Have To Get This Off My Chest.

[Blackdogs]

I'm not much of a ranter, but I was a little upset by an incident that happened recently at my local park. The law in my jurisdiction states that dogs can be off-lead at all public parks unless indicated otherwise by signage. They must be 20m away from public BBQ areas, public gathering sites and children's playgrounds.

So I went to the park that that I always go to (as do many other dog owners who run their dogs off-lead) and started to do some off-leash work with my two dogs under the lighting of one of two large ovals. One oval was being utilised by some kind of little-league football club so I made sure I was just inside the opposite oval at the opposite end about 200m away from the game.

I was soon approached by the president of the club who told me in no uncertain terms to get off the oval as my dogs would 'tear up the grass'. Now the grass on the oval is already churned up because of the kids running around with cleated soccer shoes on, so I found this odd. I told him I hadn't seen any signs indicating that I was not allowed to use the facility. He responded that the signs were out the front.

Doubtful, but curious I encircled the entire facility looking for signs and there were none.

I came back to talk to him about the location of the signs and was intercepted by an irate lady.

"Let me tell you something. As a mother, I do not want 'those things' near my children".

I told her that as a dog owner, I was entitled to utilise public facilities within the bounds of the law. (In retrospect I really should have pointed out that my dogs were nowhere near any children).

She then went on to say that the club 'owned the grounds' during winter. Knowing this wasn't true I told her the council owned the land, but that if they had been using the facility I certainly would have stepped aside.

She told me it was irrelevant, that dogs had to be on-lead at all times in public areas.

Obviously I refuted this claim, which angered her to no end. Convinced that she was right she started to raise her voice. My dogs, according to her, were creating a public menace by being off-lead. She stated that the rights of parents trumped the rights of dog owners and as a mother she was entitled to dictate whether or not dogs were in the proximity of her children.

I told her I was following the law, but by this stage I was out numbered by the angry club members who had started to gather around and decided I'd continue my obedience training in the safety of my own home.

Considering that since I was following the law, my dogs were under effective control and they were at no time closer than 150m from any child, this was really just a simple case of bullying.

I called the council this morning to double check the laws and they provided me with copies of the legislation to provide to the club members should this happen again.

Have you ever been criticised by members of the general public just for having dogs in public? It really frustrates me that fearful or ignorant people feel entitled to treat dog owning members of the public this way.

That vent felt good!

Edited May 22, 2013 by Blackdogs

[juice]

Send a copy to the club who bullied you, and say you will take it futher if they try to intimidate you again.

You could put up a warning sign to ther dog owners stating the law, but i'm sure they would remove it.

[Dame Aussie]

What a bunch of pr*cks. I would have told them to go and **** themselves.

Report them for harrassment.

[Blackdogs]

What a bunch of pr*cks. I would have told them to go and **** themselves.

Report them for harrassment.

I definitely will if it happens again. My dogs are highly socialised with children, but even so I would never allow them to approach a strange child. It frustrates me that people who try to do the right thing with their dogs are still victimised. Thanks for your input.

[Blackdogs]

Send a copy to the club who bullied you, and say you will take it futher if they try to intimidate you again.

You could put up a warning sign to ther dog owners stating the law, but i'm sure they would remove it.

Good idea. I'll see how it goes when I show them the legislation. No doubt we'll see each other again as this is my closest off-lead area.

[Dame Aussie]

What a bunch of pr*cks. I would have told them to go and **** themselves.

Report them for harrassment.

I definitely will if it happens again. My dogs are highly socialised with children, but even so I would never allow them to approach a strange child. It frustrates me that people who try to do the right thing with their dogs are still victimised. Thanks for your input.

It's ridiculous, it's like the lady that tells my colleagues off when they park on the street in front of her house (my work doesn't have off street parking). We keep telling her the council owns the street....does she get it? Nope.

Very frustrating, and there's just no reason to act that way towards someone, whether you like dogs or not.

We used to take our two to an offleash oval that sounds similar, two ovals about 200 metres away from each other. Lili is normnally 100% with her recall, but once ran into the middle of a game and went for the ball , our bad and of course we apologised profusely, but everyone just laughed it off.

Why do people have to be so aggressive and intolerant these days?

Edited May 22, 2013 by Aussie3

[Kajirin]

Don't like the fact they they acted like a school of fish berating and intimidating you You're abiding the laws, they have no need to complain.

[Blackdogs]

What a bunch of pr*cks. I would have told them to go and **** themselves.

Report them for harrassment.

