To think this was out of order (it’s a dog one!)

[Dammitthisisshit]

I’m aware opinions on dogs tend to get quite heated but I couldn’t quite believe the nonchalance of a woman today so am wondering if I’m overreacting.

I was at a beach today with DC. It’s a big beach, low tide so lots of room, gets very busy in high season but pleasantly quiet today. Dogs are allowed on the beach October to April inclusive.

The DC and I have half built a sandcastle and left the spades on top of it as we planned to go back to it but are now preparing to leave as they’re cold. We’re next to it and I’m helping one of the DC to get changed.

A dog comes up. Looks oldish, ambling and friendly. It’s off lead. I’m not particularly bothered as we like dogs and it looks friendly but look up to check the owner is nearby. She is and sees me looking. She half heartedly calls him back. He ignores her. I keep dealing with DC. The dog is sniffing around and eventually stands on the ‘sandcastle’. I look over to the owner again and get eye contact - It’s pretty obvious I’m expecting her to do something. She doesn’t. The dog then cocks his leg and wees on the DCs spades (plastic ends but wooden poles on them that are now covered in dog wee).

Im quite obviously pissed off. The owner calls over, ‘don’t worry it’s OK it’s only wee’. I reply ‘it’s not OK, he’s wee’d on their spades’. She again reiterates that’s it’s ok as it’s only wee. I told her it’s not OK, I’m immunocompromised due to cancer and she shouldn’t have a dog off lead if it has no recall.

To give some context I’m severely immunocompromised. She wouldn’t have known that before I said anything though I have very weird hair as it fell out due to chemotherapy so it’s pretty obvious that I don’t look ‘normal’. But even if she hadn’t sussed that it’s not OK to let your dog wee on someone’s stuff, is it??

YABU - it’s only a bit of wee, germs are everywhere anyway, you’re just paranoid.

YANBU - if you’ve got a dog you shouldn’t be letting them wee on someone stuff.

She is bloody rude. As soon as I spot a person I put my dog on the lead. Some people are scared of dogs and it makes them nervous. So I always put him on the lead, it's common Curtesy to do so.

She is very rude.

Might not see another year due to cancer in which case I’m not spending my last year hiding inside on my own.
Might continue to recover from cancer but be wiped out due to catching something.
Might recover from cancer and manage to not catch anything else that lands me back in an isolation room in hospital again. That’s be nice.
No one knows 🤷🏻‍♀️

It does make me paranoid but being outside is good for me, I love the sound of the sea and I can’t hide inside with the DC all the time as they’d go stir crazy. I’m told by my consultant to avoid busy indoor places due to airborne germs including Covid which is pretty rife. I’m not saying it’s all logical - my perceived risk of dog wee might be skewed, but I don’t expect to have to deal with it.

It was grim, and rude, but typical of many dog owners. Too lazy to teach their dogs effective recall, and genuinely incredulous that you don’t find their dog utterly wonderful.

Hellfire - I'm not immunocompromised - but this dog owner would certainly know what I thought of their crass behaviour. I wouldn't want dog pee on anything to do with me - why would anybody? Would she be relaxed if you or your children doused her property in urine?

Just when you think you've heard the worst of some dog owners - up pops another thing.