Dog Survey

[Jon Meinecke]

With the ongoing discussion of dealing with dogs, how about a quick census of how serious we've
found this problem.

1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?

2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?

3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?

4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)

5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?

6) How often are they simply not really threatening?

7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?

8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
- speed up to out run them
- stop riding
- grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"
- grab your cell phone and call animal control
- keep riding "talk" to the dog

9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?

10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?

Jon Meinecke

 

[Mikael Seierup]

"Jon Meinecke" skrev...
> With the ongoing discussion of dealing with dogs, how about a quick census of how serious we've
> found this problem.

You mean while biking I guess?

> 1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?

Nope.

> 2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?

Once every couple of rides.

> 3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?

Same same.

> 4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
>(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)

Hmm. No.

> 5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?

As in barking or running after me. About half maybe. Though its hard to take the small pipsquak dogs
seriously.

> 6) How often are they simply not really threatening?

Well most arent really. Even barking ones. They just want to see what the strange contraption
really is.

> 7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?

Running over dog and taking a spill.

> 8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
> - speed up to out run them
> - stop riding
> - grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"
> - grab your cell phone and call animal control
> - keep riding "talk" to the dog

Stop and talk to it. Usually pet em too when they find out I'm not dangerous. Chat with owner if
he/she is out walking it. Kamikaze dogs that try to get run over I yell at. And ask the owner to
control them better. Usually they don't get too upset if you do it politely and state that you got
the best interests of the dog in mind.

> 9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?

I go "Hi dog". If it runs after me I yell something appropriate in a commanding voice. If it keeps
it up I stop and talk to it. Should one try to bite me I would probably hit it with the bike.
Luckily no one has.

> 10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?

Well I try to explain it to owners if the dog is a danger to me and itself. See kamikaze dogs
further up.

The biggest problem is actually leashed dogs. Some are merely entertaining like Rottweilers that
usually jump a foot up in the air and look like they are having a heartattack from fright. Or the
pittbull that ran between its owners legs and almost tripped him to get away. Most are indifferent.
The ones I hate are the dogs that lunge at you just as you go by. The owner still got them on a
leash but I get a shock each time.

Mikael

 

[Al Kubeluis]

Jon,
Dogs, while often loose and barking, have not been a problem while
biking, as I either ignore them or talk to them.
Al Kubeluis
"Jon Meinecke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> With the ongoing discussion of dealing with dogs, how about a quick census of how serious we've
> found this problem.
>
> 1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?
>
> 2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?
>
> 3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?
>
> 4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
>(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)
>
> 5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?
>
> 6) How often are they simply not really threatening?
>
> 7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?
>
> 8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
> - speed up to out run them
> - stop riding
> - grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"
> - grab your cell phone and call animal control
> - keep riding "talk" to the dog
>
> 9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?
>
> 10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?
>
> Jon Meinecke

 

[Lars S. Mulford]

"Jon Meinecke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?

Yes.

> 2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?

As of the last few months, daily.

> 3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?

Being that the area in which we live is very rural, I'd say rural!

> 4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
>(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)

Yes, we encounter the same dog but also others at times.

> 5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?

Normally the dogs we encounter are not aggressive. This is a recent thing where several dogs, one in
particular, have been outwardly aggressive.

> 6) How often are they simply not really threatening?

Up until the last few months, I'd say the dogs we've encountered that are unleashed basically
ignored us on our bikes.

> 7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?

For me (6'7", 218 lbs and in excellent shape), I feel a bite is more the risk. For my daughters, I
fear them getting knocked off their bikes and then really being injured once down.

> 8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
> - speed up to out run them
> - stop riding
> - grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"
> - grab your cell phone and call animal control
> - keep riding "talk" to the dog

Normally I speed up and outrun them. My girls do the same. One problem dog in particular has caused
me to modify this action with a can of HALT.

> 9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?

Ignore them, as they have ignored us most of the time.

> 10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?

Yes, and it has gotten us exactly NOWHERE. Animal Control will do nothing here unless they actually
see the incident take place. The owner of the one particular dog has been belligerent and rude,
indicating that they would continue to let their dog run loose as they see fit. We've approached
this guy no less than half a dozen times, asking him to not let his dog take a dump in our front
yard and he blew us off. The kicker was when he was rude to my wife when she asked him for like the
5th time. The 6th time was by me and at that point, I was mad. This guys dog has been the subject of
numerous calls to Animal Control in our area by other families. He's a jerk who completely ignores
and refutes any responsibility for the actions of his dog. In truth, we don't blame the dog - we
blame the owner. Some families have talked about perhaps looking into legal recourse. What is more
likely, sad to say, is that the dog is going to attack someone and the dog will be dispatched by
angry family members and then a real hullaballoo will develop.

