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Original poster

Dog ate my picnic

711 replies

givingitupok · 12/07/2025 20:36

Had a picnic with my child today in our local park. Random dog (Shar Pei) appeared out of nowhere and ran over to us. I stood up and picked up my child and ran in a panic and stood behind a tree (probably looked like a total fool doing so but there was nowhere else to go without running towards the dog!). No idea where the owner was at this point. Watched the dog eating our food and also drooling all over our lunch box. Owner suddenly appeared from a path that lead into the park screaming at her dog to 'get here now'. Dog totally ignored her and she had to grab it and literally drag it away and put the lead on it. She apologised but when I asked her if she was going to pay for our food she actually had the gall to say 'you should have picked it up when you saw him coming' !!! I have just got home and this literally only happend 45 mins ago so am still fuming. She did not pay for our food and despite initially apologising, was incredibly arsey and walked off in the opposite direction. My child is very upset and the worst bit is, he has SEN and made everything in the lunch box himself (spread the sandwiches, cut up the apples, broke the chocolate into pieces to fit it in the container, etc). This was quite a big thing for him and he's really upset. I am also on a low income and spent a lot on the food. I took a photo of her and it clearly has her face in it. Not sure why but I just felt like I had to do something. I am not going to name and shame, but I'm just so angry.

Not sure what I want from this thread. Just rather pissed off.

OP posts:
Tennislives · 14/07/2025 08:56

Dog owner completely in the wrong.
I hope you report her OP.
The defence by dog owners of their mutts off lead and ruining a shared space is disgusting.

Yanbu to be very pissed off OP.

Manypets · 14/07/2025 08:56

Cherrytree86 · 14/07/2025 08:32

@Manypets

basically you’re saying that Op should just never leave her house then given that dogs can be allowed everywhere. Even just walking down the street she’s at risk from a dog not being in control of its owner and not being on a lead. No. Dogs should always be on leads and controlled by their owner, end of.

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No. I am saying she was responsible for mitigating her own issues about being scared of dogs and gone to a more appropriate place for her to mitigate this happening AND The owner should of course had better recall and control and been a bit nicer. From what I can see they were not in the park but passing it so were not headed in to disrupt anyone purposely.

She has every right to sit where she likes and expect people to control their dogs around her but if she sets up on a football pitch she can expect a football to disrupt her picnic. If she sets up on the floor of a park its not beyond comprehension this could happen. Mitigate by finding a table and she can enjoy her space in peace without worry.

Given she is scared of dogs it seems an odd choice to
dit on the floor (even if she has the right to it) she could just have easily been writing a football landed in my hummus or a red kite swooped and took my chips.

Is she more annoyed by the dog, or the owners attitude.

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 09:01

OonaStubbs · 14/07/2025 00:39

dogs are a menace and need to be stopped or at least cracked down on and heavily restricted.

No, dogs aren't a menace. Humans domesticated wolves at least 20,000 years ago and dogs have provided great companionship ever since. The blame for some untrained and out-of-control dogs lays squarely at the feet of their stupid owners.

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 09:09

Horses7 · 13/07/2025 22:26

Rubbish - most owners have no control over their dogs off the lead, they don’t bother training either.
Owners and their dogs can be a nightmare - suspect you’re one of them.

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I think training should be mandatory. You just have to watch TV programmes like "Badly Behaved Dogs" and "The Dog Academy" to see that some owners are utterly clueless about how to communicate with their dogs.

Summeriscumin · 14/07/2025 09:10

And still people are tying themselves in complicated knots defending the dog and the owner.

It was just a dog. It should have been on a lead. Them's the rules. OP was perfectly entitled to have a picnic on the grass in a dogs on leads area. But the stupid dog owner thought she was above the rules - as so many dog owners seem to.

Dogs don't have rights, they are just pets. Children matter so much more and a little child's day was spoilt by the entitled behaviour of a pet owner. And yet some people defend it. Proves the entitlement of some dog owners I suppose.

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 09:26

FullOfLoveAndObsessiveCleaner · 14/07/2025 03:53

I think her priority here was removing her child from potential harm, not the food. Any sized dog can be aggressive, not just larger dogs. By the time she had packed the food away that dog could have caused harm to her child. Dog owner did not have control of her dog so it should not have been off the lead to begin with. Responsible dog owner here. It's common sense!

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Indeed, particularly when OP has told us that there are many signs in this park stating that dogs should be kept on leads.

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 09:30

KiriG · 14/07/2025 00:06

Sounds like the dog is going to be really ill and probably die as the owner will be unaware it ate grapes.

Allowing your dog to eat other people food and not control them can be lethal

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Read all of OP's posts. The owner is now aware that her dog ate a whole punnet of grapes and some chocolate (in addition to other non-toxic items) and has been advised to take her dog to the vet.

