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AIBU?

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Original poster

Dogs Everywhere

768 replies

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 20:36

I don't live in the UK but am just back from a holiday in Cornwall. We were shocked at the amount of dogs allowed everywhere. They were in every restaurant, cafe, pub and hotel. Two or three people with dogs would all go into a small shop, blocking the aisles for everyone else. In Port Isaac on a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon the whole harbour and uphill area was disrupted by loud and continuous barking. Dogs were running around off leash on every beach. People were clogging the narrow pavements with two or three dogs on leads, wheeling dogs around in prams and buggies, stopping outside holiday cottages for ages chatting while their dogs barked, yapped and howled and ruined the peace for the people inside.

We were genuinely wondering if the next time we came back there would be dog and owner spaces in supermarket carparks and an expectation that you should stand up on public transport to let people with dogs sit down.

AIBU to think England has gone a bit mad when it comes to dogs?

OP posts:
Pollyputhekettleon · 17/09/2023 22:57

Alstroemeria123 · 17/09/2023 22:55

No one said anything to the owners I don’t think - they didn’t look particularly approachable tbh.

Not sure about the cafe staff. Tends to be staffed mainly by young people (I think sixth form / college students with a weekend job) on a Saturday morning, so don’t know if they could / would feel comfortable challenging the owners either.

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Yes I suppose it wouldn't be fair to ask staff like that to take on the owners when other customers couldn't bring themselves to do it.

Okaaaay · 17/09/2023 22:59

Completely agree with you. They are everywhere - even our local clothes shop is dog friendly. I have nothing against dogs but they’re like very small children - terrible at maintaining personal space, grimy and over excitable.

Unfortunately along with the dogs comes the poo. Despite most owners being awesome, the minority that are not just grows as dog ownership grows generally. I’m not a dog owner but have two children and find poop the scourge of our time outdoors. It’s everywhere these days.

MsRosley · 17/09/2023 23:02

Pollyputhekettleon · 17/09/2023 22:56

All declining civilizations stop having children. It'll be hilarious for future historians of the fall of western civilization to try to understand why this one replaced the children with dogs. I wonder if the Romans did something similar with pets at about this stage of the decline. They probably did.

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Come to think of it there were a lot of dogs on Roman pots, mosaics, etc. You may be on to something there. Cave canem!

Raniqw · 17/09/2023 23:05

This reply has been deleted

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Goateen · 17/09/2023 23:06

Yeah, I think so @XenoBitch

Alstroemeria123 · 17/09/2023 23:06

MsRosley · 17/09/2023 23:02

Come to think of it there were a lot of dogs on Roman pots, mosaics, etc. You may be on to something there. Cave canem!

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And the Ancient Egyptians had cats, so there’s support there for the pets / declining civilisation theory as well

MariePaperRoses · 17/09/2023 23:09

'Dogs everywhere'- just as it should be.

Pollyputhekettleon · 17/09/2023 23:09

Alstroemeria123 · 17/09/2023 23:06

And the Ancient Egyptians had cats, so there’s support there for the pets / declining civilisation theory as well

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Yes I forgot that. I wonder if any historian has studied the replacement of children/grandchildren/family ties in general with pets as a symptom of decline.

Lahdedahiam · 17/09/2023 23:10

MariePaperRoses · 17/09/2023 23:09

'Dogs everywhere'- just as it should be.

👏

Physiologicalmalfunction · 17/09/2023 23:14

thenightsky · 17/09/2023 20:37

The British are animal lovers. Get over it.

No they are not. Most of them end up in animal shelters.

Keepingthingsinteresting · 17/09/2023 23:14

SusanandMidge · 17/09/2023 20:52

Most pubs and restaurants in Cornwall now reek of dogs. It is such a relief when you go in somewhere that dogs are not allowed. The place smells nice and you are not worried that some idiots will plonk themselves on the table right beside you and smile gormlessly while their dog wanders all around you.

I feel this way about people who don’t control their children, but I guess we’re not allowed to say that….

Fine, we get it you don’t like dogs, but less of the hyperbole please, it makes you look a bit pathetic.