--
"Sea" ya!
--Lars S. Mulford
"You can find evil anywhere you look.
The question is, why are you looking?"

 

[Jon Meinecke]

Thanks for the responses. I'll monitor posts and post a summary count in a week or so....

"Al Kubeluis" <[email protected]> wrote
> Jon, Dogs, while often loose and barking, have not been a problem while biking, as I either ignore
> them or talk to them.

Likewise me. But here's my answers to my survey.

> 1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?

No. Startled and BP raised,-- yes. (Dogs that lay in ambush or appear at the last instant from the
side or behinf bug me the most!)

> 2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?

Fairly often.

> 3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?

More common in rural settings.

> 4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
>(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)

Previously, but not recently.

> 5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?

Rarely.

> 6) How often are they simply not really threatening?

Most commonly.

> 7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?

Dog distraction danger effect is significant. On small dog was nearly hit by a car when it darted in
and out chasing bike riders. Another dog caused a collision between cyclists on a charity rally.

> 8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
> - speed up to out run them
> - stop riding
> - grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"
> - grab your cell phone and call animal control
> - keep riding "talk" to the dog

I don't carry any dog-specific protection gear. If I can speed up to outrun the dog I do. I've also
slowed down to talk to dogs. I have on a few occasions squirted dogs with my bottle (PowerAde or
water). And on several occasions I have turned my bike around and chased dogs! (Particularly when
riding in a group and the dog repeatedly harassed riders.)

Funniest (in retrospect) "oh-no!" moment for me and dogs is probably 30 years ago. Riding along
rural farm to market road, passing a large junk yard, see junk yard dog running parallel to my path
behind fence, think nothing of it for several hundred feet, until I look up and see that the fence
is open at the approaching end. Engage full adrenaline!

> 9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?

Talk to it.

> 10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?

If it had been within city limits, I would have called about a dog that was "always" loose and
repeatedly harassed bicyclists on a rural road. That dog's no longer there, though.

Jon Meinecke

 

[Kurt Fischer]

Jon Meinecke <[email protected]> wrote:

> 1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?

No.

> 2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?

At least once, twice per week.

> 3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?

I encounter more dogs in the cities, but they tend to be more aggressive near farms or single
houses, probably due to the attitude of being on their own territory.

> 4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
>(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)

Yes.

> 5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?

It depends on the definition of "aggressive". Mostly they try to chase me down or bark, but they
don't actually attack me, seems to be more kind of a game. I grew up with dogs and don't fear them,
that's certainly an advantage in this case.

> 6) How often are they simply not really threatening?

I've yet to meet a really threatening dog while cycling, but I'm convinced, someone who's not
familiar with the behavior of dogs could have easily felt threatened in a serious way on several
occasions.

> 7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?

I remember approaching a dog and his owner from behind. When I reached them, the very big dog
suddenly jumped at me and I had luck while avoiding him not having been hit by a car from behind.
Crashing while running in or over a mad dog is my major concern.

> 8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
> - speed up to out run them
> - stop riding
> - grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"
> - grab your cell phone and call animal control
> - keep riding "talk" to the dog

I slow down and try to talk to the dog in a calm way and/or to his owner if in reach. The owners are
mostly the real problem, not the dogs.

> 9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?

I try to avoid eye-contact and don't speed up.

> 10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?

To the owners, yes, but I've made very often the experience they tend to play down the facts. As I
said, I don't fear dogs, but there are people, esp. children, who do. It's sad but a considerable
number of owners obviously lack a minimum sense of responsibility and in my opinion they shouldn't
be allowed to own dogs, but that's only wishful thinking.

Kurt

 

[Jo Smith]

> 1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?

Yes. I was riding a newly torn up road so I was riding quite slowly. I was surrounded by a pack of
12 dogs. I had no choice but to stop my bike or hit a dog. I stood up and straddled my bike The dogs
took turns biting the back of my legs as the growling, snarling circle drew closer. I was lucky a
neighbor was home and finally called off the dogs. Had no luck with animal control or the town board
(rural area). Each felt the other should deal with it.
>
> 2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?

Virtually every ride I take.
>
> 3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?

Only ride in rural settings.

> 4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
>(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)

If I ride a familiar route, I generally see the same dogs. Some I can count on to simply watch, some
chase, and some chase aggressively and get close enough to my hands and face to worry me a little.
>
> 5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?

About 10% of the time (my perception of course).
>
> 6) How often are they simply not really threatening?

About 90% of the time.
>
> 7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?

