12/06/2021 14:13

@Librariesmakeshhhhappen

Also, I thought pit bulls were banned. Are they not banned? How do people still have pit bulls.
Pit bulls have been illegal in this country for over 20 years now.

It was probably something like an American Bulldog, Mastiff or another large, muscular breed.

These threads are always about "pitbulls" though.

ThreeB · 12/06/2021 14:15

YANBU. No dogs should be in play areas regardless of the breed.

Original poster
justshocked · 12/06/2021 14:15

I'm no dog expert, I didn't say it was a pit bull as I can't be sure but it certainly looked like one to me

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 12/06/2021 14:16

I have an English Bull Terrier and he is often referred to as a pit bull, so my first thought was that the breed of dog was probably wrong.

However, no dog should be in the kids play area, ever, assistance dogs excluded.

Original poster
justshocked · 12/06/2021 14:17

I've just googled pit bull and docked ears, looks like what we saw

OP posts:
Original poster
justshocked · 12/06/2021 14:18

Anyways I'm not here to slate a certain type of dog, I do understand it's the owners that have given them a bad name. But I'm not willing to risk someone potentially getting hurt

OP posts:
MaMelon · 12/06/2021 14:21

Anyone docking their dogs ears belongs in a special hell. Hope they catch the bastard.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 12/06/2021 14:21

The ear docking is horrendous. Illegal. Which would suggest it's an American XL Bull Terrier rather than a pit bull.

These have become more common recently and ear docking seems to be common with them, despite being illegal.

cupsofcoffee · 12/06/2021 14:22

The breed is irrelevant to your post though - no dog should be running out-of-control in a childrens' playground whether it's a pitbull, chihuahua or labrador.

The likelihood of this dog being a pit-bull type dog is very small. Many breeds look similar to the untrained eye.

Librariesmakeshhhhappen · 12/06/2021 14:22

It wasnt the owners giving pit bulls a bad name. They were bred as fighting dogs. Bread for aggression. Making them a very aggressive dog and a dangerous dog. That's why they are banned. All the training in the world cant undo breeding for aggression and strength. Lots of people will disagree with that, but those dogs were banned because they are dangerous, not because the owners gave them a bad name.