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.

There are so many posts, from both sides of the argument that would fit this criteria, I aren't sure which you're referring 🤣

This. Why? Also, you need to calculate this as a risk. Lots of dogs love footballs and tennis balls and go through them quick. I don't think dogs have to be on leash in the park, some sections they do, but not all. I do not own dogs but it's my observation over the years.

You have more staying power than me @XenoBitch The angry ‘nothing should go wrong’ compensation brigade, will never listen and will just keep being ‘unequivocally right’.

This. Just one of those things. I'd have probably exchanged numbers and offered something like £10 toward it. Yes they're designed to be kicked about but they could fall into a body of water or go over a fence or become stuck somewhere. We take risks when we go out in public with anything.

Are you supposed to leave your child at home and take the cheaper version out?

😂😂
To be fair, there's a vast difference between a playful dog who gets excited by a ball, and a vicious one who likes to attack people.

" Dogs should be kept on leads if they are likely to chase balls "

I've read some utter drivel on here in the past but come on...

My nearest 'dog park' is over an hour away, they're not everywhere.

Why is that drivel?

If the dog doesn't have good recall and is likely to chase balls then they should be on the lead when they are places where people are kicking balls about.

For more than one reason.

@AnnieSnap instead of being insulting could you explain why you think it's acceptable for off lead dogs to approach people and destroy their belongings?

Nope! I’ve made my points above and I have no interest in reiterating them for you.

@AnnieSnap ah, I thought as much 😂

You thought I wouldn’t be prepared to repeat myself! 🙄

@AnnieSnap you said dogs are permitted off leash in some parks. It still doesn't make behaviour like this acceptable. I'm confused why anyone would defend it.

On lead dog - fine.
Off lead dog with perfect recall - fine.
Off lead dog bothering other people and wrecking their stuff - not fine.

But no, it's the people who would rather not having strange dogs annoying them who are neurotic, angry and unreasonable.

Batshit.

YADNBU OP, some dog owners give the majority a bad name. A dog went for me on my run this morning and the owner was so rude about it - my fault apparently!

Funny you tag me as a bad owner. My dog is well trained, has good recall, does not give a fuck about balls or kids.
But I am a "bad owner" on account that I don't think someone should be named and shamed on FB for the heinous crime of their dog popping a ball.

Sorry your son was upset OP and hope you manage to replace the ball.

But it's really not that deep. Dog saw ball, dog wanted to play, ball popped, nobody was hurt, kid cried. Everyone acting like the owner should be burned at the stake is frankly bat shit crazy.

No. It’s the excuses you have made all along for the owner. And minimised the impact on the boy. Oh yes and your comments on all dog threads. You only care about the animal.

I see this thread is still banging on.

My opinions have no impact on how I treat my dog though... so it makes no sense to say I am a bad dog owner, because of my posts here.

If my dog popped a ball (and she would not... she lacks the teeth!), and the ball owner was ranting at me... I would probably go into fawn mode, apologise like my life depended on it, cry lots, and go home and self harm.

Maybe the chap in the OP is similar to me. Or are men not allowed to be anxious?

There are two meanings of bad dog owner.
Firstly, those who directly mistreat their dogs. Secondly, dog owners who are ‘bad’ because they allow their dogs to jump up at others and damage children’s balls and ruin picnics etc without any apology or insight. Though arguably this second kind of dog owner (which you probably are like) gets all dogs a bad name and leads members of the public to turn against them. So these dogs are indirectly being harmed by their owners being irresponsible dickheads.

And here you are again, desperately looking for reasons to defend a shit owner. I am not even going to respond to your ridiculous comment about men and anxiety. Pathetic.

Why are you insisting I am a bad dog owner? My dog is well trained, gives 0 fucks about kids, balls etc. Where is your evidence I am a bad owner?
I hope you never do jury duty.

Men can have anxiety BTW. If you think they can't, then give your head a wobble.... and I hope you don't have boys.