Definitely I feel more threatened of being bitten. This is due, no doubt, to my experience. Previous
to that, I rarely felt truly threatened no matter what the dog was doing. I've always loved dogs and
had never been afraid of a dog before my dog pack experience. I'm still generally not afraid unless
they seem aggressive.
>
> 8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
> - speed up to out run them
> - stop riding
> - grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"
> - grab your cell phone and call animal control
> - keep riding "talk" to the dog

I used to sweet talk dogs, but after my dog pack experience, I carry pepper spray. I originally used
Halt, but after my sister and I both sprayed the same dog multiple times as it "herded us" with
absolutely no effect, I switched to bear spray. I have only used it twice but have it in my hand if
a dog seems threatening (not that often). I generally keep riding, try not to make eye contact, and
hope I escape notice.

> 9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?
>
Ride as normal.

> 10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?

Yes, see #1. No results at all. Actually, they DID make the guy buy a kennel license - but that only
meant that they got to collect some money. People were no safer. The same pack of dogs attacked
another cyclist a few weeks later (I have never ridden my bike near there since) and then attacked a
meter reader. Also, the owner was not concerned in the least when he was called over (while I still
had blood running down my legs). He was an old guy who just talked about how the dogs were good
ratters out in the barn.

Jo

 

[William Higley]

1) No
2) Twice a month (I ride 20 plus days per month)
3) Rural
4) 50% of the time
5) Rarely (2-3 times per year)
6) Usually
7) Bitten
8) Usually speed up and talk to the dog as necessary
9) Watch the dog for signs of aggressive behavior
10) No

The last dog (an Irish Wolfhound weighing in at about 175 pounds) I had a serious problem with, was
trying to eat a kitten of mine. My father pulled me off of the dog before I did too much damage to
the beast. Since then most dogs and I have peacefully co-existed.

William Higley, Sr. Vision R-50 RANS Rocket

"Jon Meinecke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> With the ongoing discussion of dealing with dogs, how about a quick census of how serious we've
> found this problem.
>
> 1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?
>
> 2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?
>
> 3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?
>
> 4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
>(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)
>
> 5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?
>
> 6) How often are they simply not really threatening?
>
> 7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?
>
> 8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
> - speed up to out run them
> - stop riding
> - grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"
> - grab your cell phone and call animal control
> - keep riding "talk" to the dog
>
> 9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?
>
> 10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?
>
> Jon Meinecke

 

[Jay]

1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?

Yes - several.
2)Once bitten several times on legs.
3)Another time cornered for 20 min with nearby owner NOT restraining the dog. Every attempt to shift
the bike, or move had lunging teeth inches from my legs
4)Once while being lunged at the dog's teeth marks scratched leg in about 10 places.
5)Dog went under the wheels

ALSO had several times when I was in a fully faired trike (floor, walls, roof) and had several rural
dogs try to attack, but couldn't reach me! Jay <-- girl in a plastic bubble.

> 2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?

Probably about one encounter every week to ten days That would be about 50 ( or so per year)

One urban route in in an off-leash dog area that is where the city bike paths start. The dog owners
***are supposed to have control over their pets*** That area is well-signed to that responsibility.
You will get about 2-5 encounters in a one kilometre strip. They go under the wheels, chase you,
corner you, etc. I have made about 50 phone calls trying to get local authorities to do something. I
was documenting incidents and phone calls, for legal and media reasons- if there is a serious
incident in that area.

> 3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?

This year I rode about 5000km - about half that was in cities. Of that 50%-it is about evenly
divided for dog encounters urban/rural

Most years, about 95% of my riding is urban.

> 4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?(e.g., on daily commute or weekly
ride)

More like a problem dog area ( see above)

> 5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?

If you are unrestrained and chasing me- you are aggressive.

> 6) How often are they simply not really threatening?

SEE ABOVE!!!

> 7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten oror of being knocked down (or
running over dog)?

I am peacefully and legally riding, and don't give a **** what the dog MIGHT do. It is unrestrained
and coming after me, it could do anything.

> 8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?

- speed up to reduce time near them
- grab my bike pump

*** NOT grab your cell phone and call animal control ( USELESS, they will not come in my city and
who do you call when touring?)

> 9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc...what do you do?

See if he/she is tied up.

> 10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?

See above. NO ONE EVER takes responsibility. I have wasted about 30 hours in phone calls, emails,
appointments, etc.

 

[Brian Hughes]

"Jon Meinecke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> With the ongoing discussion of dealing with dogs, how about a quick census of how serious we've
> found this problem.
>
> 1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?

Yes. Once bitten so hard on the leg during a bike ride it required visit to the doctor.

