Dog burst my son's football

[Maverick99]

Took my 5yo football mad son to the park today to play with his new football that he got for his birthday. It cost £45 and was the first time he'd used it, after months of begging me for it.

He was kicking it through some goal posts when a dog (I think it was a staffy of some kind but know nothing about dogs so could be wrong) ran up to the ball which was about 10ft away from him and bit it, causing it to burst. It then started running around in circles around my son then back to its owner. Didn't seem dangerous but son was hysterical over his football.

Owner put the dog lead on and apologised, and I asked that he replaced the football. I was v pissed off and vocal about his dog and the fact that it wasn't on a lead. He said he couldn't afford it and refused to exchange details or tell me his name but was v apologetic.

Just feel pissed off that there was nothing I could do and nobody else helped me out as lots of people saw.

Can't afford to replace the football myself but thankfully my dad is going to buy him a new one tomorrow.

Not sure what I want from this thread, just a vent because I feel so irritated still and like I could've done more or handled it better.

I suppose, given that most people think dogs have a completely free pass to do what they want, you might be thankful it was only the ball he got his jaws around, not your son. Some dog owners really are dumb and inconsiderate.

So, he could have offered a lower sum, whatever he thought was fair. It was not in doubt that the dog had destroyed the football.

YABU because the breed of dog is irrelevant. Could be a poodle and would make no difference.

It is irritating, yes, and in an ideal world the owner of the dog might offer some £ for the ball - but as others have said I don't think anyone would expect a child to be kicking a valuable £45 ball around a park where it could just as easily get in some other sort of mishap.

To be fair I’d someone told me the football cost nearly £50 is probably think they were having a laugh!

OP said she could not afford to replace it, so it stands to reason that the dog owner could not afford to either. OP said he was very apologetic. If he can't afford it, he can't afford it. And like a few PP, I would not believe a small child in the park was kicking about a ball that is so expensive, and would think someone was trying to be grabby.

YANBU.
I Would've filmed him and got it on Facebook. He would've probably been identified rather quickly and even if it didn't locate him it would've shamed him.

What a shame, definitely the dog owner should have paid for a replacement. Doesn't matter £5 or £45, they should have had control of their dog!

He was very apologetic. Shaming him wont magic up £45. If he was a dick about, then yes, post on FB. It sounds like he wasn't.

OP said she could not afford to replace it, so it stands to reason that the dog owner could not afford to either.

No, it doesn't . You've no idea what his financial position is. I could afford £45 to replace a football, for instance, although I'm not rolling in money.

I mean, if he can’t afford a £45 ball, he can’t afford to have the dog 🤷🏽‍♀️

So that tells you all you need to know about him as an owner.

The dogs owner should pay up - but how can this be enforced? Small Claims Court?

You asked, he said Can't, what next?

If he does not have the intelligence pr finances to care for his dog then he shouldn't own it.
Tough shit to to him
Other people shouldn't be out of pocket for morons.

Thank god my dogs don't go after footballs.

Dog owner was a massive dick. He should have replaced the ball.

all the people excusing the dog should take a look at themselves. I bet they’d be crying if someone damaged something of theirs in public.

dogs should be on a lead in public places. Yea all of them. Dogs are disgusting and dangerous.

OP could not afford it. He could not afford it either. You trust OP on this... why not the dog owner?

Quite. Even if the dog is insured, there is likely to be an excess of more than £45, so what happens if the dog gets ill or injured?

If the dog owner can't afford to replace other people's property when his dog destroys it, then he should probably keep the dog on a lead.

Honestly cannot believe replies on here, I despair. The cost of the ball is irrelevant, a dog should be on a lead if it cannot be controlled, this comes from a dog owner and a son who had a £30 football a few years ago!

OP can't afford to replace a £45 ball, so can't afford a child either... by your logic.

I have a dog, but am on UC. £45 would not be something I could hand over (or even have on me). Life circumstances change.

The OP says that she couldn't afford £45 to replace the ball either - does that mean she can't afford her child?

People budget according to their needs, a dog owner may not have a spare £45 anymore than the OP has.

It's not that I don't trust him, I was disagreeing with the 'equation' that if the OP can't afford it, it 'stands to reason' that any other random person can't.

As I said earlier, he could have offered a lower amount - even a token amount of a couple of £ as an apology would have shown some decency.

I’d be so embarrassed if my dog did this and would of course replace the football, because I could afford to. £45 is a lot of money for a lot of people though and if they can’t afford it i‘m not sure what else could be done.

The OP's child has the benefit of the NHS if he falls ill or is injured. No free treatments for dogs; the owner would have to pay an insurance excess at the least.

Bloody inconsiderate dog owner.

If they can't control their mutts they shouldn't take them out in public.

Next time take photo of both and post on facebook to shame him