XL Bully on coach

[Butterytoastandtea]

My daughter spent the day in a city (about 3.5 hours away) and got the bus back last night. She said she was quite anxious as a couple of men with an xl bully sat behind her and spent the journey rolling spliffs. She said it stank. She wanted to move but was scared to draw any attention to herself. I suppose the drugs were secondary. She was very afraid of the dog. I googled and their policy from 2023 says only guide dogs or in carriers allowed.

Am I being unreasonable to expect to be able to travel on a coach (for 3+) hours without being frightened of other people's large animals? It doesn't seem safe. Do I need to get a grip, does she? I don't know what is normal anymore! I would have picked her up if I knew this was a possibility.

Edited to add she's 17

You're more likely to encounter dogs on trains than the average coach as there's no restriction at all on taking dogs onto the train. Clearly someone has ignored the restriction on this coach but it must act as a deterrent.

Did the dogs have muzzles on?

Does the coach company have a social media account? Might be worth posting a question about whether dogs are allowed or not.

It was one dog but I don't see what difference it makes considering it wasn't a guide dog or in a carrier?

Sure but i've never met a spliff smoking xl bully owner on a train

Yeah OP, shame on you for not being able to pull a car out of your arse for your DD 🙄

I've met plenty of spliff smokers and all sorts of dogs on trains.

The difference is you can move carriages if you're uncomfortable.

Hi, OP -

Obviously the driver was wrong and I hope you will complain. Don’t let anyone deflect from the fact that this is the main problem. YANBU

But I am also concerned that your DD did not feel comfortable moving to sit behind the driver. She had every right to do that for any reason at all and it is most unlikely that these men were looking to bother her. If she’s going to ride busses alone at night she needs to have more confidence.

Yeah I must admit I don't understand how anyone moving seats would be drawing attention to themselves.

I expect 99% of passengers wouldn't even notice.

Maybe just maybe the seats behind the driver were already occupied.

Especially the stoned meatheads

On a coach it’s really obvious.
I would’ve felt wary doing that too.

Was this on National Express?

Their drivers are quite strict: Last time I was on one, the driver stopped the coach because someone was eating a curry. This was on a coach to Bournemouth.

I don't care how well-behaved it looks, I wouldnt want to be in an enclosed space with an XL bully for 3.5 hours and I certainly wouldnt want it for my child

Stand up, grab another seat, shove your headphones in, gaze out of window.

Nothing to be wary about.

I'd def complain to the coach company, this is not on.

OTOH she should have felt confident enough to move seats, unless it was just her and dog owners on the bus, in which case I imagine a lot of people would have felt weary

I’m 34 and I wouldn’t have the confidence, does this mean I’m not allowed out again? I better let work know. Drunk/stoned men can and do make comments to make you feel unsafe, I think moving away would
catch their attention. XL dogs are intimidating in addition to this.

That’s lunacy.

Coaches are quite restrictive, which can be a good thing.

I'm very surprised they got a big dog like an XL Bully on a coach passed the driver, unless they were friends of his.

I've seen all kinds of bad behaviour on trains like a woman punched in the face, but coaches are quite a controlled environment... any shit and the driver immediately stops the coach (national express).

Well if you’re sat directly near them then they will notice and probably be fully aware of what they are going. I’ve moved before. The man followed me to the next carriage and sat opposite me (4 seats facing each other) with a stupid smirk on his face.

That’s terrifying. I pray you never has reason to regret it.

Seriously?

https://news.sky.com/story/woman-mauled-to-death-posted-video-of-her-dancing-with-xl-bully-to-song-saying-i-dont-give-a-f-about-the-breed-being-banned-13148665