wildflower

@MrsAk - I love it!! Thanks for posting!!

I second that, PippaD!! I always pick up my pooch's poo and have on occasion picked up poo that was next to where my dog did his deed (cursing the owner who left it there as I do!). It really infuriates me when I too am dodging poo on the sidewalks (and at times stepping in it) because their owner is irresponsible, lazy, apathetic, etc. and has left it sitting there! And it sadly does tarnish us goodies. Please, dog owners of the world (but more specifically East Dulwich, Peckham and Nunhead), clean up after your dog! Love your pooch and love your community! (and if you are caught without a bag, go back for one if you can, or ask a fellow dog owner, or minimally try to move it out of the way) My rant over too :) Happy new year, all!

thanks for all of the responses everyone, and for the contact, renata re. the 'crack a nut with a sledgehammer' - I appreciate your comment, however I definitely don't think that is the case at all, nor what anyone is suggesting. of course different is totally okay (in fact the world would indeed be a boring place without different!). but as my first (and as yet only) experience of her was so verbally aggressive/ abusive (I have never had someone shouting at me and calling me names before... well, maybe my sister or brother when I was young, but not in public!) I just wanted to check in with the community. I think you and others are correct, it is not a case of dangerous. thanks again all - wishing you all happy park walking!

I think you're right, beebee. The key is to not take it personally and steer clear if she is in a negative mood. I just feel a little blue for her pooch :( Not that I perceived any mis-treatment, however he wasn't allowed to just be his friendly, puppy self. Maybe that was just today. I think she may have an idea of how she would like her dog to be (i.e. super-swimmer canine!), but that not what he is (well, not yet anyway!).

thanks for that, beebee. aside from the mass of verbal insults she directed at me I also got the impression that was the extent of it. just thought I would check-in with the community. she did criticise my lovely pooch as well - for not wanting to play, even though she didn't want her dog to engage with my dog. but, I don't think my dog heard :)

She had a plastic bag of newspapers with her - that the same bag as what you saw? I think that the dog's name was Paddington.

Hi all - I had a rather unpleasant and odd experience this morning when walking/ playing with my dog in Peckham Rye Park. A blonde woman, 40-55 years of age with a young black lab got very irate when her dog came over to mine. My dog doesn't bother much with other dogs, but doesn't mind them being around. However, as she clearly wanted her dog to come and was coming over to get her dog I didn't throw the ball I had in my hand and waited for her to get her dog. I greeted her in a friendly manner after which she called me a "plant". I said I didn't know what that meant and she said she knew I didn't. She then led her dog off by his collar. I then continued to throw the ball for my dog. A couple of minutes later her dog returns and she is yelling/ calling him back to her, towards a bench she has sat on that was nearby. Her dog (a lovely young lab) just wanted to play and picked up my tennis ball and walked away with it. As I saw she didn't want her dog to play/ be away from her, and that she was irate, I leashed my dog and went and got my ball from her dog. At this point she once again came to get her dog by the collar, even though we were leaving, and proceeded to yell a stream of derogatory comments directed at me. I have no idea why. This all happened in under 10 minutes. This is the first time I have ever come across this woman. Has anyone else had a similar experience with possibly the same person? Thanks.