I visited the dog beach today and while looking for a spot to set up my dog caught a whiff of someone’s unattended picnic. It was a paper takeout bag just sitting on a towel with no one in sight. When I saw my dog investigating the bag I immediately ran over and heard the owners of the food shouting behind me. I grabbed my dog who hadn’t eaten anything and apologized, but the lady was upset anyways. We turned the other way and walked to the complete other end of the beach. Within two minutes of placing down my towel, my dog went to chase some birds and somewhere on her trip back to our area, she found a hotdog wrapped in tin-foil. It was already halfway down her throat when I pulled it out, so I just tossed it on the ground and decided to go home without finding the owner of the food. Nobody was around, and honestly, I thought it was an unwritten rule that you don’t bring food to the dog beach. I was incredibly frustrated with my dog and admittedly cried when we got back to the car, but during the traffic-filled drive home, I started becoming more frustrated at the people who thought it was okay to bring the food and leave it unattended where a dog could grab it. AITA in this?
Just because dogs can go to a beach doesn’t mean they own it. Control your pet. Twice in one day he almost ate random food. Forget other people- what if he ate something dangerous?
YTA for not properly training your dog and expecting the rest of the world to cater to your animal’s poor behavior
YTA. Watch your animals better. Furthermore, letting your dog run free and put things in its mouth is INCREDIBLY dangerous. There could’ve very easily have been something dangerous wrapped up and tossed. Be more responsible
Dog beach, NTA. Beach where dogs are allowed, YTA.
Info: You call it a dog beach, but it is specifically a beach for dogs (like a dog park) or is it a beach that allows dogs (but also caters to humans)? Are there any rules about food at this beach?
INFO: is the area intended for off-leash dogs? I’m not sure what a ‘dog beach’ is, is that like a dog park but a beach instead?
There are leash laws for a reason. Where I live, all dogs must be on a leash, unless designated fenced in dog recreational area. Apparently a public beach does not fit that description.
YTA. If your dog is constantly going after other people’s food and/or random garbage, you need to train it better or keep it on a leash. If it does it at the dog beach it will try to do it other places as well. That’s a you problem. You are also TA for throwing the half-eaten hot dog on the ground where another dog could find it instead of disposing of it in a bin.
YTA. Beaches are dogs \*permitted\* not dogs \*only\*. Knowing that you’re sharing the beach with others, if your dog isn’t extremely well trained it’s best to keep them leashed to prevent them dashing after food/animals/people when there are other people around.
One of my favorite beaches to fish at is dog friendly. I was setting up to do some crab fishing and while attaching one of the crab lures realised there was some old crusty chunks of something left in the cage that had mummified in the sun. I opened the cage to pry it out and it fell out onto the sand…and before I could lean over to pick it up a golden retriever appeared out of absolutely nowhere and hoovered it before dashing off again.
I never did find the owner for the dog. But I’m betting they had one sick dog later thanks to not having him leashed on a populated beach.
YTA. Off leash doesn’t mean out of your control. You need to work on training your dog.
YTA never heard of a dog beach not allowing food but I do know that even if it’s a “dog beach” there’s usually a leash law. If you know your dog runs off and won’t listen to you then you need to keep it on a leash.
the fact your dog was off leash unattended and has scavenger tendencies, which it literally displayed just before has me voting YTA. the fact multiple people brought and left food at the beach has me feeling p sure unless youre leaving info out this isnt a ‘dog beach’ so much as a ‘dog friendly beach’ and people expect the dogs to either be leashed or well trained. in specifically dog beaches near me there are signs to not leave food unattended, and in the dog friendly beaches signs to not leave your dog unattended so lacking any further info thats my verdict. might change it if you were to clarify but if you went to a dog friendly beahc without first training your dog not to snatch ground food that’s on you. look up videos on yt to train out floor scavenging its easier than it sounds
YTA – what your dog eats is your responsibility. Your dog could get into poison.
YTA you are responsible for 100% of everything your dog does. No matter where you are, you are suppose to have your dog under control at all times.
YTA.
When your dog is off the lead it is your responsibility to be present and watching them to ensure not just their safety but also the safety and comfort of everyone around you. A dog beach is a public space, and unless there is actually a law or clear signage stating not to eat in the area, you should expect there to be people around with food and manage your dog accordingly.
Off leash time is a privilege, not a right – from not being able to recall your dog (“I immediately ran over”) to letting them chase birds, everything about this post makes me feel like you can’t maintain effective control of your animal and that you should be doing a lot more work before being at the dog beach. Anyway, that aside, dog who scavenges should be on lead at all times, next time it could be something poisonous they pick up.