Dogs on a bus

[Foodieasfuck]

We are on holiday in Cornwall and have used the bus service a lot. It’s really busy but reliable and really friendly. A lot of elderly people are usually on it too.
Yesterday, a very elderly man gets on with 2 bags of shopping. He seems to know the driver and they chat to each other briefly. The man has 2 shopping bags containing his groceries (you could see what was in them) on the luggage rack and takes a seat next to it. Someone else puts a small case next to his bags. All fine. The bus fills up. Standing room only.

A couple then get on with 2 medium sized dogs and a doggie pushchair. There is hardly any space and they have to stand. The woman puts the dogs on the luggage rack (and stands right next to them) the elderly gentleman objects as the dogs are now sat on top of his food. He asks the couple very politely to remove the dogs. She is horrified and refuses saying the floor of the bus is dirty and she can’t put the pram up for them to get in. It all kicks off. Other passengers get involved in support of the elderly man. The driver is driving but intervenes at the next stop and asks the couple to remove the dogs from the luggage rack. The woman point blank refuses to put the dogs on the floor. A couple of people get off so there are now 2 chairs available. She places the dogs on the chairs ( there are also other actual humans standing who were in before them) and the couple stay stood up (clutching the pushchair). Someone else then complains to the driver about the dogs on seats. It was farcical. We got off at the next stop (thankfully) and left them to it. The driver was trying to sort it. It was a red hot day and it was getting very heated.

The world has gone dog mad. What is wrong with a dog being on the floor?
I'm not a dog hater btw, it’s the bat shit crazy owners that are the issue!

AIBU in thinking the driver should have just asked them to get off to allow everyone else to get on with their journey?

The world has gone dog mad
This is not about the world going dog mad. It's an entitled and unreasonable woman. Sadly it happens. The only person I feel sorry for is the driver who had to intervene.

I agree with you OP.

Actually I think that in line with behaviour everywhere behaviour on buses is now often pretty appalling.

My particular gripe atm is the number of young passengers who think its normal to sit sideways on a double seat with their feet on the seat next to them. It disgusts me to think of the unsuspecting passengers that are going to have to sit on the seat they have made filthy by their shoes.

And this isnt intended as a diatribe against young people in general. But it is a fact that since bus journeys were made free for the under 25s we get a lot of unaccompanied young people on our buses who seem to have absolutely no idea of bus etiquette.

People can be so weird. It's one thing to bring dogs on a bus but to think they're entitled to sit on other people's stuff or the seats provided for passengers is just ridiculous. Poor driver having to deal with that.

Where are bus rides free for under 25s??? Where I live kids and young people pay through the nose for the bus.

Scotland.

In principle it's a great idea. But like every good thing it's caused a few issues.

Only on Mumsnet do people seem to have these dog experiences

Free in Scotland. Teenagers travelling everywhere and causing trouble. Gangs of them.

Of course lots travelling and not causing trouble. But shopping centers are a nightmare now

No of course the woman shouldn’t have put the dog near his food.

not all dog owners are so entitled!

The bus driver could have evicted them and should have.

@Selfseedpoppiesplease do remember this site isn’t just for English users. Scotland has had free bus travel for under 22s since 2022, England will have free bus travel in August for kids 5-15

I don't think this is really about dogs per se but about selfish, entitled people. You could replace the dogs with any number of things - eg bags, feet - and the principle would be the same.

I actually feel sorry for the dogs...are they not allowed to walk anywhere? Surely pavements and fields are just as dirty as a bus floor?

Another reason to detest selfish dog owners.

They're pathetic.

Unbelievable.

Dogs being a species often noted for eating their own shit, I'm sure they'd have been all right on the floor for a bit

Quite

Yet more evidence of entitled owners who think the world should revolve around their dogs. Ridiculous.

YABU I can't believe you got off the bus at your planned stop. You should have stayed put so you could report the entire drama to us.

Where are they free for under 25s

She was just an unpleasant nutter. Not an average bus user or dog owner

It's not unusual for dog people to feel that their pets are more important than humans.

The fact she had a dog pushchair tells you everything you need to know about the madwomen.

People are entitled. They believe their needs and wants are way more important than anyone else’s and screw how it affects everyone else too.

This is less entertaining than Snakes on a Plane.

I wouldn't call a Mumsnet post evidence.

Actually I just checked this and it's actually under 22s. Sorry for the mis information.
It was introduced in Scotland in January 2022.