Parking when there are dogs around

[TheQuirkyMaker]

I was in our local park yesterday, talking to another dog owner, when an SUV swept in right beside us, halted, and reversed into a parking space. As it reversed, I slapped it on the roof. The driver jumped out, angry, and I think was ready to give me a slap. I said the car park was empty (it was, it serves about 200 cars) and he had no need to park next to us and potentially hit a dog. He said he was parking near the skate park for his children, and our dogs should be on a lead (they weren't). They are elderly, obedient little dogs, and don't need to be on a leash but they are little and could be hit by a car.
I told him to "F--- Off" and felt okay at the time but couldn't sleep last night for worrying who was in the right.
Was I the unreasonable one?

Dogs should always be on the lead in a car park!

Many years ago I was driving very slowly round the Homebase car park when a very small dog that had just shot out of someone’s car and was yapping like mad, went right under my wheels.
It was awful - but there was no way I could possibly have avoided it. A member of the Homebase staff had witnessed it and confirmed that there was nothing I could have done.

Later I phoned several local vets to see whether it had been taken in, but I was pretty sure it could not have survived for long.

Please ALWAYS keep dogs on leads in car parks!

I think your anticipatory grief is making you overprotective, OP 💐

This

I'm sorry that you are having such a tough time with your little dog. That must be really difficult. But I'm sure you know that it isn't appropriate to take that anger out on anyone else.

Oh just stop

I don't understand why you would not take every precaution and keep her safe.

Hmm I think yabu

i love dogs and have a little dog

you Shouldn’t risk the safety of your dogs by having them off lead in a car park. If you need to get them out of the way of a car, it’s easier with a lead

how do you know whether or not the suv has a reversing camera. He could have had a crystal clear image of behind the car without appearing to look

Also, the bloke is entitled to park near to the facilities he wants to use if the space is free. You say the kids can walk across the car park, probably they can. Bit it’s safer for them not to. Reversing cars can be a menace.

Not being funny but owning an elderly dog doesn't give you licence to be entitled, rude, or aggressive to others. I'd have been livid at you banging on my car with my kids in it, and then swearing at us to boot. You should be embarrassed.

To be closer to the skate park? Like they said?

There are no rules that say in a car park that one has to park far away from the existing cars in the car park. If it's a preferable area of the car park, it's going to be a more popular area of the car park to park in.

I'd have been really shaken up if someone banged the roof of my car. Especially if my children were in the car and if I was parking legally in a car park for people to use the park in whatever way they want to - be it dog walking, skateboarding, jogging, bird watching, whatever.

I say this as a dog owner. In the car park, with my elderly dog, it is my responsibility to make sure he's safe and I wouldn't have him off the lead in the car park.

You don't have the right to sole use of a certain part of the car park.

Of course I have preferred spots in car parks at parks where I walk my dog, in one it's the closest bit to the dog route, parking meter, and poo bins rather than the entrance more people use for the playground or cafe. But even still, I don't assume that the only people who can park in that bit are dog walkers.

It’s horrible to lose a beloved dog but that should make you ultra protective of them and do everything you can to keep them safe. Offlead in a car park is the opposite of that.

You were in the wrong

behave

People can park where they like. Some people prefer to park next to another car because it helps them orient their own (mad but true, people i know have told me this)

Don't police other people's perfectly legal actions.

OP, you’ve obviously never heard of Herd Mentality Parking. In any empty car park people entering after the first few cars will always park next to a parked car.

I like the way that each of your responses embellishes what happened!

You are changing the narrative (because you know you are wrong), from "was HE being unreasonable to be angry at my aggression in slapping his car", to "my dog is dying, my views and opinions trump everything"

I doubt anyone is thinking "good she has a dying dog" but equally, that wasn't your original question and now you are bringing your emotional baggage into it

And….??

If your dog is that old and vulnerable maybe keep it on a lead and don’t let them wander round a car park.

OP it does sound as though you’re experiencing anticipatory grief. When we take on an animal it’s implicit that we accept their short lifespan compared to our own. It’s sad, but it’s a fact. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but you don’t sound accepting of this or in any way prepared for the unavoidable loss pet ownership brings with it.

Many owners keep their animals alive way beyond what is kind or reasonable because they can’t bear the thought of losing them. You sound as though you’re struggling with watching your dog aging. I mean this as kindly as possible, but l think maybe you need to get some help to prepare yourself so that when the inevitable time comes, you can do what’s best for your dog rather than yourself.

Of course YABU! Your dog, your responsibility!

So unbelievably unreasonable and entitled!

So you were stood in a car park (not the actual park) and were surprised when someone else drove in wanting to park? That's usually what happens in car parks lol! Just because it was empty doesn't mean that you shouldn't have your dogs on the lead, and if they were safely waiting beside you as you said, then I don't see the problem the driver caused frankly.

WTF is wrong with you!
A car park is for cars not for loose dogs running off the lead. Dogs are unpredictabe.
Imagine how you’d feel had your dog been injured. That would be entirely down to YOU.

Look, you're entitled to think why on earth is he parking between 2 cars when there is a massive space but slapping his car and having a go at him about it is totally unreasonable, as is having your dog off the lead in a car park. I'm sorry but no matter how well trained a dog is, there is always a risk. My girl used to have great recall but I know one million percent, if I was standing around chatting and she saw a squirrel or something, she would be off regardless of whether a car is coming, and it would be totally my fault.

It's natural that some things bother us, but you can still be rational and admit to yourself it's a you issue. My girl can be quite reactive so she is never off her lead now and I absolutely hate it when I have to walk past a couple of people with their dogs having chit chat. Im my head I'm thinking, fuck off, why are you standing on the path blocking it so I have to walk round you and your dogs (I find that quite bloody stressful) but I just smile and say morning as I walk past as I appreciate it is not their issue I have an aggy dog, it is mine.

But seriously, put your dog on a lead if there are cars!!

He literally told why he parked there 😂

You have an old/ unwell dog and instead of securing them with a lead, you put them in danger by having them unleashed and then chose to take your anger out on a driver .

This man was completely in the right to park where he wanted, but what if it was a young boy racer who sped into there or a learner driver who was having difficulty parking and they ran into your dog?

In either circumstance it would be no comfort to your dog to say the driver was in the wrong even if they were.

If I’m crossing a road with small children I’ll hold their hands even on a quiet road. Yes no one should just appear out of nowhere and crash into us but “should” and “will” are different things. I can’t control other peoples actions.

Also if there were kids in the man’s car when you smacked it and swore at him that’s even worse.

If this is real and I’m struggling to believe it is Shame on you OP, you probably ruined that man’s day.

You may of thought he wasn't looking, but probably he has a reversing camera.

Noone is going to agree with you op.
Don't slap cars and swear at people, one day someone might retaliate (slap you).

YABVU. Keep your dogs on lead in car parks.