> 2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?

A few times every month.

> 3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?

Currently almost all my rides are urban

> 4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
>(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)

Usually it is different dogs.

> 5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?

Rarely.

> 6) How often are they simply not really threatening?

?

> 7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?

Knocked down

> 8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
> - speed up to out run them
> - stop riding
> - grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"
> - grab your cell phone and call animal control
> - keep riding "talk" to the dog

Try to talk to the dog

> 9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?

Hope it's nice

> 10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?

Yes

> Jon Meinecke

 

[Mike Rice]

> 1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?
No.
>
> 2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?
Most rides of 30 miles or longer.
>
> 3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?
Rural for me. More common than problematic. I usually enjoy the interaction.
>
> 4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
>(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)
The dogs who come out and run towards/with me are always at home as I ride by, so I see the same
dogs each time I ride the rodes they live on.
>
> 5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?
Once or twice the dogs were large enough and got close enough that they could have knocked me down
easily. Since they dropped back instantly when my tone switched from friendly to scolding I can't
call them aggressive, just curious/playful.
>
> 6) How often are they simply not really threatening?
I don't feel threatened by a curious or playful dog, once or twice I did get a little nervous
(see above).

Not often, if ever (so far)
>
> 7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?
Being knocked down or running over the dog.
>
> 8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
> - speed up to out run them
> - stop riding
> - grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"
> - grab your cell phone and call animal control
> - keep riding "talk" to the dog
Keep riding "talk" to the dog. Usually I say 'Hi" or 'You're a *good* dog, aren't you!' If I can
easily leave the dog behind I yell 'Bye, good dog!' & go. If it's a large fast dog I know that chase
is a favourite game & instead I slow down a little while talking to the dog. It's never long before
we reach the end of the dog's territory & it retreats.
>
> 9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?
Call out 'Hi there, good dog!" Dogs like to hear 'Good dog!'
>
>10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?
Only when it ws a neighbor whose large breed was shitting in my yard all the time. Didn't get much
co-operation until I took to leaving the collected droppings outside the owner's front door.

-Mike Rice

 

[Freewheeling]

> 1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?
>
I've been bitten a couple of times, but not seriously nor as part of a determined attack. (Actually,
I was attempting to pet the animal.) I have been attacked seriously, however. The dog simply wasn't
successful. The Dazer was absolutely no use at all. I think the critter was hard of hearing.

> 2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?
>
About every third or fourth ride.

> 3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?
>
Rural, obviously.

> 4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
>(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)
>
I used to, but no longer ride in that area.

> 5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?
>
Well, they often give chase but aren't usually a problem unless I'm trudging uphill. I just
outrun them.

> 6) How often are they simply not really threatening?
>
Subjective assessment. How would I know what their real intentions are? Lacking such knowledge I
have to assume the worst, that they're an animal that means to do me harm.

> 7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?
>
Being knocked down, then bitten, or worse.

> 8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
> - speed up to out run them
> - stop riding
> - grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"
> - grab your cell phone and call animal control
> - keep riding "talk" to the dog
>

I talk dirty to them. Just kidding. Actually I grab whatever I have to discourage an attack (mace,
dazer, water bottle), slow down so that the animal takes for granted that I can be easily caught and
doesn't get too excited, then surprise it with a determined sprint as soon as it closes. That
usually discourages them, but it won't work going up a steep hill.

> 9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?
>
Proceed as quietly as possible.

> 10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?
>
Absolutely! And I always file a formal complaint if I'm actually attacked or chased aggressively.

> Jon Meinecke

 

[Cunobelin]

I find the greater and more frequent thtreat to my safety is the extendable dog lead. Owner one side of the track, dog the other and 8 feet of barely visible inch thick webbing strap connecting the two.

I ride a Challenge Hurricane and find these are always at neck level.

Originally posted by Jon Meinecke
With the ongoing discussion of dealing with dogs, how about a quick census of how serious we've
found this problem.

1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?

2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?

3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?

4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)

5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?

6) How often are they simply not really threatening?

7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?

8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
- speed up to out run them
- stop riding
- grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"
- grab your cell phone and call animal control
- keep riding "talk" to the dog

9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?

10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?

Jon Meinecke

 

[Tom Sherman]

Jo Smith wrote:

>>1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?
>
>
> Yes. I was riding a newly torn up road so I was riding quite slowly. I was surrounded by a pack of
> 12 dogs. I had no choice but to stop my bike or hit a dog. I stood up and straddled my bike The
> dogs took turns biting the back of my legs as the growling, snarling circle drew closer. I was
> lucky a neighbor was home and finally called off the dogs. Had no luck with animal control or the
> town board (rural area). Each felt the other should deal with it.

