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?

Literally nobody knew my SiL was drinking so heavily. She was a functioning alcoholic. She withdrew into herself more after her husband died, and wouldn’t engage much with family after that. Had she carried on drinking at that level I’m sure that it would have become evident at some point but unfortunately the hospital stay revealed the extent of the drinking when sudden withdrawal seizures started. By then the damage was extensive.

Good point. Don’t do as l do, do as l say !!

Apparently she drives her grandchildren around too.

Quite a difference in opinion a few months ago...

Standard bottle of vodka contains 28 units of alcohol
multiply that by seven

👏👏

What makes you say that? I was stationary. Please don’t make assumptions.

Noone as entitled as a dog owner thinking they own a car park and their dog doesn't need a lead.

My children are scared of dogs. Because a dog not on a lead at a children's park ran at them and jumped all over them.

After about 3 minutes the dog owner got to us shouting "its ok hes harmless"

No its not ok. Keep your dog under control on a lead.

I fully assumed you were passing the horse. I'm sorry, that was very unreasonable of me.

That was a crucial detail and definitely worth mentioning though.

Thank you, I appreciate that.

Definitely do report them, that will brighten up someone's day no end.

"Hello, I'd like to report an incident. A man drove his car into a carpark and parked next to the space I was standing in with my dog, and didn't hit either of us. As a result of this, I felt compelled to hit his car with my hand"

Brilliant!

This response belongs on one of the multitudes of generic "dog owners who let their dogs jump up at strangers" threads. You won't have to wait long, I promise.

This woman says she has been doing the bottle a day thing for 20 years. Her family and friends are bound to know as are all the people she comes across day to day.

And shortly yours.
And of course the next car that comes in.
And the next.

The underlying point being: carpark is just that. A place to park and then move away from the hazards and risks that vehicles and drivers posed. For all you know the next driver was a drunk or just crap at driving. This is not your responsibility - but you are at risk (and your dogs) by loitering on the car park. Any sensible person would not go onto the car park unless they had to.

If there is a dog park, stay there and chat. Then back to the car, load dogs and depart.

Totally agree, but "knuckle down" means to get on with a task in hand. I think you mean "double down" which is to stubbornly maintain a stance or opinion in the face of mass opposition.

I wonder what the dog was wondering about 🤔

Cats are classed as property. I looked it up recently as a neighbour has been feeding a friend's cat and locking it in his house when he goes out.

But the bit about not having to report running one over is correct.

Its in the name - carpark.
I love dogs but completely irresponsible, I'm sorry to hear your dog is older and not doing very well but walk out of the carpark and then let them off lead. I occasionally train my dogs in empty car parks when shops are closed - if a car comes in and parks near me (which occasionally happens as people will sit and eat food in their car) I move I don't kick off at them.

I’m only going on personal experience and my SiL was drinking heavily for five years and nobody knew. She was a functioning alcoholic until the forced sudden withdrawal in hospital produced seizures and the extent of the damage was discovered - unfortunately too late to do anything about it. I’m quite sure that if it wasn’t for the hospital admission, her drinking would have come to light eventually, but alcohol doesn’t affect everyone in the same way - some people have higher tolerances than others and are better at hiding it. Although I would tend to agree with you that after twenty years sustained drinking there will be signs.

Using your logic, there’s a whole dog park there. Why would you be chatting at the car park and not dog park? Your dog belongs to the car park (however empty) way less than a car! YABVU and entitled (for knocking on the roof and being angry at the person)

I would never have my dog off a lead in a car park. YABU and entitled. I would be furious if you slapped my car's roof.

The OP is clearly a massive hypocrite. Her unleashed dog could be just as much as a liability on a car park as one out walking on the streets

You mean the same 150 spaces YOU also passed on the way in to park where you did? Honestly you're a self entitled prick the man can park where he likes just the same as you can. Since when did you become authority in a public park? Clearly all those daily bottles of vodka have clouded your ability to realise that you don't own the rights to parking spots

He also went from passing 200 spaces

To passing 150 spaces and there being 50 spaces further along

The number of spaces passed increases as a function of the litres of vodka drunk