Strangers who think we all love their dog

[MaisieMouse87]

I'm a bit pissed off and need a rant. Sitting on the park with my kids, we had a large bottle of water nearly full, next to us on the grass. The top was off as one of the kids had just had some. The park is a large field and we were not near anyone else. We were minding our business.
These two women walked past with a dog on a lead. I didn't expect them to get as close as they did. They came literally right up to us. The dog (on the lead) came between me and the kids and licked the rim of the water bottle. One of the women did a tinkly laugh and I said " oh no" in an annoyed tone and told one of my kids that the water would have to go in the bin now. They just walked off grinning and I heard them say something like " imagine being like that over a dog."
I did not say anything but got up and threw it in the bin. If they'd said sorry it would have been alright or if the dog was off the lead I would have been annoyed still. But the way they actively led it over to us and allowed it to do that, then laughed about it. Aibu for being annoyed? It's not even really about the water. It's about having personal space invaded needlessly when I'm minding my own business by people who are nosy and need to see what I'm doing. And partly people with dogs who think it's acceptable because the dog likes people making a fuss of it. By the way I actually like dogs and have 2 but I have never allowed them to do this and actively keep them away from people in public.

If you’re going to give a definition, at least get it right! 🙄

Otherwise, you just appear a little bit dull

Thanks, I’ll take dull over shady and pedantic any day. 😂

Happy vocab and public space policing!

My crazy and highly unpleasant SIL told me when our FIL died that her dog meant more to him than my baby or any of his other - by 'other' she meant not his grandchild the dog (that he didn't particularly like).

She told me I had to stay near the back of the funeral as it was inappropriate to have a baby there. It was an open casket and she insisted on putting the dog in with him for photographs.

You do realise that not all dog owners are like that, right?

Yep, it is always stuff about how anyone with a dog must struggle with human relationships. Bullshit as plenty of married people with kids have dogs.
It upsets me in a way as I do struggle with people (I am autistic).
Or we get called simple minded, or low intelligence.

My grandfather's dog went to his funeral. That is also a big no on MN. It is what he would have wanted, and his dog had a great time. Ate far too much buffet food.

Well said. Trolls are just nasty and bitter. They sound exactly like the two entitled women OP mentioned: immature and ignorant. Most people here, including OP, understand it’s the irresponsible dog owners who are the problem, not the dogs.

Thanks for sharing your story. Autism brings unique strengths, but also means dealing with a lot that others don’t see, and navigating this kind of online hostility can’t be easy. You’re not alone. Most posters here see the bigger picture, ignore the noise, and value empathy, context, and care.

It sounds like your grandfather’s dog knew exactly what to do: show up, stay close, and make the most of the buffet 🙂 That’s love and loyalty. And most importantly, it was what your grandfather wanted and that’s all that matters.