VeronicasCloset · 17/09/2023 23:19

Unless it’s a working/guidance dog, the only reason people get a dog is purely selfish and to make themselves feel better.
They’ll argue it isn’t, but it is

XenoBitch · 17/09/2023 23:21

Physiologicalmalfunction · 17/09/2023 23:14

No they are not. Most of them end up in animal shelters.

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11 million dogs in the UK. Are you suggesting that there is a similar number that are in shelters? I would hazard a guess that not even 1 million are in shelters right now.

KimberleyClark · 17/09/2023 23:23

VeronicasCloset · 17/09/2023 23:19

Unless it’s a working/guidance dog, the only reason people get a dog is purely selfish and to make themselves feel better.
They’ll argue it isn’t, but it is

Same reason people have children really.

VeronicasCloset · 17/09/2023 23:24

KimberleyClark · 17/09/2023 23:23

Same reason people have children really.

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Yep.

Those pesky future tax paying adults. Bastards.

XenoBitch · 17/09/2023 23:24

VeronicasCloset · 17/09/2023 23:19

Unless it’s a working/guidance dog, the only reason people get a dog is purely selfish and to make themselves feel better.
They’ll argue it isn’t, but it is

Honestly, I swear you are name changing all the time and posting the similar comment across MN on all dogs threads.
If not, and it is indeed multiple people that share your opinion.. I feel sorry for you. My dog saved my life, and I saved hers.

XenoBitch · 17/09/2023 23:25

VeronicasCloset · 17/09/2023 23:24

Yep.

Those pesky future tax paying adults. Bastards.

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Most people take out more than they pay in.. even people who work full time. But that is a whole different thread.

Womencanlift · 17/09/2023 23:28

XenoBitch · 17/09/2023 23:25

Most people take out more than they pay in.. even people who work full time. But that is a whole different thread.

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Regardless how much they take out they are still going to pay more in than a dog

Physiologicalmalfunction · 17/09/2023 23:30

XenoBitch · 17/09/2023 23:21

11 million dogs in the UK. Are you suggesting that there is a similar number that are in shelters? I would hazard a guess that not even 1 million are in shelters right now.

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This post was about animals.

You are talking only about dogs.

XenoBitch · 17/09/2023 23:31

Womencanlift · 17/09/2023 23:28

Regardless how much they take out they are still going to pay more in than a dog

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And?? So only humans that pay in are allowed to exist now? Pet dogs don't take from the public purse, they are paid for privately from people's own money.

XenoBitch · 17/09/2023 23:31

Physiologicalmalfunction · 17/09/2023 23:30

This post was about animals.

You are talking only about dogs.

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This thread is about dogs, so....

KimberleyClark · 17/09/2023 23:34

XenoBitch · 17/09/2023 23:31

And?? So only humans that pay in are allowed to exist now? Pet dogs don't take from the public purse, they are paid for privately from people's own money.

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And dog ownership is known to confer physical and mental health benefits, so perhaps saving the NHS money……

VeronicasCloset · 17/09/2023 23:34

I’m really not. Incredible. More than one person has an opposite view to yours.

Please don’t bother feeling anything for me.

Alstroemeria123 · 17/09/2023 23:35

KimberleyClark · 17/09/2023 23:34

And dog ownership is known to confer physical and mental health benefits, so perhaps saving the NHS money……

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Do they only look at the effects on people owning the dog though? As some dogs (not all!) definitely have an adverse effect on my mental health.

PumpkinBum3 · 17/09/2023 23:36

PinkTonic · 17/09/2023 20:51

I’m absolutely sick and tired of dog friendly everything. Dogs shouldn’t be in restaurants, I don’t want them anywhere near me or anywhere my food is being served and I don’t want to stay in a hotel room that’s had dogs in it. It’s bad enough outside. I walked to my local shop early one morning last week and all the way there I was dodging streams of urine running across the pavement. It’s disgusting. Neither do I want anyone’s ‘friendly’ animal sniffing at me or tripping me up.

Agree with all of this. I am sick of them everywhere especially when food is around 🤢