AIBU: dog owner in park

[SarahProblem]

I can't sleep so thinking about a situation from earlier today. I totally accept I'm probably being a bit precious.

DP and I were sat in a local park. It's a bit muddy but dry enough to sit on a bench and have a coffee and a cake from the nearby bakery.

A family comes along the path nearby comprising of a man on a mobility scooter maybe early forties, a similarly aged woman walking, their child and dog probably mix breed mostly Labrador, off lead bounding around - very cute

DP and I are mid conversation... Labrador runs over to me without me noticing ..and jumps up on my back muddy paws and body leaving a massive mark down dry clean only coat. owners see this happen and say "(dog name) no food for you there come here " man in scooter drives over and says a quiet "oh sorry " ... And drives away.

DP shouts over :"your dog made a mess of partners coat ..that's really not on. Are you not going to even asses the damage"... Family just half ignore/shrug and walk away. In the moment we were too busy dabbing mud to do anything...not sure there's much to do ...we're not confrontational people.

AIBU to expect some sort of gesture? E.g. give me your number and we'll cover dry cleaning bill. Or is it just one of those things?

Who would you send the dry cleaning bill to if a bird shat on you

Do wild birds have owners? No, of course they don’t - don’t be so daft.

The OPs coat was dirtied by an a dog that belonged to people (who had no control over it) and they alone are responsible for its behaviour and any damage it does. It doesn’t matter what the OP was wearing- she could have worn a ball gown to the park and the dog owner would still have been responsible for making right any damage or mess their dog did to it.

@StoneofDestiny

Just to save all the dog apologists the bother

Of course it’s all your fault OP. What on earth were you thinking, going outdoors in a coat of your choosing and expecting other people to keep their bloody dogs under control. I’m sure the dog was “just being friendly” or “saying hello”

And of course the dog “wouldn’t hurt a fly” - until it does

Totally agree. Unbelievable that some dog owners seem to think you need to wear clothes that are more suitable to get mauled by a dog in! No wonder dog shot is littering the place with attitudes like that.

Think it’s “unbelievable” that people who don’t like dogs are DUMB enough to go to the part of the park dogs are allowed and won’t go to the part dogs aren’t allowed.

“Control your dog” well “control your legs” and go to a gated park with no dogs!

@Bluebluemoon39

There are places in parks where no dogs are allowed and you should go there.

Do you know anywhere where this rule is followed though?

Dogs aren't supposed to be off lead in certain areas in our park but no one pays any notice - so are people without dogs not supposed to go there?

Control your fucking dogs people!

Yeah I do Highbury fields, clissold park, Hampstead heath. Want me to name more in London? Most parks have a gated area for no dogs. Control your legs and walk over to them

Want me to name more in London?

Ah, unfortunately I and lots of other people don't live in London.

Love that it's now expected that people in parks should have to be gated off though 🤣🤣🤣

I can't believe someone is comparing this scenario to a bird shitting on you 😂😂😂

Common sense clearly in short supply today.

Common sense clearly in short supply today.

Something I've had to learn in life - and especially on MN - there is NO reasoning with entitled dog owners!

there is NO reasoning with entitled dog owners!

Or people who hate dogs!

As I said, the unreasoning hate is not one way traffic!

I have come to the conclusion that a dog's manners tend to reflect the owner's. A well mannered, under control dog shows it has a responsible owner. I am the first to admit mishaps happen, especially with young dogs, but the owners will acknowledge and apologise.

Ooh! Another sensible response

personally I think dog owners are all selfish they all think they are entitled to let their pets turn public spaces into toilets with no regard for others who dont want to deal with dogs or stand/sit/play in their mess or around where they are running about.

personally I would love for it to be illegal to take dogs into parks or common land or for there to be designated dog parks and no dog parks. even the playgrounds and fields that are gated off with clear signs saying no dogs allowed, get dog owners letting their dogs in them when they are there with their kids too. I honestly think if you cared about other people you wouldn't have a pet you took out to piss up lampposts and peoples garden walls, it goes with the territory unfortunately.

