#ParentingStruggles #DogLovers #PetOwners #CityLife #DogStroller #RespectYourPet
Are you a proud pet owner who has faced criticism for the way you care for your furry family members? Do you find yourself frustrated when others make negative comments about your beloved pets? If so, you are not alone. Many pet owners experience judgment and ridicule from individuals who do not understand the bond we share with our animals.
Addressing the Situation:
My husband and I were on vacation and we brought our senior dog, because we take her everywhere. She’s a sweet 14-year-old shih tzu/poodle. She’s having joint issues, so when we take her on a city trip, we put her in a dog stroller so we can walk around.
On a busy sidewalk, a woman with her friend and their kids made fun of our dog in the stroller, claiming strollers are only for children. Feeling insulted and disrespected, I responded by telling the woman to back off and pushing the stroller forward to move on. She then scolded me for swearing in front of her kids.
Feeling Validated:
As a dog owner, I was deeply hurt by the woman’s remarks. Our pets are like family to us, and their well-being is just as important as anyone else’s. It’s frustrating when others fail to recognize the love and care we have for our animals.
Empower Yourself:
It’s essential to stand up for yourself and your pets in situations where you feel attacked or belittled. Remember that your pet’s happiness and comfort are a top priority, and you have every right to defend your choices as a responsible pet owner.
Find Support:
Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who understand and appreciate the bond between pets and their owners. Connect with other pet lovers who can empathize with your experiences and provide encouragement and support.
Final Thoughts:
While it’s understandable that you were upset in the moment and reacted with strong language, it’s important to maintain composure in front of children. However, the woman’s initial judgment and mockery of your pet were unwarranted and disrespectful.
Remember that as a loving pet owner, you have the right to take care of your furry family members in the way you see fit. Your bond with your pets is special and should be honored and respected by others. Don’t let negative comments or judgment from others diminish the love you have for your pets.
In conclusion, as pet owners, we must advocate for our beloved animals and stand up against unjust criticism and ridicule. Our pets deserve to be treated with love, respect, and understanding. Let’s continue to celebrate the unique bond we share with our furry family members and educate others on the importance of pet ownership. #PetLove #RespectYourPets
NTA
She’s using her kids as a shield to protect her ego.
NTA. That woman was rude AF and you gave what you got. She had no reason to bother you. Calling her friend and kids over to ridicule you and your dog was beyond rude and would have pissed anybody off. Hopefully she‘ll think twice before stopping and insulting strangers on the street again.
NTA she deserved that shit. She’s one of those assholes who assume to know everything about someone’s situation based on a snapshot in time.
NTA. She was rude and frankly threatening to surround you and accuse you of something. Good work. Don’t give this horrid human another thought. Thank you for loving your dog so much and knowing what she needs to be happy and healthy.
NTA. Good for you for getting a stroller. Strollers extend elderly and crippled dogs’ lives.
NTA and hooray for you for not letting mommie dearest get away with it.
NTA
She was literally bullying you in front of her own kids. What a class act of a mother.
NTA it’s perfectly fine for her to teach her kids how to bully random strangers but it’s not ok for you to swear in front of them? Lol yeah, no
NTA 100%
“The woman goes “are you for real? This is not a child. These are children.”
Free pass given right there.
“How dare i cuss in front of her kids.”
But it’s ok for her to plant her entitled a$$ in your way when you’re minding your own business taking your elderly beloved dog out for a walk in comfort.
F*** that. And her. Kudos to you for calling her out. And a hug to your dog.
NTA
I would have done the exact same thing!
This is the problem with people in our society today…when they are insecure, uneducated and have NO FILTER, they think they can say or react how ever they feel.
She is a BIG TA!!!
Do not let people like this rent space in your head without paying rent!
Reminds me of a similar situation when I was walking my gf’s 9 year old English Bulldog (which is close to the max lifespan of the dog). He was breathing heavily and so this bitter old lady shakes her head and says to me “wow, tired already?!?” And I said “funny thing, I was just thinking the same thing about you…”. You can imagine the look on this boomer-ass bich’s face lol.
