Dogs vs children at Clapham Common Cafe? Post Reply

[kcai]

I am not justifying dangerous dogs being allowed to run riot off the lead but

Oh, really. Dangerous dogs shouldn't be out in public. End of.

Also, "viscous" - um. I do not think that word means what you think it means.

Mayamoo, good luck getting the council to listen. I really don't think dangerous dogs are taken seriously in this country. A few years ago I saw a mastiff cross ripping a border collie to bits. The dog turned on its owner and bit his arm numerous times. No charges were filed because both dogs were off leash (I spoke to the collie owner several weeks after the fact).

I've owned and fostered dogs, and used to compete in obedience with my own dog, so I'm certainly not anti-dog. I've seen a good share of responsible dog owners on Clapham Common but I've also experienced idiots letting their dog jump all over my (at the time) 1 year old daughter in her stroller without calling it off. Yes, I'm one of those mothers who teach their children NOT to pet any dog without asking the owner first. In that same vein, I expect dog owners to keep track of their animal at all times and put them on leash when necessary.

Also, I don't at *all* see the parallel between an out of control dog and an out of control toddler. One can disfigure/maim you. The other might... uh, what's the worst thing I can think of? Spill a sippy cup on you? Knock over your cake? Annoyances, yes, but if you're going to huff on for weeks about an 18 month old getting in your way on a scooter for 30 seconds then all I can say is #firstworldproblems.

[DeborahB]

You are correct, dangerous dogs should not be allowed, end of! I believe we agree on that point but it doesn't sound like the dog being complained about fits into that category since it didn't hurt anyone & was on the lead!
Well done for spotting my typo but I'm guessing most people were intelligent enough to realise that is what it was, the word I meant to type was obviously viscious!
I still fail to see what you expect the council to do about this non-incident?

[Mayamoo]

DeborahB – you appear to have deliberately misinterpreted my post and have made several inflammatory comments with the sole aim of trying to justify your own (and in my view) rather pathetic arguments. To reiterate my 2 year old daughter was playing innocently near the bandstand – she did not approach or tease the dog that terrorised her and the attack was totally unprovoked. My daughter was extremely frightened and could easily have been mauled by the dog. Although he was on a lead the owner of the dog seemed unable to control him – the owner was walking by the bandstand when the dog started to tug on his lead / snarl / bark at my daughter for no apparent reason. I was there – you were not – to twist what happened and suggest that my daughter was in some way at fault for being terrorised by an aggressive dog is plain sick and speaks volumes about you and your ethos - or lack of it. We were standing about 10m away when the incident happened – the owner and her dog were next to my daughter yet she did absolutely nothing to check whether my daughter was okay. The owner - after a struggle – did manage to call the dog off and then simply walked off without a backwards glance or apology. In terms of my correspondence with Lambeth Council I highlighted the risk posed to children when irresponsible dog owners such as this woman allow their dangerous dogs to access areas such as the bandstand that are frequented by young children.

[Herculesmum]

I don't want to restart this debate, but I thought I would reach out to Petal and Mayamoo and offer both of you the chance to introduce your toddlers to one or both of my dogs in a controlled environment.

I have a very friendly Pug that would lick them to bits, and a beautiful collie who is a puppy herself so very boisterous but completely gentle.

As a dog owner I'm always saddened when I see children scared of dogs and I would be very happy to help with introducing your children to mine in a controlled environment (on lead, in an open area) so that they can begin to break down the fear they have learned from the negative experiences they have had.

Its very distressing to see your child scared or upset so I can understand why you feel passionately about your experiences. A slow controlled introduction to very friendly calm dogs may be a great help.

[crisr90]

I am a dog owner and walk my dog on the Common every day. I try to be respectful of every other group in the park and always avoid areas with lots of children (such as the bandstand cafe).

Somebody suggested fencing off the area outside the cafe so all the tables would be enclosed. This seems like an excellent idea to me. If this area were further enhanced with posts where dog owners could tie their dogs up if they wished to enter the cafe' to purchase a drink, then it would be extremely easy to ensure that the cafe and its tables remained dog free.

Most dog owners are responsible and concerned about the welfare of children whether or not they have any. While I believe childrens' lives are seriously enhanced by spending time with animals (as mine was); if the child in question is not mine, this is certainly not my call to make and the wishes of those parents who want to keep their children away from dogs should be respected.

A bad first encounter between a child and a dog (whether it be because that dog is aggressive or, more likely, overly friendly and/or keen to lick child in question/beg for food etc...) can traumatise children for years to come. It is in nobody's interest that unsupervised encounters of this kind should occur, particularly as they serve to increase the rancour between dog owners/parents when we should all be respectful of each others' needs.

[cheshirecat]

My son, who is now 4 was nipped at and his friend was bitten by an unleashed dog, at our table in the cafe. It's taken a long time (2 years), a lot of lovely dogs and perseverance to get him out of his phobia, which naturally developed after the incident. These days there are only three dogs he will touch and is finally able to cope with us getting a dog. The owners of that dog are completely unaware of the damage they caused and most likely they do not care, the mutt is probably still scavenging under the tables in the cafe, rather than being exercised on the common.

Other parks do not have this problem, and it is a problem. I have not been back to the cafe since the incident and would much rather go to Battersea or Brockwell parks, where you can enjoy the cafe's and the dogs in a happy balance. If it works elsewhere, then why not the Common? Fencing the cafe might be a good start.

[hAPPY11]

I love dogs I got a little yorkie however im a nanny with little children who always want to play and room around the common and their are too many dogs off leads and foiling on the lovely green space . please be considerate for the little kiddies many thanks .

[Marta76]

I have been there today with my little one and have to say although I love coffee, cakes and food I am not happy with management at all. They should make it very clear to all costumers that dogs are not allowed to take their dogs inside and if so, them must be on short lead. I have been abused by some strange lady with tho kids and her older nanny as I did have look on her dog not really friendly (I didn't say a world at all!) as I do not agree with dogs inside the cafe if there is a lots of children. She actually run out to bandstand where my little one has been playing with other kid and shouted at me very aggressively that she is gonna complain about me (what for? That I did have a look at her dog without the smile??) as owner of the cafe knows her for ages and it is a dog park. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
That was a cafe and not the park where her dog was on loose lead! She has been very rude to me and a friend who was there with me. Her attitude infront of small children was really disgusting so I am asking management to sort it out all their signs about dogs and make it very clear. If I am right, dogs are not alowed to go to the places where food is served or sold by the low. I have a very big dog by my self and I am always leaving him outside when I need to go to cafe.

[Ferrywind]

Dogs are allowed where food is served. Think of all the dog friendly pubs which do food. It's not like they're walking over the hob or food prep areas! And actually no more dirty then people's shoes.
I don't know this cafe at all so just a general comment concerning legality of it- sounds like the problem here is this place has got a bit out of hand. Well behaved dogs not a problem where food is served.