Dog ate my picnic

[givingitupok]

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.

Because it just causes drama and I can't be arsed with it.

But some might, that’s the point. Theobromine toxicity is definitely based on amount consumed and the dogs weight. Grape toxicity seems to be more complicated.

😆
(Quoting in the absence of a laughing emoji, soz!)

Dogs are becoming more and more of a problem. Dog lovers are very vocal but sooner or later people are going to stop being polite and fight back.

Meaning what exactly?

That really sucks, sorry your picnic was ruined OP.
Although I could easily see it happening round here! I always keep mine on lead where requested but seeing a picnic in the park rarely happens round here.
If my lot were off lead and ran across unattended food all over the ground I would probably have trouble dragging them away (I'd be the same with free donuts!).😁

I think the worse my lot have done is when Adam, my chihuahua, ran over to a picnic, got multiple cuddles from the people sitting there and ran off with a single chip!

Omg fuck right off the dog should’ve been on a lead!!! If the dog owner was actually looking after her (what can be a very dangerous dog) then it’d be fine wouldnt it

I’m a dog owner, and it angers me some other don’t control their dogs. I sympathise with your situation. But I think running away (which is foolish anyway as dog will see that as chase) and showing upset in front of your son is going to make him incredibly nervous of all dogs, which is a pity. I get why you were annoyed, and agree the owner should pay for the food and apologise. But you also need to take more care over how you react to things (not just dogs) in front of your kids. I say this because I have a deep fear of cows. As a result, my sons grew up rather nervous of them. I didn’t realise early enough I really had to get a grip.

Not many people tend to get mailed to death by cows though. It's the first time in my 40 ish years I've ever run from a dog so I don't foresee it becoming a regular thing.

People should be able to go to the park without being fearful of random animals charging up to them that may or may not be dangerous.

So many people are so selfish, OP. First for letting her dog out of control. And secondly for not offering to make financial and other amends for destroying your whole picnic lunch. Truly disgusting behaviour. Sorry to hear what happened 💐 Thinking of you.

PS. I have also had a large out of control dog run towards my toddler son in a park, and it was very frightening indeed. The owner couldn’t care less and was rude as well. You are in a very vulnerable position because you can’t really argue when you are in that state. I have been brought up with dogs and I’m not frightened of dogs - well normal dogs that are not out of control and aggressive looking running towards my children in a park.

It’s very worrying that there are so many posters blaming you in this situation. Which goes to show how many total idiots there are on Mumsnet, and how many idiots there are in the world.

I’m so sorry. Your poor son. That’s awful.

Dogs are unpredictable & it is impossible for someone to know whether a dog running up to them is going to be an annoyance, pest or dangerous (sorry friendly is not a valid excuse here).

If a random man run into you shouting most people would react by jumping up and grabbing their child.

and yes you should be nervous of cows, especially when they have calves as the herd will charge to protect them.

Which she'll probably expect OP to pay, for "letting" the dog eat the picnic/s

A dog ran up & took a sandwich out of one of my dc's hands. Dc had filled said sandwich with his choc buttons though. I felt better imagining the dog shitting himself later on & the owner having to clean it up.

I’m very much a dog person so not at all bothered by them coming to say hello. I’m quite happy to grab collars etc if they get too annoying. But the level of entitlement this woman showed was outrageous. I can only guess she was embarrassed because she knew she was in the wrong. It’s always easier to get angry at someone rather than admit you’ve been completely irresponsible.

Perhaps a large vet bill for a pumped stomach might make her think twice about putting her dog on the lead next time she’s walking past the park. She’s lucky the dog ran in there and not into the road.

I say this because I have a deep fear of cows. As a result, my sons grew up rather nervous of them. I didn’t realise early enough I really had to get a grip

How often were cows running up to you in a park?

YANBU, what a crap dog owner. I’m fuming for you x

Oh hang on..if you are so nervous of dogs why are you picnicking somewhere people walk dogs off leads?

Do people write this crap because they are bored & want to be contrary or is it just stupidity?

I don’t know what else you could have done in this situation but I would have been absolutely fuming too! What a stupid person thinking this was ok. I’d be mortified if my dog did that!

I’m in California.
I have a small dog - she’s current on all her shots.
It’s plain old common sense to have your dog on a leash regardless of the leash laws.
The dog park might be the exception.

@givingitupok I’m very sorry your picnic with your son was ruined by this awful woman. I can’t imagine #1 allowing my dog to destroy somebody’s lunch lovingly made by their boy and then #2 being a jackass about it.
Sending love ❤️

There should be dog parks and parks for people and dogs should not allowed in the people parks.

I went to a park with a closed off area for young dc/picnics that dogs aren't allowed in. Of course there were dogs in there.

Sorry that happened to you! If you're scared of dogs, you're going to run, when one comes running towards you. As for the dog owner, have you heard anything from her regarding the Facebook post?

No, only because I posted anonymously and deleted it when a family member said she would be getting in touch with her