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.

@Cazpar ok so if I got into a car having drank 8 pints and ran someone over it would be ok because I didn't intentionally mean to run them over. Get a grip. He allowed an out of control dog to destroy someone else's property, in what world is that ok?

Op your son should be able to play with a ball of any value in any public space but sadly (as this thread has very clearly demonstrated) there are an awful lot of selfish, irresponsible and idiotic people out there who are entitled enough to think that they can carry on as they please with no regard for other people. Very depressing.

The irresponsible owner deliberately let his dog off the lead in an area with football goals, so clearly intended for children to play football. That's not an accident, that's being irresponsible. He should have to pay for his irresponsibility, not the OP or her child (or indeed any other family member of the OP).

And it was the owners choice to let his out of control dog lose.

Terrible behaviour of the dog owner.
And I cant believe people think its ok that he shouldnt pay the full price because its too much for a football. What does that even mean? The ball cost £45, so the dog owner should pay that much.
My friend dog sat for me for the holiday. My dog managed to chew up her £300 slippers that she just got for xmas. I could have bought her new slippers for £5, but thats not the point. So I sucked it up and paid her the full amount. My dog wasnt even in my care when that happened. Technically it was her fault. Here its clearly the dog owners fault!

He’s had it since he was 3 but today was the first time he used it, from your first post? I’m a bit muddled I think.

And if her kid broke someone else's property?

Would the MN Judge and Jury here let her get away with a sincere apology? Like the dog owner? Or should she be named and shamed on FB? Hell to her mental health.... let her get a right virtual kicking. All for £45.

Madness.

@Allthegoodnamesaregone1

The poster who believes the internet gets it done faster seriously believes in witnesses? What if the man with the football has witnessed who says what he wants them too as well?

The irony that you are advocating vigilantism and not seeing how in the scenario you've described you could have been victim to it is absolutely ridiculous

Right, so lie?
But again the way the current climate is for dogs and negligent dog owners I know where I'd put my money on who's believed.

If your MH is that fragile you better rectify the problems fast then.

@Allthegoodnamesaregone1 well they say ignorance is bliss

Seemed pretty clear to me. His previous cheaper football had lasted since he was 3, without being damaged by any out of control dogs, but he had wanted a newer fancier one, and was excited to get it for his birthday. Then gutted when an irresponsible owner resulted in it being destroyed before his eyes.

I don't know many people who would put up with being named and shamed on FB for a simple ball popping episode.

it is OTT. The guy apologised and said he could not afford to replace the ball. What else can happen? What would shaming him actually achieve? Fuck all.

It sounds like OP is ok with how it resolved, just annoyed. And guess what.. it is ok to be just annoyed, and not be all out baying for blood.

Dogs should not be out of control if off lead. They shouldn’t be going up to strangers or other dogs at random. Some people have phobias and some dogs are anxious of other dogs. A dog that goes up to stranger, takes their ball and destroys said ball is not a dog under control.

I am saying this not as a dog hater, but as a dog owner who loves dogs.

I do however, hate dog owners that are irresponsible like this. Utter tools.

Dogs chase balls. It gets encouraged... or are you just blind to the huge amount of balls in dog toy aisles/shops.

Aww did he apologise?
Did he use his big boy words?

Yea still means sweet FA.

If someone can't handle consequences then they better resolve it quickly.
And OP may be happy with that.
But if you're a negligent owner you need to be aware there are a lot of people who won't be and also won't care about your issues and why that means they have to be out of pocket.

Section 10 of the dangerous dog act.

it is OTT. The guy apologised and said he could not afford to replace the ball.

How do we know that is actually true? What's stopping literally anyone in that situation saying they can't afford to replace whatever item and walking off (and in this case not even offer a much smaller amount?)

@XenoBitch starting to think you're having a laugh now. Dogs are encouraged to chase balls so it's perfectly ok to let a dog off lead in a public space and destroy a kids ball because hey, it's just what they do. So, so entitled.

FWIW I have a dog who'd probably do the same thing so guess what? I keep him on lead in the park. It's basic manners and decency.

If you know your dog chases balls, letting them off lead near football goal posts isn't an accident, it starts to look like an intention

My dog gives zero fucks about balls. She is of the opinion that I threw it, so I should get it. But other dogs love balls, and chase them. It does not make them "out of control" or dangerous.

I can't speak for the dog that OP saw. But from what she said, his recall was fine, and the owner apologised. I don't get why you and others are continually seeking to demonise both the dog and owner.

Again, OP could not afford to replace the ball, and neither could the dog owner. He apologised, and OP went home. No one died. Lets move on.

yes, dogs chase balls. But the owner should either have enough control over their dog to successfully recall it before it gets close enough to another person to steal a ball or the dog should be on a lead.

edited for typo

Gosh how awful, on the first day he used it too.

This. I'd have whipped out my phone and took a photo of him and the dog and posted the story on Facebook asking for a name 😂

£45. , Footballs hey lovey and damaged all the time. What would you do if another 5 year old child has accidentally damaged it? Would you expect their parents to pay £45 for your choice to bring an expensive item to the park for children to kick about?

@XenoBitch it's not about demonising them. It's about being a responsible dog owner and a decent human being. Yeah nobody died but a child's belongings were destroyed because an entitled idiot chose not to keep his dog under control, ie on a lead. People should be allowed to go out into public spaces without random dogs approaching them and inconveniencing them. It's really not difficult to put your dog on a lead or if you can't manage that, take them somewhere where they aren't going to bother other people.

The question is why are you so desperate to defend such irresponsible, selfish behaviour?