We live near a dog park that we frequent very often. It's a friendly place (or was) that dogs of all breeds can socialize. To the story, today we were at the park and there was a man there with his puppy ( a 3 month old pit), he really was the sweetest little guy. It was his first trip to the dog park so naturally he was a bit nervous, he got a bit aggressive, by a bit aggressive I mean he was growling NEVER did he snap at or bit another dog, so the owner put him back on his leash and sat with him, inside the dog park. It seemed to be working because the same dogs that he was growling at, he was doing the puppy "wiggle" of excitement to when they came over to say hi again! It was so cute. Well a few minutes later ( I swear she was hidind behind a bush) a woman from animal control came into the dog park and went straight over to the man, and literally started harassing him!! Stating that he was being cruel to his dog, and that she didn't approve of how his was raising his dog! She said that other people in the park agreed with her considering she had been called by someone there!!  I was in totally shock, she was not only out of line but completely RUDE! We were there when the man came and when he left the dog park, he never even gave his dog an mean look, let alone raise his voice, or hand. Said or did anything to alert anyone into calling animal control.

We decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, thinking well maybe she knows something that we didn't, maybe followed him from home or something! But when we were leaving the dog park, she was like you need to leash your dog. Then further pushed the matter by asking if I even HAVE a leash for my dog!! That I needed to be more careful of what I was doing/ going with my dog!! I told her we were going to the lake, just as we do every time we go to the dog park. She went on and on about how people were so irresponsible with their dogs and that if it was up to her, she would have removed several dogs from peoples care at the park!!!! I was blown away, as my poor pup was happily awaiting her to pet him, as he sat patiently at her feet! Without a leash!! She stated that I needed to put a leash on my dog or she would have the pleasure of fining me. I told her that I was under the assumation that this was a off the leash dog park, she told me my assumtion was wrong! So I put him on a leash only to get to the lake, 20 feet away and take him off! She eventually left, the old hag!! Don't get me wrong, I am all for Animal Cops and Animal control, I have called them myself on a few occuactions. They are and always will be a definite need!! But I have never experienced an "officer" like this before.

After the park, I came home and looked online, and it stated that it was an OFF THE LEASH dog park. But I called just incase, and the wonderful woman that I talked to confirmed the online regulations. It still blows my mind, I keep thinking that it was just someone trying out their halloween custume!!!

What a very strange and upsetting experience, from what you have witnessed, I can not understand why dog control were even called in the first place! The woman concerned sounds to be after her Jobsworth hat!  I think that it is probably worth calling a manager yourself at Animal Control, as you were too wrongly harrassed to find out this woman's problem and to state that the park is an off the leash dog park!

There are many, many, abused and needy animals who desperately need animal control, it beggars belief that this would happen to innocent parties. I could perhaps understand someone calling A.C. if the pup (but let's face it, it is only a PUP!) was aggressively attacking other dogs, but if this pup was put on it's lead and then it's owner was sitting with the dog to socialise and not hitting the dog, there was not a problem was there! Did the owner not defend himself and say he was doing no wrong?

I would definitely report the incident, the woman may not have even been an official A.C employee, it all sounds so strange, I have never heard of this happening.

I would be tempted to conatact Animal control and report the incident, they will either confirm that it was one of their people or not, and if it is perhaps do something about her poor people skills.

I myself would have asked her to give me the number of her superior and would have called him/her right there and then (assuming you had your mobile phone with you). because you just like anyone else have a right to walk around the park without someone harressing you. There is some privacy in UK I should hope. You were not doing anything wrong, neither was that other person...... and if they start taking the dogs away from their owners for nothing, then soon shelters will be full of unhappy dogs crying for their families. But if you ask me, the woman wasn't really who she said she was. Check anyway...... I'm sure they keep records of those things.

I wish I would have thought to ask for her superior's number, but I was in shock of what was going on. I still shake my head and chuckle just thinking about it. Apparently the park association several calls from fellow dog park goers, one of whom I saw on the way to the park tonight. It sounds like, the association is going to be working with Animal Control, more closer,  to try and prevent future "outbreaks" and investigate the situation at hand.  I'm thinking maybe send someone who knows the RULES of the park to start! Hopefully it was just a random one time situation, I would hate to stop going there because of a crazy lady! In the 11 months we have been going there, nothing like this has ever happened! But I now defintly have our local Animal control and the Park main association line in my phone, just incase she ever comes back. Next time I won't hesitate.

I am thinking that maybe she was not a REAL animal control officer, but volunteer of some sort. She really did appear out of nowhere. Thanks for letting me share my crazy story, but it was just to weird to not!!

If you have a camera phone take a photo -mugshot of the awful woman
and then when you report the incident you've got her ID for all to see.

When some people are given a little authority it goes straight to their head and they start to think they can rule the world