How rude...

 I've taken my dogs on baseball fields, and we also typically go to the tennis courts in our neighborhood. The tennis courts do indeed have signs that say no pets. However, the most recent community newsletter said they could go as long as you clean up. in our case, there is only one court to be used in each location, so if someone shows up and wants to use it, I leave. I don't believe the rules say I have to, but if they want to use it for its intended purpose, I let them do that. I don't want to go back to not being able to use them, so I leave it at least as clean as I found it, if not more. I also leave for the same reason. We have gone to the high school, were there are three courts. Even though there are three, people would still come up and want to use the one I was in, even if the others were empty. It was a pain in the butt, though honestly, if they wanted it for its intended purpose, I generally asked that they give me a minute to secure the dogs. As long as I could have a minute to secure the dog, I would move. I just feel like, even if I am allowed to do it, I probably should be pretty darn polite if I want to continue to be able to do so. I don't want the welcome of all the area dogs to be revoked because of me. Honestly, if your dog may get aggressive, I think you should go, even though the guy really could have chosen either of the other two. If your dog bites, even if he was provoked, the fault is going to be on you.

I do take the dogs to what was supposed to be a baseball field at one time, but has, as far as I know, never been used as one. (they never put any bases, etc, have never had games, and the park is rarely used...as it's out of city limits and out of the way.  It did actually become a place where people take their dogs. 

It's so widely accepted as a place to take your dogs, that when the actual dog park was being worked on, and was thus closed, the city made note of it in the paper to tell people to go to the other area instead. It's also just dirt..no grass, etc and isn't maintained.  I assume all owners pick up after themselves, as there are lots of dog prints in the dirt, but no poo.

I go there because it's an area where the dogs can run, but rarely run into any dogs and, thus, the attitudes that go with dog owners at the dog park. I don't go often, as most times we don't go to off leash areas and just do on lead walks instead, but we go once in a great while.

Now, that said, I'd leave if someone did show up to use it to play ball in while I was there.

I can see both sides.  But, what I really am not getting is what's the problem with Bailey being there when his friend also had a dog?  Am I missing something? 

rwbeagles

Why should he have to tho? These are BASEBALL fields...not dog fields? I am all for responsible dog ownership, and the guy was out of line to say that...but at the end of the day he was trying to use the field, for the purpose they were intended for....he should be able to do that right? For all you or I know the rush was just starting and many other teams came to practice and they were staking a place out early?

The person the guy came with was playing with a dog in the other field.  I see no way to defend this guy.  He doesn't have a right to be a hypocrite. 1 field in use out of 3, hardly sounds like busy time for the park.

If there are no signs saying no dogs, then I don't see a problem with responsible dog owners using the fields. 

I understand how you feel and he was rude, he should have asked - no excuses for his behavior, Jerk alert for sure.  I am not sure I would have acted any differently than you actually.  I use to take my dog years ago to baseball fields too but after having children who were baseball players I quickly started to dislike the idea.  Little kids roll around the fields, fall, grab balls that were in the grass and not everyone picks up after their dogs like you do.  Even urine on the grass opens up for diseases.   Anyway, the guy was a jerk and could have been nicer but once you saw he was interested in the field but you probably should have left or moved. JMO

Whoa. I didn't read any responses but he was waaaay out of control. Considering he had a bat and was swearing at you... in some states that's just about grounds to use lethal force. I'm sure he's making some woman's life just greeeaat..

I think the fact we're all missing here is that there were THREE fields there and they only needed the one to play ball in.  Clearly this was just them being ignorant idiots trying to get her to leave.  I could see if there were signs up stating no dogs allowed but there wasn't.  PLUS, the fact that he was rude to her and called her names just solidifies what his purpose was. 

rwbeagles

For all you or I know the rush was just starting and many other teams came to practice and they were staking a place out early?

I'll tell you though, if some guy like this held a bat like that to someone I knew ther'd be shi* hitting the fan in a bad way.

There was no reason he needed to act that way, he could have easily just come over and explained his case instead of acting like a total a-hole.

Loopy

There was no reason he needed to act that way, he could have easily just come over and explained his case instead of acting like a total a-hole.