Do I have a right to be asked nicely?

[saxy_jag]

Whilst walking my sister's very large dog this afternoon, he walked along the edge of someone's side lawn, that adjoins the public pavement and isn't fenced. I know not whether he was going to 'do anything' because we were both interrupted by a very rude "You there! Get your dog off our property!" from a couple about to pull in. I did suggest that if they asked a little more politely then I'd be more inclined to do so, and they just launched off on a tirade about not wanting dogs on their property and where was my plastic bag and was I going to clear it up. The guy was a bit taken aback when I held up my plastic bag and said the dog hadn't actually done anything, but then he accused me of not intending to clear it up anyway. I mean, why would I carry a poop-bag if I wasn't going to use it?

I did suggest (quite naughtily) that they may know something about the poisoned chocolate that a couple of local dog owners have found in their gardens. I don't think the woman liked this, because when I'd told her to get a life and had walked off, she chased me in the car and got out and stood in front of me asking where I lived.

I was just so mad at their snotty, holier than thou attitude, when it could have been sorted with a polite request. I guess they thought they could speak to me like that because they were in posh business suits and I was in my jeans and football shirt and have scruffy hair.

But if they come it again next time I'm nearby, I'd like to know exactly where I stand. I know, technically, if they own the land, then my (or the dog's) wandering onto it is trespass, even if it's unintentional and not malicious, but surely I have a right to be spoken to in a civil manner in the first instance, no matter what I'm dressed like?

[Eve]

I'm not condoning the way they spoke to you but to be honest I'd just avoid any chance of further confrontation and make sure my dog didn't wander onto their property again.

[bednobs]

no one has a legal "right" to be spoken to in a polite manner r a civil manner. unless they are threatening you its not illegal to be rude. I hope not anyway (was that a police car i just saw outside my house?)

[oldgrape]

personally if it was me i would sneak back late at night and smear dog **** over there car but that's just me

[sara3]

gosh, if they're THAT excitable you'd think they'd put up a fence! I planted a hedge on my border because rubbish blew in and kids/dogs wandered across from the pavement.

and that was the end of that!

[saxy_jag]

Don't worry Jenna - I have no intention of letting the dog anywhere near their bl***y lawn again - they've probably laid poison on it in any case.

Bednobs, I did wonder what she was going to attempt when she came flying round to me in the car. I was rather hoping she would try something, actually, because I'm a big girl with a large Alsation dog, and she was such a pompous little shorta**e - and I was looking forward to planting an assault charge on her. Next time I walk past their house, I may stand outside on the pavement for a while, maybe watch the buses or something. The dog's good enough to sit indefinitely. He's a total wuss too, but they don't know that!!

That's a nice idea, oldgrape. Looks like they keep their car in their garage, but you know, if I thought I could get away with shoving some through their letter box ... nah - I won't even go there. I'm better than that.

[Twenty20]

or alternatively.....you could just get on with your life and forget about it?

[cassa333]

Actually I wonder what the law is on open plan gardens and animals?

Is it only domestis animals you have to keep off. Cos the squirels don't care and I'm pretty sure they poop.

[saxy_jag]

Well, I asked her what she did about cats and stray dogs, and she said "we chase them off and find out who they belong to and tell them to keep them off our land". Considering they'd just got home from work (unless they dress like undertakers at home), I wonder how they spend the day doing that?

Quite how they cope with wildlife, I'd love to see!

[horselady]

God what horrible jumped up little squirts! Probably the same sort that shout after you when you're out on a horse and the horse poops on the road outside their house, poo bags ain't a lot of good then!

[jenniprice]

I don't think there is an actual law about dogs trespassing.
The link below says you can face a fine for not clearing up the dog mess, but nothing about not being allowed on peoples land.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/ukpga_199 60020_en_1#l1g1

It seems that aslong as you clear it up then nothing can be done.

And like others suggest, if they dont like it then put up a fence or plant bushes as that will keep them off!

Sound like horrible people, and i would take old grapes advice!

[Grandpappy]

Technically, the woman who drove after you and confronted you is guilty of 'assault'.
You have no 'right' to be spoken to in a civil manner and I'm pleased that you didn't use your very large dog to get your message across.
However, 'they' would have a difficult task in trying to bring a charge of trespass against the dog! If the football shirt was 'Sunderland' , then you deserve all you get!
Cheers.

[bednobs]

how can she be guily of assault if she didnt even touch her?

[R1Geezer]

I disagree, dog owners think everyone loves their ******** machine and can't understand it when someone complains about their behaviour. Doggy people have an awful attitude and I'm not surprised when someone tells them the price of eggs.

[Eve]

Assault is an act which puts someone in fear of immediate unlawful harm/violence.

So they doesn't need to be any physical contact.

[saxy_jag]

I've had twenty-four hours to think about this now. I've decided to put them on my 'puddle' list. People on this list are henceforth watched and watched out for (I'm in the area on a regular basis) until that moment arrives when they've probably forgotten the incident and just happen to be next to the puddle that I'm about to drive through. That could be a metaphorical puddle, of course. Advantage to me, because now I know who they are, and they haven't a clue who I am.

I also have another technique of, whenever I see someone who's offended me in this way, I look right at them, meet their gaze and then stare at them very hard, a bit like Paddington Bear.

Jenna, I see where you're coming from, but actually, she didn't scare me. As I said, she's just a pompous little short**** and I'm five foot eight and fourteen stone. I'd just loved her to have tried getting physical because then I'd have had the law on her like a shot. She and her 'husband' just really ****** me off simply because of the way they spoke to me. There was no need for it, and a civil request would have saved either of them from looking like the pair of pratts they are.

RIgeezer, I'm impressed that you can tell what sort of person I am by dint of the fact that I own a dog. But you should know that I don't expect everyone to love him (and actually, he isn't mine, he's my sister's). He's big, smelly and scary-looking and makes enough poop to fertilise half the county. I don't like it in my own garden, which is why I'm thoughtful towards anti-dog a**eholes and clear it up. I wasn't aware, however, that a dog just walking across a lawn was quite so offensive to your race.