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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parking when there are dogs around

738 replies

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:05

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 02/02/2026 08:27

purpleme12 · 02/02/2026 08:26

Mmm subsequent posts by OP are suddenly giving off a very different impression of the man from the first post she made..

Always happens when a thread doesn't go the OP's way.

Globules · 02/02/2026 08:27

I love that you can't see how unreasonable you were.

But yet you started a thread. Interesting decision...

TheNightingalesStarling · 02/02/2026 08:27

No sane person is going to deliberately hit dog... if only for the reason it damages the car.

Cars have a eight to drive in car parks. Humans have the responsibility to protect themselves and vulnerable humans and animals. Hanging around a car park isn't taking that responsibility.

Flowersbloominwinter · 02/02/2026 08:27

Gobacktotheworld2 · 02/02/2026 08:26

Surely no one believes this is a genuine thread?

I wouldnt be surprised there are many batshit crazy people in the world like this, especially when it comes to dogs.

ChurchWindows · 02/02/2026 08:28

Hopefully this will fill today's 'come-at-it-from-any-angle' anti dog thread quota and we can all go about our business.

Gobacktotheworld2 · 02/02/2026 08:28

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 02/02/2026 08:27

Always happens when a thread doesn't go the OP's way.

Show quote history

50 posts within half an hour of posting.

It's going exactly their way.

MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack · 02/02/2026 08:29

Gobacktotheworld2 · 02/02/2026 08:28

50 posts within half an hour of posting.

It's going exactly their way.

Edited
Show quote history

Hmm. You may be right.

McSpoot · 02/02/2026 08:31

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:23

No it was just random parking in a huge empty car park. He just rolled near us and reversed without looking. From the viewpoint of the posters here, I think it was deliberate- perhaps he was angry about dog shit in the park (I always clean it up) and wanted to make his feelings plain. For dog lovers, dogs are sometimes our most cherished company, which non-dog-lovers never understand.

Show quote history

Put not precious enough to keep safe by keeping them on a leash in a parking lot?

OverheardBreakup · 02/02/2026 08:31

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:18

I don't agree. Of course he can park where he wants, but his children could walk 50 meters to the skate park if they were physically able to use it. Run over a dog to make a point that he doesn't like them?

Show quote history

Equally you could have put your dog on a lead??

Im in both camps-I have a dog who I adore and I have two young children. My dog is the most obedient, walks to heel dog ever and I am guilty of not putting him on a lead in a car park as he follows me and jumps straight into the car with no bother.

Im also aware that with my kids, I like to park in the most convenient space to get all their crap out the car and make a quick exit if needed.

He was completely reasonable to park where he wanted, especially with kids.

And he was entirely reasonable to get annoyed at you hitting his car ‘in case’ he hit a dog who should have been on lead.

If he was about it hit a dog then that’s different but it’s clear from your post that this was ‘in case’ rather than ‘he was about to’

Boredoflunch1 · 02/02/2026 08:31

YABU

Get your dogs in the car ASAP in a car park.

Hitting someone's car isn't OK, nor is swearing at them.

Cosyblankets · 02/02/2026 08:32

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:13

Okay, maybe I was in the wrong. But an empty car park? Why decide to park near other cars anyway? And little dogs wandering around?

Show quote history

Little dogs shouldn't be wandering around
It's a car park
Clue is in the name

bigboykitty · 02/02/2026 08:32

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:16

Thanks for the reasonable response. It was an empty car park, built to park about 200 cars. Why sweep in and reverse near the only two other cars there?
It wasn't through longing for our company.

Show quote history

You're just repeating yourself. You were completely unreasonable and are absolutely in the wrong here, as everyone is telling you.

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 02/02/2026 08:32

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:18

I don't agree. Of course he can park where he wants, but his children could walk 50 meters to the skate park if they were physically able to use it. Run over a dog to make a point that he doesn't like them?

Show quote history

Did he run over a dog?

User1367349 · 02/02/2026 08:33

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:23

No it was just random parking in a huge empty car park. He just rolled near us and reversed without looking. From the viewpoint of the posters here, I think it was deliberate- perhaps he was angry about dog shit in the park (I always clean it up) and wanted to make his feelings plain. For dog lovers, dogs are sometimes our most cherished company, which non-dog-lovers never understand.