I definitely will if it happens again. My dogs are highly socialised with children, but even so I would never allow them to approach a strange child. It frustrates me that people who try to do the right thing with their dogs are still victimised. Thanks for your input.

It's ridiculous, it's like the lady that tells my colleagues off when they park on the street in front of her house (my work doesn't have off street parking). We keep telling her the council owns the street....does she get it? Nope.

Very frustrating, and there's just no reason to act that way towards someone, whether you like dogs or not.

We used to take our two to an offleash oval that sounds similar, two ovals about 200 metres away from each other. Lili is normnally 100% with her recall, but once ran into the middle of a game and went for the ball , our bad and of course we apologised profusely, but everyone just laughed it off.

Why do people have to be so aggressive and intolerant these days?

Hah. reminds me of when I used to park outside of my own house and the neighbours didn't like it because they had to be careful about backing out with their boat. I had nowhere else to park so continued to do so. One day they deliberately rammed my car three times and wrote it off and I had to get the police involved.

I don't understand the intolerance either. Why can't we just be respectful of each other and communicate decently?

I was on this very oval a year or so ago when a boy approached with his soccer ball wanting to play with my dog. I saw his parents in the distance who seemed ok, so I said yes. So my dog and the boy played soccer for about five minutes (the kid was laughing so hard and having the best time) when the father started screaming frantically at the boy to get away from 'that animal', came over and glared at me and dragged the kid away. The poor boy was almost in tears. People need to learn to relax!

Edited May 22, 2013 by Blackdogs

[Steph M]

What a bunch of pr*cks. I would have told them to go and **** themselves.

Report them for harrassment.

I'd have done the same, and crazy parents like her are how children grow up with no idea how to deal with animals.

'Those things' indeed. Should have said you weren't too keen on her snot nosed brats near your well behaved dogs, which is why you were miles away ;)

[Tazar]

I'd go back there, same time next week and if the idiot(s) come near you, call the police. Be good if you could have someone else with you too.

[Kajirin]

What a bunch of pr*cks. I would have told them to go and **** themselves.

Report them for harrassment.

I definitely will if it happens again. My dogs are highly socialised with children, but even so I would never allow them to approach a strange child. It frustrates me that people who try to do the right thing with their dogs are still victimised. Thanks for your input.

It's ridiculous, it's like the lady that tells my colleagues off when they park on the street in front of her house (my work doesn't have off street parking). We keep telling her the council owns the street....does she get it? Nope.

Very frustrating, and there's just no reason to act that way towards someone, whether you like dogs or not.

We used to take our two to an offleash oval that sounds similar, two ovals about 200 metres away from each other. Lili is normnally 100% with her recall, but once ran into the middle of a game and went for the ball , our bad and of course we apologised profusely, but everyone just laughed it off.

Why do people have to be so aggressive and intolerant these days?

Hah. reminds me of when I used to park outside of my own house and the neighbours didn't like it because they had to be careful about backing out with their boat. I had nowhere else to park so continued to do so. One day they deliberately rammed by car three times and wrote it off and I had to get the police involved.

I don't understand the intolerance either. Why can't we just be respectful of each other and communicate decently?

I was on this very oval a year or so ago when a boy approached with his soccer ball wanting to play with my dog. I saw his parents in the distance who seemed ok, so I said yes. So my dog and the boy played soccer for about five minutes (the kid was laughing so hard and having the best time) when the father started screaming frantically at the boy to get away from 'that animal', came over and glared at me and dragged the kid away. The poor boy was almost in tears. People need to learn to relax!

My Nan was similar in regards to people parking outside her house, so pestered the council for months until they put up no parking signs in front of her house. Heh irony is, she got fined for parking outside of her own house whilst taking in shopping :laugh: Her response was "But it's my own house" my reply "Well no parking means no parking and it includes you".

[Blackdogs]

What a bunch of pr*cks. I would have told them to go and **** themselves.

Report them for harrassment.

I definitely will if it happens again. My dogs are highly socialised with children, but even so I would never allow them to approach a strange child. It frustrates me that people who try to do the right thing with their dogs are still victimised. Thanks for your input.

It's ridiculous, it's like the lady that tells my colleagues off when they park on the street in front of her house (my work doesn't have off street parking). We keep telling her the council owns the street....does she get it? Nope.

Very frustrating, and there's just no reason to act that way towards someone, whether you like dogs or not.

We used to take our two to an offleash oval that sounds similar, two ovals about 200 metres away from each other. Lili is normnally 100% with her recall, but once ran into the middle of a game and went for the ball , our bad and of course we apologised profusely, but everyone just laughed it off.