My advice is to just keep a funny insult in your pocket cuz people LOVE to bully others. And otherwise just ignore it and don’t let them have power over you.
You’re NTA. If anything, you did those kids a favor. You let them know that if they go around randomly, rudely, harassing strangers, they will get some push back.
If she doesn’t want people to swear in front of her kids I think probably she should avoid being rude to people in the first place. It rarely matters if your point is valid or not (and I don’t think hers was), if you lead with rudeness, you should expect the situation to escalate.
NTA. You didn’t start it and there’s nothing wrong with a dog in a stroller anyway, it hurts no one.
Those kids have certainly heard bad language with a mom like that. I’d have been tempted to pepper spray that “seaword” if she didn’t get the hell out of the way quick enough. You showed great restraint, imo.
NTA
NTA
“So I told her to F off and get out of my way”
<rises out of seat> Now who can argue with that? I think we’re all indebted to this lady for clearly saying what needed to be said. I’m particularly glad that these lovely children were here today to hear that speech. <If you got where this came from you are a legend>
NTA. Don’t start fights with strangers who are minding their own business if you don’t want to receive a string of profanity in response. Mom could’ve experienced a lot worse than the F-word if she’d tried that shit with the wrong person.
NTA I wouldn’t have stopped at just one curse, it would have been more. Much more.
You insult my dog and you’ll see what a mama bear looks like. She’s almost 14. I picked her the day she was born. if I want to use a stroller for a walk when that time comes, I’ll use any damn stroller I want.
NTA.
Sounds like you regret your reaction though, is that it? There were of course other ways to respond here and it sounds like you were protected yourself in the way it was possible for you at that moment.
If you can’t stop thinking about it, maybe ask yourself what is important for you beneath this preoccupation – being polite in front of kids, protecting yourself and your family, respect, care, kindness? Wishing you peace with this matter.
NTA.
I would have said “my dog is cuter than your kids.”
NTA “Don’t curse in front of my kid” F*ck you lady, they are going to hear it anyway on tv, out in public, from other kids at school. Don’t police the language of others, teach your kids what’s appropriate. However, given her behavior she probably doesn’t know what that is.
NTA- “lady you’re just jealous i take good care of my senior dog because your kids will probably dump you in the cheapest old age home!”.
My mom has a stroller for her small dogs. She likes to walk, but they can’t walk far. People used to be surprised but now they are used to her in her small town. And the dogs love being outside and they love the attention.
Nope. Your good .
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PSA… If they don’t want their kids to hear cussing, then harassing randoms should be off the list of activities.
I have a stroller for my elderly mini poodle with arthritis who is unable to walk very far anymore, but still loves being outside.
If anyone came up and pulled that kind of nonsense, my response would have been identical.
NTA – Her attitude and personality have damaged her kids way more than your curse word ever will.
That woman had no way of knowing you weren’t crazy enough to shive her in the street right in front of her kids, any parent willing to be purposely antagonistic towards someone minding their own business needs to understand the person they’re antagonizing has no requirements to set a good example of what a doormat looks like to their little shitlets. NTA of course
I’m a mom of small children. NTA. I can’t rap my head around how she thinks it’s offensive to cuss in front of her kids and yet she models to her children how to bully strangers off the streets. I’m sorry you had that shitty experience.
NTA
Ha! I was just in the grocery store yesterday and this older woman was in front of me and I could see she had a baby stroller. I assumed it was a grandchild. She walked away and then I could see she had two little dogs in a blanket. So adorable.
What gives anyone the right to say anything.
Why the hell are people so upset about swear words?! They are very common, used everywhere, and are not going to hurt you. What is UP with these folks who think they get to decide what words other people use?
NTA. You were more polite that I would have been
I know I’m old, but where I come from, saying “Oh hell no” constitutes cussing. You may have used a stronger curse word than she did, but she cursed first. And thanks for taking your senior dog out for a walk!
She definitely swears in front of her own kids