Horses7 · 14/07/2025 09:37

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 09:09

I think training should be mandatory. You just have to watch TV programmes like "Badly Behaved Dogs" and "The Dog Academy" to see that some owners are utterly clueless about how to communicate with their dogs.

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Most dog owners just can’t be bothered to properly train their dogs. In fact I’d say 90% !
We’ve trained our dog to come when called (and it takes perseverance) but I still wouldn’t trust her without a lead.
The number of dogs who run off in the Lake/Peak District and then owners put signs up everywhere…saying they are so loved and part of the family. Some are missing for months according to Facebook groups. If they are so precious don’t let them off the lead - you wouldn’t let a small child run off where you can’t see them.

Poor dogs suffer from rubbish owners.

echt · 14/07/2025 09:44

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 08:28

In Britain, it became a legal requirement for all dogs over the age of eight weeks to be microchipped and registered on an approved database on April 6, 2016.

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Do they have to renew their registration?

My apologies for confusing this - I was mixing up nomenclature. I meant the equivalent of an annual licence renewal.

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 09:45

TheaBrandt1 · 14/07/2025 06:05

Dogs on dog free beaches enrage me. When ours were tiny we sought out dog free beaches. Still remember the woman with the huge off leash dog walking with her nose in the air smack through all the picnickers 🙄.

She sounds like an arrogant cow who objected to the restrictions and was making a "protest". 🙄BUT someone should have challenged her (politely). Entitled people will continue with their selfish, ignorant behaviour if no-one ever calls them out on it (again, politely) - silence just emboldens them.

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 10:01

WearyAuldWumman · 14/07/2025 01:51

Yes. One of my elderly neighbours told me that he'd had to pick up his dog to stop it from being attacked - and then got a mouthful of abuse from the young chap who'd failed to keep control of his own vicious dog.

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Yup, I've had this experience too - it's really shocking and very upsetting for a responsible dog-owner to meet an irresponsible one.
Microchipping of dogs has been a legal requirement for almost 10 years now - mandatory training should also be a requirement of dog ownership (I think this would weed out the irresponsible would-be dog owners as it requires commitment and effort, which so many of them seem to patently lack).

HectorPlasm · 14/07/2025 10:03

The people giving the OP a hard time are the same sort of victim blaming morons that are so despised on other threads. Sorry you've had a such a rough ride on here OP!

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 10:06

Blackoffe · 14/07/2025 02:04

I feel so many things are out of control nowadays and these incidents are way too common. There are no dog wardens or anything despite the massive increase in dog ownership. Who do you even report this kind of thing to?

The authorities don’t seem to do anything until after people have been savagely bitten.

They don’t care much when more gentle dogs have been attacked by out of control dogs either it seems. Even though that obviously puts the dog owners at risk when they try and rescue their dog.

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That's actually not true. All Councils have to enforce the section of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 that deals with stray dogs and employ people to do so, so you should report an out-of-control dog to your local authority.

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 10:14

Manypets · 14/07/2025 06:21

Why are you picnicking in park if you are scared of dogs. Neither of you have exclusivity. Surely there are "no dog" areas by the children's play park. Why not pick somewhere on a bench/table?

It reads like you were sat on the ground and ran away panicking as a dog was approaching..in a park where lets face it dogs will be. Dog smells food on the floor and no one there..bingo. Bye bye food.

Pick more appropriate spots for you? Sit on the floor with food and your chances of dog bombing will increase.

The owner equally poor without doubt but what could she have done? You literally laid out dinner on the floor and ran away. Are
you angry because of the dog, or her reaction.

The dog-owner could have had her dog on a lead (as the signs in the park instructed her to) - that's what she could and should have done. 🙄

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 10:19

Zanatdy · 14/07/2025 07:11

Exactly. Why would you sit in a park on the ground if so scared of dogs you’re going to run away (and also cause your child a life long fear of dogs), especially with food that’s going to attract most dogs.

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The park had a number of signs stating that dogs should be kept on a lead. This dog wasn't. It's that simple. The owner is an irresponsible fool and I just hope her dog hasn't lost its life for her foolishness.

PreciousMomentsHun · 14/07/2025 10:21

Goady nonsense, or you wouldn't have carefully listed all the food most poisonous to dogs. 0/10. Really poor effort.

KiriG · 14/07/2025 10:23

echt · 14/07/2025 00:44

How do you stop dogs and what does that even mean? Or crack down on them? Or heavily restrict them?

You do realise that the context of dog ownership in the UK is one where successive governments haven't even got up off their arse to have compulsory registration.