Show quote history

If they are so cherished, have you considered putting them on a leash so they don’t run in front of cars?

This is one of those dog posts which is so entitled and mad, that it would still be unreasonable if you substituted a human child for the dog.

MindYourUsage · 02/02/2026 08:33

My dog is my whole world I love the bones of her. I'm often chatting in the car park before loading up and going home.

I would have just simply moved my dog as I saw him miving into the space.

Probably would have done the same with a child, though I dont have any of those.

rwalker · 02/02/2026 08:33

Fuck me there’s an entire park for your dog to wonder around yet you let it wonder around a carpark
hitting people’s car is completely out of Oder one day you will hit the wrong persons car

a prime example of why dogs and dog owners have a bad name and a lot of people hate them

Original poster
TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:34

Gobacktotheworld2 · 02/02/2026 08:26

Surely no one believes this is a genuine thread?

It is genuine. I just don't know if I was right or wrong. Obviously, my dog should have been on a lead, and the driver could park where he wanted.
And my dog is my responsibility. I know all this.
I just could not believe a car would come into an empty car park and decide to reverse park right next to us. He passed 200 spaces, and then screeched to a halt and banged his car into reverse so close I could give his car a slap. Why the fuck would he do that?

OP posts:
SanFranBear · 02/02/2026 08:34

You told someone to 'Fuck Off' in front of their kids... classy!

Motomum23 · 02/02/2026 08:35

Your dogs are clearly not cherished at all. You left them at risk. I love my kids - i hold their hands in a car park because most people drive like single minded morons these days. Its my responsibility to keep them safe - no one else's. If you dont want your dogs to get run over - dont leave them wondering around a car park. Simple.

User1367349 · 02/02/2026 08:35

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:34

It is genuine. I just don't know if I was right or wrong. Obviously, my dog should have been on a lead, and the driver could park where he wanted.
And my dog is my responsibility. I know all this.
I just could not believe a car would come into an empty car park and decide to reverse park right next to us. He passed 200 spaces, and then screeched to a halt and banged his car into reverse so close I could give his car a slap. Why the fuck would he do that?

Show quote history

Why did you choose to park at that end of the car park? Perhaps that will give you a clue as to his choice.

You still don’t know who was in the wrong after all these responses? It was you.

TheNightingalesStarling · 02/02/2026 08:36

OP if you had just posted "is it strange to park right next to another vehicle ij an empty car park" most would have agreed.

But add Range Rover, kids, dogs and physically attacking a car... the whole narrative shifts.

rwalker · 02/02/2026 08:36

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:23

No it was just random parking in a huge empty car park. He just rolled near us and reversed without looking. From the viewpoint of the posters here, I think it was deliberate- perhaps he was angry about dog shit in the park (I always clean it up) and wanted to make his feelings plain. For dog lovers, dogs are sometimes our most cherished company, which non-dog-lovers never understand.

Show quote history

Most cars have cameras and sensors so he would of been aware of his surroundings
your making it up about dog shit and he didn’t look to try and justify your behaviour

Womaninhouse17 · 02/02/2026 08:37

He can park where he wants and the dog should be on a lead. Also, you shouldn't touch his car.

Mischance · 02/02/2026 08:37

Another post by someone who thinks their dog-ownership takes precedence over everything and everybody else. It is getting rather tedious.

  1. Your dog should have been on a lead.
  2. People can choose whatever space they want in a car park - yuou do not own it.
  3. You slapped the roof of someone's car deliberately - count yourself lucky to have got away with this.
  4. You are indeed being very unreasonable indeed.
  5. Are you likely to learn anything from this? - frankly I doubt it.
Waterbaby41 · 02/02/2026 08:37

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:23

No it was just random parking in a huge empty car park. He just rolled near us and reversed without looking. From the viewpoint of the posters here, I think it was deliberate- perhaps he was angry about dog shit in the park (I always clean it up) and wanted to make his feelings plain. For dog lovers, dogs are sometimes our most cherished company, which non-dog-lovers never understand.

Show quote history

If you love your dogs that much, why are you letting them off lead in a public space where there are going to be cars? This is all on you. You put your dogs in danger, you lost your temper, you swore at someone in front of their little children.