to report this to the police, even though I am technically implicating myself?

[Imperrysmum]

My local park is locked overnight and isn’t opened until 6am. It’s a huge park but in one area part of the fence is missing so I squeeze through and go into the park to walk my dog at 4am (he is an XL bully so I like to go the park when nobody is about)

The last few mornings when I have been walking round by the pond there have been a couple of men sitting on the benches next to the pond “feeding the ducks”. I noticed they have black bin liners next to them too. I’m pretty sure I recognise these men from working in a takeaway restaurant.

I am concerned they are trying to catch ducks. I hope i’m wrong, but I just can’t see why two adult men would sit feeding the ducks at 4am?! Especially as the park is officially closed and they have bin liners next to them.

AIBU to report this to the police, even though I’ll be implicating myself too?

If somewhere being locked then means it is private property, then you are trespassing.

Lovely attempt to get people frothing. You do know that ducks used in takeaways are usually a different breed?

This thread is hilarious.

A park is a public space, locked or not.

The law is that no person shall allow their XL Bully dog 'to be in a public place without being muzzled and kept on a lead'.

I highly doubt a takeaway is going to the trouble of catching ducks when they're so cheap in bulk at the Chinese supermarket.

You clearly do walk him off lead.

You’re allowed to walk an XL bully off lead on private property? The park is closed at 4am so it’s private property.

I was with you until you said the dog is off lead and not muzzled. It’s legal on private property that you own, not a park that you aren’t the owner of. You own a dangerous dog breed that can easily cause life changing damage or kill somebody be bloody responsible and keep it on lead and muzzled. Otherwise you deserve to have it taken off you.

Maybe they are feeding them leftover naans/focaccia/prawn crackers/whatever from the black bags??

That’s terrible 😢 I think I’m going to start up a discreet surveillance operation. There’s an arboretum next to the pond, I will hide there tomorrow morning and see if I can see what they are up to.

You jumped the shark right there

Of course their behaviour is suspicious. If I were you I’d report it to crime stoppers, just make the call and see what they say. Let them know what days you see them, what take-away it is. Police can drop by and ask them what’s in the bin bags.

I don’t think you’re implicating yourself. You could say ‘I walk my dog when it’s shut as I’ve just finished the night shift’. Or just be honest, and say you own a dangerous breed so like to walk it when there is no one else around.

Poaching, presumably

Wear black. Face paint. Binoculars. Be ready to duck if they glance in your direction.

Why do you allow your banned dog to walk off the lead when you know there are other people and animals in the park at that time?

I'm pleased to hear that should I break into the British Museum after hours it becomes my private property.

I didn’t say my dog is offlead? I was just making the point that I could technically as it was private property overnight when locked.

I follow all the rules with my dog, don’t worry.

I’m definitely with you on this one op, they are there to nab some free ducks why else would they be there at 4am in the morning? Its pretty obvious what they are up to.

It’s not though. Because you don’t have permission. You’d be a trespasser with a restricted/banned bread off lead. Don’t make that mistake for your dogs sake.

If op can be in the park as she just finished the night shift. Why can’t they be there, having just finished a night shift?

Non of them should be in there. Op walking a dog or pretending to work nights doesn’t mean she can be there.

I don’t think so. I’ve heard of more than one case where people have evidently thought that ducks on a local lake or pond were fair game.

Well virtually. Im not breaking into the park, there is a slat missing in the fence.

Its not private property, it's locked public property. Land doesn't change status because of a padlock. But then that is the level of intelligence one expects from someone who owns an XL bully.

Perhaps count the ducks and see if they decline over time before doing anything.

Get a branch with leaves and wear it so that you can get closer to look. Leave dog at home and go near to the bench. That’s all I can say at this point