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In the UK, dogs are legally required to be chipped and registered from 8 weeks. Cats too, from 20 weeks.

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 10:26

Manypets · 14/07/2025 07:32

She has the right, she used it but didn't take into account other users of the park.

It is common sense...OP put herself in a public shared space where there are no controls over who goes where nor should there be it is
in the name public parks

At the start she had every right to pick up her picnic and put it somewhere where behind a sign that says no dogs or on a table and then the complete right to be offended if the same happens but come on..the floor..would she consider setting up on a football or cricket pitch suitable.

No..she would look for an appropriate place for her (away from the opportunity of dogs visiting) and imo setting up on the floor if you ate scared of dogs is taking that risk,

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FFS, maybe OP should have set up her picnic behind one of the signs that stated "Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times" (just like the signs we have in our local park). 🙄 If the dog-owner had been obeying "the rules" her dog wouldn't have been able to get near OP's picnic. Why are you struggling to grasp this?

Manypets · 14/07/2025 10:31

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 10:26

FFS, maybe OP should have set up her picnic behind one of the signs that stated "Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times" (just like the signs we have in our local park). 🙄 If the dog-owner had been obeying "the rules" her dog wouldn't have been able to get near OP's picnic. Why are you struggling to grasp this?

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Why are you struggling to grasp the dog owner was not in the park and wouldn't have seen the signs?

As I have stated several times she has the right to eat where she wants but its kind if stupid if you are scared to do
it on
the
floor.of course she is welcome to but if she is so scared there are less risky places.

nocoolnamesleft · 14/07/2025 10:31

Manypets · 14/07/2025 08:26

They are both wrong imo.

If I were scared of something I wouldn't put myself in its path. If I had a dog I would do my best to control it.

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She was in a park that only allows dogs on leads. So how the fuck did she put herself in the path of this out of control off lead dog?

Manypets · 14/07/2025 10:35

nocoolnamesleft · 14/07/2025 10:31

She was in a park that only allows dogs on leads. So how the fuck did she put herself in the path of this out of control off lead dog?

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Haha Im off to walk the dog, I actually give no fucks. Hopefully there will be a picnic he can ravage..said no
dog owner ever

nocoolnamesleft · 14/07/2025 10:38

Manypets · 14/07/2025 10:35

Haha Im off to walk the dog, I actually give no fucks. Hopefully there will be a picnic he can ravage..said no
dog owner ever

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"I know this is an onlead only area, but I don't give a flying fuck if my out off control pest with no recall runs up to people and nicks their food because I'm a selfish irresponsible fuckwit" appears to be commonly thought by irresponsible dog owners.

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 10:46

WhereIsMyJumper · 14/07/2025 07:39

I do think it’s a good thing to teach your dog to recall and walk to heel when off the lead. Even if you don’t take them off lead in busy public places (which you shouldn’t - plenty of suitable places for them to run around off lead) just in case something bad happens - you accidentally drop the lead or they manage to wriggle out of their harness or you were in a rush and didn’t realise you didn’t fasten their collar properly and then at least you know you can get your dog back to you even if it is crowded.

The problem being, as someone mentioned upthread, how do you train a dog to recall and walk to heel in busy crowded places unless you train them in busy, crowded places?

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It's essential that all dogs are socialised, but you wouldn't teach recall and walking to heel in busy places - you'd do this in a safe environment. Once taught to walk to heel, a dog will always do this when instructed so the environment they're in wouldn't matter. Recall is trickier. Most dogs don't perfect recall until around one year old (and only if they're trained) and even then I wouldn't trust any dog to come back if there were distractions like food or a ball being bounced. The key to having a dog that fits well into its surroundings is good training and keeping it on a lead in busy places (even if it has been well-trained). This dog-owner didn't do this and I just hope her dog has survived her negligence. OP did nothing wrong, particularly given she has no knowledge of dogs.
Dog training - or more accurately, owner training - should be mandatory.

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 10:53

Manypets · 14/07/2025 08:05

Righto, everyone keep your dog in, this lady doesn't like them.

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No, take your dog out wherever you're allowed to and KEEP IT UNDER YOUR CONTROL, which is precisely what the law demands. 🙄

AngelicKaty · 14/07/2025 11:01

Manypets · 14/07/2025 08:26

They are both wrong imo.

If I were scared of something I wouldn't put myself in its path. If I had a dog I would do my best to control it.

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How did OP put herself "in its path"? (Quite the opposite, in fact, since she picked up her child and ran behind a tree when the dog came running over.) She set out a picnic with her DS in a park which displays signs instructing dog-owners to keep their dogs on leads. This dog was not on a lead. OP did nothing wrong. The dog-owner was negligent and in breach of the law which requires dog-owners to be in control of their dogs.

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