Dog running around children's play area

[justshocked]

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

@justshocked

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

Sorry. I was just wondering the breed, owning the dog I do it is something not a daily annoyance.

There's nothing unreasonable about wanting any dog out of the kids play area.

We've got a Labrador he's a big boy and I wouldn't allow him to run around a kids play area either. Because hes a big dog and people could easily be frightened. I was angry at the owner just not giving a shit and saying don't worry he won't hurt you!

I understand it must be annoying to have your dog always generalised. But you can't blame people being weary especially when the media whip you up into a frenzy with stories of old ladies and children being mauled by certain types of dogs. I wouldn't have cared if he was on a lead and under control of his owner but he just wasn't and that was the scary thing. If that dog did decide to turn he wouldn't have been able to control him.

Well done for calling 101. Definitely the right thing to do. Any sort of dog shouldn't be in a children's play area.

A grey area though is those natural play areas you get in woods. They are lovely but often not fenced off. My toddler was playing in one and my (then) 6 month old baby was sitting in his pram. A huge dog came bounding out of the woods to him, off his lead, ignoring his owners calling him, and literally launched himself into my baby's pram! I had to dive onto the dog and wrestle him off my baby. Nobody was hurt but genuinely the scariest moment of my life. Toddler saw it and is now utterly terrified of dogs and it's made me incredibly cautious of any dog off a lead. I called the police but the couple left with the dog immediately (after telling me I was overreacting for being so upset!).

Yanbu! Report, report, report!

Even if it hurts some people's feelings or makes them angry, yes, it definitely makes a difference to me what breed the dog is. No dog of any breed should be allowed to run around an area where dogs aren't permitted, but a large, powerful breed would be much more frightening and dangerous than a small-to-medium breed with less potential to inflict serious injury.

I feel like you’re fine causing too much on the fact it’s a big dog it’s not acceptable for any dog regardless of their size. Also in my experience larger dogs are usually nicer to children it’s the little ones that are horrible snappy things

Focusing I meant

No dog that isn’t a designated assistance dog should be in a playground.
But you keep on about the cropped ears and bull breed type and size. Why? Would you report a snappy little terrier too?

No dog should be in a children's play area (other than assistance dogs of course).
I wouldn't have reported a dog on lead, but most definitely a poorly controlled big dog off the lead.

Maybe it is the loveliest dog in either world that will never lose its patience, but I can't trust the word of a stranger regarding a potentially dangerous animal uncontrolled around my child!

@Wolfiefan I would be annoyed and angry about a yapping terrior off lead in a park. But I would be scared of a bigger breed.

No dogs should be in there with the exception of guide dogs etc. I disagree that the breed is irrelevant, size etc absolutely changes the level of threat. I would have had to leave, faced with that situation whereas if it was a chihuahua I’d probably still report it but feel less fear for my child’s safety.

A snappy little Terrier could definitely hurt a little toddler, so yes if it was out of control and the owners didn't attempt control it then it would be reported.
The size does matter, a big dog like that could rip a child to pieces if it wanted too.

He told us he wouldn't hurt us
they all say that!
In his mind his dog is equal/equivalent to a child and that's why he feels it ought to be allowed access to the children's play area...like all the other children.
He will feel discriminated against if anyone tries to tell him different.

too much on the fact it’s a big dog
the threat increases with the size of the dog (caeteris paribus)

You won’t win OP, just avoid the park. These days dog owners are entitled and believe no rule applies to their dog so will take it into prohibited areas and doesn’t matter they don’t have control over it. The law is a toothless tiger until someone is badly mauled or killed and dog owners know it.

YANBU I'd have done the same. No dog should be in a children's play area but those enormous hench cropped ear monstrosities have no place around kids. Their owners aim to make them look as intimidating as possible so they have to face the consequences which are that plenty of people don't want to get anywhere near them.

@HoppingPavlova

You won’t win OP, just avoid the park. These days dog owners are entitled and believe no rule applies to their dog so will take it into prohibited areas and doesn’t matter they don’t have control over it. The law is a toothless tiger until someone is badly mauled or killed and dog owners know it.

That's a pretty big generalisation. Some dog owners are those things. They're probably entitled in many other areas too.

I'm a diligent dog owner and have children. I get that not everyone wants my dog in their face and I keep them under strict control.

That's a pretty big generalisation.

And it’s a pretty large proportion of dog owners from my experience with swathes of them being in areas clearly signposted that they are prohibited. Glad you are a responsible dog owner but that does seem the minority these days.

so they have to face the consequences which are that plenty of people don't want to get anywhere near them
isnt that what they want though, for us all to shrink in fear as they pass?

@QioiioiioQ

so they have to face the consequences which are that plenty of people don't want to get anywhere near them isnt that what they want though, for us all to shrink in fear as they pass?

Yes probably. I'm not willing to risk my kids safety to make a point so I avoid them like the plague. But yes they probably do get satisfaction from intimidating people.

I also avoid large dogs out of fear, some owners seem offended when you shrink away from their 'ickle fwur bwaby'

YABU - to mention the dogs breed type, that has nothing to do with anything and immediately sound like discrimination.

YANBU - to be worried an uncontrolled dog you dont know is running around your children, by law dog must be under the control of a human as they are classed as dangerous domestic animals (regardless of size or breed, many small breeds are actually most vicious).

regardless of size or breed, many small breeds are actually most vicious
surely you can distinguish between
1-propensity to attack
and
2-ability to cause damage?

@QioiioiioQ what a ridiculous comment.

YANBU- our local parks have signs saying no dogs in children’s play areas.
I have a dog and wouldn’t dream of letting her off the lead near one.