I just got told off for letting my dog run in an empty playground

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Was just packing up the kids to go home. Nobody around. Playground deserted. Car park deserted. Let the dog out of the car for two minutes - we'd been for a long walk before we went to the playground - as he'd been tethered in for an hour, although the boot was open. He ran under the fence to join the kids and was mooching about on the grass for about a minute. No harm done, no one there, no one to offend. Obviously didn't poo or anything.

Kids back in car, dog in boot, ready to go. Elderly man appears out of nowhere and tells me off. Very patronising, explaining that people don't want to step in dog poo. Well yes I know that, very sorry, but no harm done, dog didn't poo, didn't even cock his leg. Very sorry etc. Shut car door.

Old man opens my car door, stands practically in door frame so I can't shut the door and proceeds to carry on berating me. I can't shut the door, he's about six inches from my face.

I'm afraid I was very rude. I thundered 'DO YOU MIND!' about three times before he got out of the way and I could shut the door.

I can't show my face there again can I?

[gandalf456]

There was an incident in one of our local parks where a man became threatening towards some children who were misbehaving. The police did take this very seriously and published a photograph of him in the local paper, taken on someone's mobile.

I can think of a couple of other examples but I think I've made my point.
There is a popular misconception that when someone sees someone doing something wrong, they are justified in doing something even more wrong - i.e. becoming threatening and aggressive.

The police aren't interested in minor misdemeanours or civil offences but they are very interested in threatening behaviour.

[Thisismyfirsttime]

Oooh, you've dripfed there OP! You're DBS checked and have safeguarding training? I have the same and didn't realise I can now let my dog run about wherever she wants,ddog will be over the moon! The man was in the wrong as I said before but surely if he was a Paedophile spying on your kids he'd be on the sly and perhaps not confronting you in such an open manner? You'd recognise him if you saw him again I assume? Now he 's made such a fuss? May I suggest he was a local/ regular park user who was annoyed that your dog was in a children's play area and had no desire to look at, photograph or steal your children? I despair sometimes, I really do!

[gandalf456]

B b b but the children. ...

[FarrowandBallAche]

Yep.

[JohnCusacksWife]

Not a lot about people's reactions to dogs on MN makes sense! Storm in a teacup....

[FarrowandBallAche]

But surely people can't really be outraged about that John?

That doesn't make sense.

[JohnCusacksWife]

Dog runs briefly into empty park, doesn't pee, doesn't poo and is called back quickly. Shock horror! Some people seem to have lost all sense of perspective!

[FarrowandBallAche]

Did the OP go and get the dog back after he had escaped under the fence?

[OrangesandLemonsNow]

Thanks to the reasonable people who have supported me and not jumped to professionally offended outrage.

You talk about posters being 'professionally outraged' yet you called the police!

[AugustaFinkNottle]

Simon is right about the wee germs and poo crumbs. Children have the right to not be exposed to these in their play areas when there are signs early stating no dogs.

Any parent relying on "No dogs" signs as meaning there will be no wee or poo are living in cloud cuckoo land. Strangely, foxes, squirrels and birds pay no attention to those signs.

[exLtEveDallas]

If someone opened my car door to shout abuse at me after a very minor infraction by my dog, me shouting back would have been the least of his worries - the dog would have gone for his throat!

I've got a playing field and kids play park directly opposite my house. MuttDog comes with me when I go to collect DD back in at night and quite often runs ahead to meet up with her dog mate who will be sitting at the top of the slide. We also watch foxes and squirrels climbing all over the equipment- probably due to the amount of food dropped by the playing kids.

Mrs - I really don't see what you have done wrong. Your dog did something wrong, you immediately reacted and sorted it out. Bloke had no business being abusive. I wouldn't dwell on it any more now

[WienerDiva]

Simon is right about the wee germs and poo crumbs. Children have the right to not be exposed to these in their play areas when there are signs early stating no dogs.

As a dog owner I actually think GreenMarkerPen is right. If you can't abide by the rules, don't get a dog.

That being said the man lost some of his moral high ground when he opened your car door and blocked you.

[bigbuttons]

OP, why is you can only be bothered to talk to the people who pat you on the head?
You have been cementing my view of dog owners over the course of this thread. Mot seem responsible enough,. but self righteous people like you spoil it for the rest of them.

Not everyone loves your dog.

[Bagatelle1]

Of course YABU. Good for the old man being public spirited enough to pull you up on it. I'd like to buy him a pint.

[FarrowandBallAche]

So OP - your dog got through the fence and into the playground and you went straight for him?

If that is a yes then what is all the fuss about?

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Bless you Tiger you are lovely.

[EasyToEatTiger]

You did the right thing. Well done. I really hope you feel vindicated. No matter how responsible we are as dog owners, our dogs are still dogs. There is no "What if?" What if an asteroid struck your house? What if aliens started doing your cooking? It is not a happy state, and I think MsAdorabelle lives in the present, loves her dogs, and takes her duties as a dog owner with a great responsibility. As a postscript, it is really worth having any pet insured 3rd party.

[IloveAntbuthateDec]

Were there signs stating no dogs allowed OP? There are no such signs at our local park. As far as I can see you would have been unreasonable to allow your dog into a park if there were signs saying no dogs allowed. If there were no signs then its not against the law. The number of people who moan about dogs, for no good reason, is getting beyond a joke. OTOH is there were signs saying "No dogs" then the bloke has a point - He shouldn't have been so aggressive about it though. A simple "Dogs are not allowed here. See the sign there?" would have sufficed.

[GreenTomatoJam]

You were being unreasonable to let the dog out in the playground, but he was also unreasonable to intimidate you like that. Unacceptable. He wouldn't have done it to a bloke with a dog, mums with kids are seen as soft targets - I've seen it more than once - and DP - bless is soft, but in a 6'plus frame heart - always stands by and keeps an eye to make sure the woman is OK.

[FarrowandBallAche]

Dog owner here. I can sort of get where your reasoning is coming from OP but I still don't agree.

I think you should have called the dog back asap.

The bloke was out of order too though.

[gandalf456]

Give up op. People have been murdered for less.

[Believeitornot]

Well you were in the wrong. Can't argue with that.

He was an idiot though! Maybe he was fed up of people letting their dogs in the playground - I've seen people do it who think it is ok. No, no it isn't.

[Newes]

I'd have screamed really loudly when he opened my car door and kept on screaming until he fucked off.

[AugustaFinkNottle]

Pulling open someone's car door to harangue them and preventing them from getting away is, on any interpretation, unpleasant and bullying behaviour. The man had already told her off, she had already explained and apologised. From that point onwards, his conduct was wholly unjustified. I really very strongly doubt that he would have behaved the same way with a man.