Why do people have to be so aggressive and intolerant these days?

Hah. reminds me of when I used to park outside of my own house and the neighbours didn't like it because they had to be careful about backing out with their boat. I had nowhere else to park so continued to do so. One day they deliberately rammed by car three times and wrote it off and I had to get the police involved.

I don't understand the intolerance either. Why can't we just be respectful of each other and communicate decently?

I was on this very oval a year or so ago when a boy approached with his soccer ball wanting to play with my dog. I saw his parents in the distance who seemed ok, so I said yes. So my dog and the boy played soccer for about five minutes (the kid was laughing so hard and having the best time) when the father started screaming frantically at the boy to get away from 'that animal', came over and glared at me and dragged the kid away. The poor boy was almost in tears. People need to learn to relax!

My Nan was similar in regards to people parking outside her house, so pestered the council for months until they put up no parking signs in front of her house. Heh irony is, she got fined for parking outside of her own house whilst taking in shopping :laugh: Her response was "But it's my own house" my reply "Well no parking means no parking and it includes you".

Haha! That's a hilarious backfire!

[juice]

I wouldn't approach them again, they are clearly bullies with pack mentality so avoiding confrontation and keeping your cool is best.

Continue what you do, and if they approach again just calmly hand them the document, take more than one with you, then walk away.

If they continue with the intimidation report them to council.

People like this won't listen, snd slanging match's get you no where, you are in the right. :)

[Kirislin]

At our off lead park we're not allowed to let our dogs go onto the actual playing fields. If it was me, I would probably try to avoid confrontation in the situation you were in simply because I'd be worried they'd lobby council and all off lead areas would be withdrawn. I'm not saying dont use the area at all, if you're allowed to, just try not to clash with the footy bullies.

[Justrace]

google the clubs information & email the regulations to the club president. Explain that you would like all of the member to be made fully aware of the rights of others. You pay your rates, you're not doing anything wrong.

[Dame Aussie]

google the clubs information & email the regulations to the club president. Explain that you would like all of the member to be made fully aware of the rights of others. You pay your rates, you're not doing anything wrong.

Yeah good idea

[trinabean]

I agree with Tazar, it might be a good idea to go with someone next time you go there.

My kids play Auskick at a large oval/ park. It's not fenced near the road and there are always people walking and exercising their dogs there, mostly off-lead. Strictly speaking, it's supposed to be an on-lead area but the club has never had any issues there. I think because the park is unfenced, the people who have their dogs off-lead there are ones who have a reliable recall/ training.

Little wonder so many kids have no idea how to interact with dogs (with the kind of fearful over-reaction being modeled by the parents/club). An ignorant over-reaction by the club (and that mother) IMHO. A lot of people are more fearful of large dogs too (not sure if yours are). In your case, your dogs were under control, and were nowhere near the kids. I wonder if they have mistaken you for someone else they've faced with problem dogs? Or if they've had problems in the past? Not an excuse, just a thought...

Edited May 22, 2013 by trinabean

[espinay2]

Rant away. That type of bullying is uncalled for.

IMO a formal letter (or email) to the club may be your best course of action and is likely to get the most action from the club in terms of getting members to pull their head in. They can then take it up with their members by at least sending out a 'reminder' to them about the rules. And can confirm it with council if they so desire. IT may also be more 'educational' than simply confronting any belligerents with the rules (as they will not be averse to accepting that when they may take it from their club if done more formally)

The letter need only say the time and date, what the situation was and the reaction of members of the club to you (i.e. bullying). Then go on to state that after re-confirming with the council that you were within your rights and the law to use the grounds as you were, and that noting you had taken the fact that it was a shared facility into consideration by staying on the far side of the oval so not to impact on the clubs activities, you would like the club to show the same consideration to you and other users. Attach a copy of the regs to the letter for their info.

Edited May 22, 2013 by espinay2

[german_shep_fan]

Out of interest what breed of dogs are they? Willing to bet not labs or retrievers, otherwise you prob wouldn't have been harassed. I get the same treatment when I walk my dogs past their little darlings outside the local school in the mornings.

Edited May 22, 2013 by german_shep_fan

[megan_]

You must have a very liberal council. In my council, if a club has booked a venue then no dogs are allowed off leash, as the venue has been booked and paid for by the club. I agree with espinay2 - a letter with the regs attached is the best way to go. I wouldn't confront them in person because I wouldn't want to risk a mob with my dog.