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?

I’m calling troll

Why should a car not park near other cars in a car park?

Why is this an issue? Why should they park far away from where they are going because you want the extra room to get into your car.

I like to park next to a car. It’s much easier to reverse in straight if you have a car next to you.

I also like little dogs and have one myself. But I keep him on a lead in a car park to keep him safe.

No she wasn't somewhere safe if a car parking in a parking space endangered her.
You don't own the carpark, you don't get to decide where people can or cant parking. For all you know that could be his preferred parking space that he uses every week.
Just accept that you were 100% wrong to start an altercation with him when he was doing nothing wrong and dont hit people's cars as you could get hit or arrested

Me too. Had to check to see if it was school half term !!

I'm very sorry that you're facing the loss of your beloved dog. I'm a dog owner with an older dog too. But you're unreasonable not to have your dog on a lead in a car park, and then get cross when a close run with a car happens.

Any time a dog isn't on a lead, it's an acceptance of risk by the owner. I'm willing to accept the lesser risks that come with my small old dog being off lead in a park. I put him on the lead when we walk next to the (unfenced) car park, because there's a risk of a car driving in too quickly and him straying into it.

You shouldn't have your dog off lead in a carpark, empty ish or not. It's for their safety as proven by your experience. Dogs, especially small ones are impossible to see especially from a large car. The responsibility is yours to make sure your animal is safe.

So don't put her at risk of being run over! Honestly if you love her keep hold of her around vehicles or you risk having her death on your conscience.

Absolutely.

DQ alert!

And yes, I am an animal lover too.

OP, you are making yourself look ridiculous.

And you’ve taken this out on a driver who has done nothing wrong. I always always park as close as possible to the bike track with my kids, as this driver was perfectly entitled to do.

I’m sorry your dog is nearing the end of his life, I lost my dog at just aged 10 on Christmas Eve and it’s awful. But you cannot take that anger in the upset and early grief out on other people. You cannot hit other people’s cars and swear at them. YABVU and your dog dying is not an excuse.

I was always taught to park with other cars, especially at night, as it makes it less likely your car will be robbed. I don’t tend to do it, but lots of people do. Some people find it easier to park with other cars to line up against, too.

But it’s all irrelevant really, he’s told you he wanted to park near the skate park, he parked in a valid space, his car fit.

You should not have hit his car. He does not need to give your dogs a wide berth. If they’re not under your control, they shouldn’t be off leash. I’m sorry that your collie is dying and it hurts, and I hope it’s as easy a process as possible, but it doesn’t excuse your behaviour here. You have no right to a clearance zone around your car for any reason.

You’ve read my post completely wrong. I’m not supporting the poster. Far from it. My heart was trying to a nicer gesture from one very mature poster to another, as I suspect we are,that she might like to think about her actions and learn from them. You may like to read the two other posts I made to her as well. Calm down, dear 🫶

All the more reason then to keep her safe if she can't hear cars approaching, ie ON HER LEAD. I'm sorry your dog is knocking on a bit but it's part of our responsibility as pet parents to deal with that. It's not anybody else's job to care about your dog's advancing years, this guy was just dropping his kids off, and your behaviour at the time was unreasonable as have been some of your responses here 🤷🏻‍♀️

Why would dogs, little or otherwise be wandering around a car park?

Run over a dog to make a point that he doesn't like them?

What dog did he run over?

Where is the Daily Mail when you need it !!

But he didn’t hit your dog and it didn’t die. He can park in any empty space he wants to. You say he wasn’t looking but he was probably using parking cameras. You are completely unreasonable.

OP, you don't sound like you are coping well with your dog potentially dying, and maybe you're not in a good place emotionally. Please get help for that if you need it. But it's not okay for you to take out your feelings on someone who has done nothing wrong, and to get all arsey to other people who are pointing that out. You are in the wrong about this, so accept that and move on.

I have dealt with the last days and death of old dogs several times now. Its always sad and always hard. It DOES NOT excuse banging on a car roof, having your dog off lead in a car park or expecting people to park where you want them to. Dogs of any age should be on leads in car parks. If you have just arrived at the car park, then the dog should stay in the car until you are ready to leave to walk, and should be on a lead until you are away from the carpark. If you have just arrived back from your walk, dog should be on a lead and should be put back into the car and secured in the car first. Its your job and no one else's to keep your dog safe. I say this as a dog lover who can no longer have dogs due to the state of my knees.

None of this has anything to do with someone else choosing to park in the closest space they want, because you’re standing near.

Your dog should have 100% been on a lead. If it bolted, it would have been your fault, no one else’s. No dog should ever be off lead in a car park, doesn’t matter how old it is (not sure why you think this is even a factor)

I think it sounds like the driver scared you by driving erratically - and possibly without due care and consideration. Dogs or no dogs, you don't need to sweep up to where people are standing in a car park and reverse at speed. I've seen this and it can so easily go wrong. The driver was overconfident and inconsiderate.

94% disagree with you. He is entitled to park where he wants and you hit his car. Utterly unreasonable and you need to move control over your dogs to prevent them getting run over.

He was wondering why you are standing in a car park with a dog off a lead. You have an entire park to have your dog off a lead.
you banged on his car roof because you were worried about your dog that you should’ve put on a lead. Saying fuck off was wrong. Take responsibility for your actions first (dog on lead) before criticising others.

Yes I did. I'm angry and upset my little dog has difficulty even jumping into the front footwell, when she would launch herself into the boot when we first came to the park!

Im sorry your dog’s health is failing. That is indeed very sad. It’s ok to say, that I am protective of her and distressed about what she is going through, and as a result I acted badly. Lots of us replying are dog owners and understand your love but disagree your reaction was acceptable. It’s not nice having your arse handed to you on MN. But I think better to graciously accept that how you behaved wasn’t ok or justified. It’s ok to say that.