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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think dogs should not be in kids play area

34 replies

Summer1980US · 17/04/2023 13:13

This morning in my local park, I witnessed several dogs peeing all over kids play areas. The play areas are a zip line and climbing frame that are not fenced off like the toddler playground. I politely said to the owners that my kids play where their dog was peeing but they seemed shocked and said ‘we pick up our dog poo I can’t pick up their pee’! AIBU??

OP posts:
kitsuneghost · 17/04/2023 13:14

YANBU. its disgusting to have dogs pee where kids play

onirgellep · 17/04/2023 13:32

There will be people along shortly telling you that outdoors is already contaminated with bird and animal excrement - so what's the problem with dogs adding to it

Mamapiggywig · 17/04/2023 13:34

Children need to be safe from dogs, and not all are friendly. They also should not be exposed to wee and poo from dogs in a designated area! YANBU !!

Curiosity101 · 17/04/2023 13:44

If the area was closed off I'd agree with you.

But if the equipment is in the middle of a field where dogs are allowed to be off leash then I don't see a huge issue, especially at this time of year where most of it will get rained off anyway. Dogs wee on all sorts or things you might touch, sit or leach against.

I class playgrounds as pretty dirty places anyway. Plenty of kids with colds and coughs and all sorts of other things covering all the equipment with germs. And wild animals doing whatever. I always wash my kids hands as soon as possible after visiting a park.

So whilst this is not particularly nice it's also not something that would bother me.

Timeforachangeisitnot · 17/04/2023 13:48

Our local play area has clear ‘ no dogs’ signs. Even if you are there with your child and dog, the dog must remain outside the play area. It’s pretty ridiculous enforced by the users.
I think that’s fair. I love my dogs, but I am aware that they are mucky, sometimes disgusting buggers, and no-one but me should have to deal with that.

Timeforachangeisitnot · 17/04/2023 13:49
  • rigidly, not ridiculous 🙄
Gymmum82 · 17/04/2023 13:52

All our play parks are fenced with not dogs’ signs. I wouldn’t be happy if someone took their dog in to the area and let it pee on the equipment and would point out the signs and ask them to leave. In a non fenced park with no signs I guess they are free to do as they please

AreweCf · 17/04/2023 14:01

Name and shame them

Seasonofthewitch83 · 17/04/2023 14:03

YANBU. My friend has a dog with no recall so she gets up early and lets him run and piss all over the kids playground instead.

EggBlanket · 17/04/2023 14:05

99% of dog owners are gross and can’t understand why you don’t love their dog, their dog’s wee and their dogs shit.

Oh, and don’t forget their dog is also very friendly and would never maul a child.

mintbiscuit · 17/04/2023 14:13

I’m a dog owner and agree dogs should not be in kids play area.

i also think older kids should be banned too. (Ones too old for equipment)

Inthesamesinkingboat · 17/04/2023 14:33

Not they shouldn’t be. I am a dog owner and this would never cross my mind

Fansandblankets · 17/04/2023 14:35

I’m a parent and a dog owner and you’re not being unreasonable. Luckily in our local park the play areas are fenced off.

Sudeko · 17/04/2023 14:35

Some dog owners are bloody inconsiderate. i saw a child trying to escape from a dog yesterday but the lazy owner was obviously not going to put her dog back on leash even though the park rules state that owners should control their dogs at all times so that they do not bother members of the public. She hadn't trained the dog, it was being a nuisance and she was indifferent when she was called out.

Snappy34 · 17/04/2023 14:40

YANBU. I have 2 dogs and I would not ever allow them into a children’s play area - there’s plenty of other places for dogs to wee that won’t cause any issues to anyone else. I’ll always call my dogs back and put them on lead if I see a child, whilst they’ve never done anything, it’s just not worth the risk and it’s safer for everyone.

StarDolphins · 17/04/2023 14:51

I don’t take my dog to play areas but I also don’t point out signs for anyone that does.

Last week there was a boy weeing on a tree next to the play area - I didn’t say anything to this but I did think his mum should’ve walked to the loos!

Reugny · 17/04/2023 14:53

StarDolphins · 17/04/2023 14:51

I don’t take my dog to play areas but I also don’t point out signs for anyone that does.

Last week there was a boy weeing on a tree next to the play area - I didn’t say anything to this but I did think his mum should’ve walked to the loos!

How old roughly?

Reugny · 17/04/2023 14:56

OP contact the council/whoever looks after the park and tell them what you have seen.

In all of the playgrounds I use all the play areas regardless of the ages groups they are aimed at are fenced off with signs saying dogs are banned from them.

Primroseprimula · 17/04/2023 14:59

I think it's basic consideration for others not to let your dog urinate on play equipment.

So many dog owners seem to lack this basic consideration and will tie themselves in knots defending their thoughtless and dirty behaviour

LolaSmiles · 17/04/2023 15:02

YANBU at all and the dogs shouldn't be in there. It's poor dog ownership and they shouldn't allow it.

However I also find it a bit much when people get precious about dog wee as if outdoor playgrounds are clean places. Like another poster I assume playgrounds are disgusting places and assume everything there is unhygienic.

KnittingNeedles · 17/04/2023 15:06

But they are fur babies! They are LITERAL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY. You wouldn't ask granny to leave the play area, so how dare you discriminate against a toddler's doggy brother?

(YANBU, entitled dog owners are the pits)

DartmoorWild · 17/04/2023 15:06

For those saying a bit of dog wee isn't a problem because it's outside and it will rain, I'm guessing you'd be okay with men peeing on the playground equipment then? because that's pretty much the same thing as dog wee so shouldn't be a problem right?

It's okay to use kids playgrounds as toilets because they're outdoors. That's basically the reasoning of inconsiderate dog owners. I also wonder if they'd be okay if you went and peed on their doorsteps as well, same logic applies right?

Boogismyname · 17/04/2023 15:08

Fenced off or not, I think dog owners should and can keep dogs off play equipment.... there's the rest of the park to have your dog free roaming, and if the park mostly consists of play equipment rather than fields etc, then choose another park to walk a dog in!

DrMeredithGrey2023 · 17/04/2023 15:11

If it's in a area where dogs are allowed off leash, I don't understand why it's not fenced off?
When a dog is off lead, you cannot control where it choses to wee.
If it's supposed to be a shared space, unfortunately it is going to happen - could you contact the council about either a) making the whole area on leash, or b) fencing off the equipment?
We were out on a dog walk the other week and my children wanted to go in to a park, so their dad took them in and I waited outside.
There were 2 other families inside the park that had taken their dogs in with them. I don't understand that mindset at all.

StarDolphins · 17/04/2023 15:16

Reugny · 17/04/2023 14:53

How old roughly?

Show quote history

I’d say 3ish! They’re local too so the mum knows where the loos are & I personally wouldn’t have let my kid wee against the tree as it’s one they all climb but I would never say anything (I just thought it to myself!).