This would appear to be a case where the use of a firearm would be justified, before the pack of
dogs actually kills someone.

Tom Sherman - Quad Cities

 

[Jon Meinecke]

"Tom Sherman" <[email protected]> wrote
> Jo Smith wrote:
>
> > Yes. I was riding a newly torn up road so I was riding quite slowly. I
was
> > surrounded by a pack of 12 dogs. I had no choice but to stop my bike or
hit
> > a dog. I stood up and straddled my bike The dogs took turns biting the
back
> > of my legs as the growling, snarling circle drew closer. I was lucky a neighbor was home and
> > finally called off the dogs. Had no luck with
animal
> > control or the town board (rural area). Each felt the other should deal with it.
>
> This would appear to be a case where the use of a firearm would be justified, before the pack of
> dogs actually kills someone.
>

Halt or pepper spray probably wouldn't help. A dazer might or might not have helped disperse the
pack. A gun maybe, but flame thrower would likely be best in such a case (a dozen attacking dogs)!

As for response after the fact, since the local authorities denied accountability, this seems like a
case where litigation is appropriate. I hope Jo Smith sued the pants off of the owner and organized
a recall of the local officials!

Jon Meinecke

 

[Bill Anton]

"Jon Meinecke" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> With the ongoing discussion of dealing with dogs, how about a quick census of how serious we've
> found this problem.
>
> 1) Have you ever been bitten or injured as a result of an unrestrained dog?

Never.

> 2) How often do you encounter unrestrained dogs?

Every time I go riding outside the city limits.

> 3) Are they more common and problematic in city or rural settings?

More common in the country, but not problematic.

> 4) Do you regularly encounter the same dog?
>(e.g. , on daily commute or weekly ride)

Yes.

> 5) How often are the unrestrained dogs you encounter "aggressive"?

Some are more "aggressive" than others. Mostly they are just excited that finally there's a
vehicle they can chase and (mostly) keep up with. Must be frustrating for a dog when the speed
limit it 70 MPH.

> 6) How often are they simply not really threatening?

Some dogs are lazy--they don't even try. Probably 2/3 of the dogs I meet will at least bark and give
chase for a little while.

> 7) Do you feel more threatened of being bitten or or of being knocked down (or running over dog)?

I fear more for the dog than for me. They've never even come close to getting a tooth on me. Most
dogs run behind or along side, but some take an intercept trajectory, crossing in front, and these
are the ones I worry about. Ever see what a 1-inch-wide 115 psi tire can do to a dog? I hope I never
do--it would probably cut the poor beast in half. Nevertheless, I generally do not change my course
or speed for dogs (except to speed up). I try to ride in a predictable manner, and I've never run
over a dog yet. On one sad occasion, I was riding on the shoulder of a major US highway when a small
dog came out into the middle of the road to bark at me. After he said his peice, he continued to
stand out in the middle of the road. Then from behind me I hear this "Whump! Yelp!" as a car (whose
driver was probably looking at the strange bike and not where he was going) hit the dog.

> 8) If you see a dog sprinting toward your path to intercept you, what do you do?
> - speed up to out run them

Often, specially if I've got a tailwind. It's a great opportunity for interval training.

> - stop riding

Almost never... except one time a dog came after me as I was approaching a stop sign. Interestingly
enough, when I stopped and turned my head to look at the dog, this formerly courageous mutt tucked
his tail between his legs and walked away.

> - grab your halt, dazer, water bottle and prepare for "battle"

I bought a can of Halt one time, but I've never used it.

> - grab your cell phone and call animal control

Now there's a joke! Animal control around here is woefully underfunded. When you call it's just a
recording and you're lucky if you get a call back within a week.

> - keep riding "talk" to the dog

Sometimes. I often encourage them. Rarely do I say "Bad Dog!" because he/she is just doing what dogs
do. Chasing vehicles is part of a dog's job description. ;-)

> 9) If you see a dog resting beside the rode, on a porch, etc... what do you do?

Those are the lazy ones. Let sleeping dogs lie, I say.

> 10) Have you ever talked to the owners or local authorities about problematic unrestrained dogs?

Never ran into any problematic dogs. Pit Bulls are the only dogs I've ever run into that are
genuinely mean. Sometimes Rotwiellers too, depending on how the dog was raised. If a pit bull got
out, I'd call 911, they're that bad. Most pit bull owners around here keep them chained with a heavy
duty tow-truck chain. Of course, chaining any dog up just makes him meaner still.

Bill Anton 2001 Vision R-40 26x26 SWB OSS Lubbock, TX, USA