@Bluebluemoon39

Common sense clearly in short supply today.

Something I've had to learn in life - and especially on MN - there is NO reasoning with entitled dog owners!

Exactly, I wondered how long it would be before the bonkers brigade poured in. Where have they been all morning - out with their fur babies and ruining someone else’s quiet walk I expect.

Most coats are dry clean only, Im surprised that so many poster have coats that go in a washing machine? But then I live in London so not many places where its muddy I guess. The dog owner shouldve paid for dry cleaning tbh. Their dog was off lead and made amess so they should pay for it.

@VelvetChairGirl

personally I think dog owners are all selfish they all think they are entitled to let their pets turn public spaces into toilets with no regard for others who dont want to deal with dogs or stand/sit/play in their mess or around where they are running about.

personally I would love for it to be illegal to take dogs into parks or common land or for there to be designated dog parks and no dog parks. even the playgrounds and fields that are gated off with clear signs saying no dogs allowed, get dog owners letting their dogs in them when they are there with their kids too. I honestly think if you cared about other people you wouldn't have a pet you took out to piss up lampposts and peoples garden walls, it goes with the territory unfortunately.

Absolutely. I have a lady with a dog who lives nearby and lets the dog run around making a mess in everyone front garden. No apologies and never picks the poo up. There is a huge apartment block nearby where a lot of people got dogs last year. I never see them with poo bags, the whole green lawn area in front of the building is covered in dog poo

I’d have them all muzzled in a public space too
How about all men? Aren't they all potentially dangerous too. Do you advocate all to be muzzled? How about people with severe mental health?

@vivainsomnia

I’d have them all muzzled in a public space too How about all men? Aren't they all potentially dangerous too. Do you advocate all to be muzzled? How about people with severe mental health?

Do the men need to be on a lead with a responsible adult supervision?

Do the men need to be on a lead with a responsible adult supervision? Some do. Just as some dogs do...

@UnshakenNeedsStirring

Most coats are dry clean only, Im surprised that so many poster have coats that go in a washing machine? But then I live in London so not many places where its muddy I guess. The dog owner shouldve paid for dry cleaning tbh. Their dog was off lead and made amess so they should pay for it.

The only coat I've ever owned that was "dry clean only" was my ridiculously overpriced school blazer.

Everything else can just be shoved in the machine on a cool wash.

Lot of victim blaming on this thread. You should be able to wear whatever you want, inappropriate or not & if someone damages your property, they should fix it.

The dog owners are at fault for having (a poorly trained) dog off lead & they were BU.

@vivainsomnia

I’d have them all muzzled in a public space too How about all men? Aren't they all potentially dangerous too. Do you advocate all to be muzzled? How about people with severe mental health?

Don’t men actually kill more people each year than dog?

Getting jumped on by a muddy dog is annoying. Most responsible dog owners know this and train their dogs to avoid these situations. At the very least they will apologise profusely and be embarrassed, if say a young dog still being trained makes a mistake. There are some very extreme views about dogs from the dog haters on mumsnet. If you hate dogs, just avoid places they are likely to be. There are plenty of places dogs are not allowed.

But he did come over and apologise. No I wouldn't expect him to offer dry cleaning

@Hankunamatata

But he did come over and apologise. No I wouldn't expect him to offer dry cleaning

This exactly.

Most people would just assume that mud will wash/ brush off. It’s generally an annoyance at most.

It's not ideal and they should have apologised but it was just an accident. They didn't wear a dry clean only coat to a much park. You chose to. You pay to get it cleaned out just give us a little rub with a damp cloth.

Muddy Park, not much park.

Don’t men actually kill more people each year than dog?
Of course they do. I'm all for dogs being expected to behave, for owners to take responsibility but to punish all dogs to the extend of muzzling them all on the assumption they are potentially dangerous is quite offending.

I find it quiteworrying that this comes from a dog owner.