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?

But who do you think the ducks belong to?

Why would you want such an ugly dog. Not to mention dangerous. Turn yourself in.

Misses point of thread

Surely the park?

Actually no dogs don't bark at other dogs if they're well trained.

Yours is vicious

I meant at home. Most people would say they feel safer having a big dog with them at home?

Tale as old as time.

No it’s not. And it’s not used privately because those 2 men are there.

anyone could be there. Something doesn’t flip between private property a not private property depending on wether you are there or another person steps over the threshold.

You clearly said he didn’t need to be on a lead on private property and claimed the park was private property. You clearly do walk him off lead.

Erm, no, the 'private' part of the term private property means its owned by an individual, generally the individual who proposes to be using it.

As you dont individually own the park, any appeals to private property rights would not really apply.

Though I do have some sympathy with walking a big dog at a time when you know your not going to disturb sensitive (big dog hating) people

Don't be daft, it's not your private park, if that's your excuse then they are using the park and pond privately too. Is this tomorrow's newspaper fodder. There will be signs up saying who owns the park, report this to them.

No my dog is not vicious. He actually only barks sometimes to instigate a game with another dog. This is normal healthy dog behaviour.

I don't think so. It's not a zoo. They can fly away if they want.

I used to work in a French restaurant which served duck avec jus d'orange.

Sometimes, after a busy shift I would stop by the canal on the way home where the ducks lived. I always had a big bag with me.

Would you have reported me for duck smuggling or is that level of suspicion only reserved for people of foreign nationality?

Anyway, I'm pretty sure the ducks would all be asleep in a far corner of a pond at 4am and not be able to be fed or captured from the bank. The men might be taking bin bags home from the restaurant to save some money. If they're living in crowded houses like pp suggested there'll be a lot of waste. A lot of people will sit outside and decompress after working a long hot busy shift in a restaurant before going indoors. Especially in August.

Personally yes, I'd give the police a ring. Two men sitting around in a park at 4am isn't exactly usual behaviour. I don't think you'd need to worry about your situation OP.

They are wild ducks so pretty sure they aren’t commuting a crime. If they are indeed luring ducks into plastic bags in the early hours. I think this is quite unlikely.

My mind would go in the same direction as yours, OP. Report that you've seen them in the park at that time of day, when it's supposedly locked to the public. Let the coppers decide what they want to do about it. Report it to the council as well.

Is there anywhere else safe for you to walk your dog if your entry to the park becomes blocked?

Ignore all the bully bashers. Leave them to their doodles.

Ducks or no ducks, I’m fascinated that you’ve decided it’s private property because it’s closed.

Just commenting because I want an update on your investigations 👀🤭

Is there a big net over the park or are the ducks tied to the pond by bungee cord?

By law XL have to be on lead and muzzled when in public places so how does it bark at other dogs if its got a muzzle on ?

If the park is your private area when closed, it's also theirs, and so the ducks belong to them.

Thank you. Im going to do a surveillance operation tomorrow morning and see if I can see what they are up to and then I will have something solid to report to the police.

I have zero issues with xl bullys, but I would be concerned as you are breaking into the park with one you may be looked at more closely and could potentially be putting your dogs life at risk.

Climbing through a broken fence in a locked park is no different to climbing through an open window in a building. It also shows the park isn’t secure, so your dog could easily escape.

That's a good plan. Make sure to take a picture of your duck surveillance kit.

Just make sure you don't get arrested if they report you for nefarious duck activity!