> At a Glance
> – A mother pushed an off-leash dog away after it charged her 4- and 2-year-old children
> – The dog’s owners accused her of “hitting” their pet and refused to leash it
> – Fellow parents online back her stance: control your dog or keep it leashed
> – Why it matters: Highlights rising tensions between parents and negligent dog owners in public parks
A routine park outing turned confrontational when an unleashed dog repeatedly bounded at a family, prompting the mom to intervene and sparking a heated debate online.
The Incident
While playing with her own leashed dog and two toddlers, the woman saw a second dog sprint toward them, leaping up and biting at her ball thrower. She claims the owners stayed back, doing “absolutely nothing” until she physically pushed the dog away.
Five minutes later, the same dog returned, nearly knocking over her children, she told Mumsnet readers. Only then did the owners intervene-only to scold her for touching their pet.
Owners’ Reaction Sparks Backlash
The owners accused the mom of “hitting” their dog, a claim she flatly denies: “You’ll know if I hit your dog.” They insisted the animal was merely “scared of the thrower,” though she describes it as the “least scared dog” she’s ever seen.
Online commenters overwhelmingly support her:
- Many parents report similar encounters with poorly controlled pets
- One now wears a GoPro on walks to document incidents
- Another avoids playgrounds entirely due to roaming dogs
Community sentiment
> “I wish dog owners would just keep their bloody dogs on a lead.”
Safety Tips From the Thread
- Avoid throwing balls when unfamiliar dogs are nearby
- Most dogs will chase moving objects
- If a dog is attacking, pushing away is acceptable; striking is discouraged
- Owners should apologize, leash, and train after any incident
Key Takeaways
- Parents say off-leash dogs are increasingly ruining park visits
- Owners who ignore recalls face growing public frustration
- Simple courtesy-leashing after disturbances-prevents escalation
The exchange underscores a widening rift between parents seeking safe play areas and owners who let pets roam unchecked.
