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Every other day I cycle out in the country. I peddle for a minimum of twenty-five to sixty or so miles each outing. That's a bit of country traveled and invariably I'll be chased/attacked by a free roaming dog or dogs. The numbers of these incidents vary from the usual one or two to a high of seven times in one outing.

I carry very powerful pepper spray with me and use it when necessary. That being said, I wonder how many of the those who allow their dogs free range realize how much potential pain they put their critters through? When they get sprayed by me they aren't injured, but man, it's brutal stuff and I'm not going to chance being bitten, or swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid being bitten. Not to mention their risk of being crushed by vehicles. (the numbers of road kill I happen across is appalling and heart breaking - many, many dogs, cats, wildlife)

For those who may think, why not just peddle like a demon and get away from them? I do when I'm not pumping into a hard wind. However, sometimes you can't get enough speed to get away or you're simply caught by unaware peddling at a slower pace and wham, they're suddenly within biting distance - Surprise!

I post this in hopes those who allow their critters free range near a public road to please, reconsider. Don't allow your critters out to chance being hurt or killed.

I neglected to ask - you who allow your critters free range - do you have what you consider a reasonable reason to allow this?

(fenced yards or extraordinarily remote locations don't count)

Thanks

Not to mention they could get in front of you and cause a major spill-hurting both you and said doggie.

Have y'all ever heard the expression, "yard dogs" or "yard kids"? It is not unusual for dogs, chickens, kids and such to roam free in some rural areas.

Oldgringo wrote:Have y'all ever heard the expression, "yard dogs" or "yard kids"? It is not unusual for dogs, chickens, kids and such to roam free in some rural areas.

And why we see so many of them dead along the roadsides.

Oldgringo,

Unbridled stupidity, is of course, everywhere...rural, suburban and urban.

What I'm looking for are those folks who can offer up what they consider a good reason for letting their critters roam free without consideration of their exposure to harm. (and negative exchanges with free range humans)

Oldgringo wrote:Have y'all ever heard the expression, "yard dogs" or "yard kids"? It is not unusual for dogs, chickens, kids and such to roam free in some rural areas.

Sigh. No consideration given to the owners of livestock who are sick and tired of their animals being chased by dogs on a constant basis. The inconsiderate actions of these irresponsible dog owners completely boggles the mind.

Abraham wrote:Every other day I cycle out in the country. I peddle for a minimum of twenty-five to sixty or so miles each outing. That's a bit of country traveled and invariably I'll be chased/attacked by a free roaming dog or dogs. The numbers of these incidents vary from the usual one or two to a high of seven times in one outing.

And to think some people can't understand why I ride in steel toes instead of bike shoes.

"Boot to the head!"

Well there's also an additional and much more sad factor. I live in an area which is surrounding by farms/ranches. Unfortunately lots and lots of people dump their family pets out here, and they tend to dform into packs looking for food and a new home. Tears your heart out.

TheArmedFarmer wrote:

Oldgringo wrote:Have y'all ever heard the expression, "yard dogs" or "yard kids"? It is not unusual for dogs, chickens, kids and such to roam free in some rural areas.

Sigh. No consideration given to the owners of livestock who are sick and tired of their animals being chased by dogs on a constant basis. The inconsiderate actions of these irresponsible dog owners completely boggles the mind.

I hate to see dead dogs and cats on the highways and byways but it happens because some people, believe it or not, think its wrong or otherwise unfair, or plain just don't care enough to pen up their domestic animals. I don't understand that anymore than I understand the voting in the last POTUS election.

In fact, the older I get, the less I understand about many of the habits and practices of the tailless bi-ped species.

Strange, at least to me, are those who allow their critters within their view to chase folks passing by and then react with outrage when these folks protect themselves.

Two examples: A very large, Siberian Husky barking with with appeared to be rage, appears in front of a house while I'm about to pass by on my bicycle. I quickly retrieve my pepper spray. As I'm about to pass by, he starts to chase me and almost immediately the owner appears and calls the dog who obeys. I stopped as the owner wants to talk. He holds the dog by his collar and explains his dog was coming after me because he was "just going to chase - not bite me".

Uh-huh, like I'd know that and this was a reasonable thing for him to allow his dog to do. I said nothing. Just listened. He then goes on to warn me to NOT ever spray HIS dog. I peddle on without saying a word. Of course, what he fails to consider are all the potential horrors his very large dog can cause chasing folks or get hit by a car, etc. Plus, how does he know the dog absolutely won't bite? It won't bite him, but he sure as heck might bite someone else...

A woman is working in her garden and we see each other at the same time her very large dog bolts out of the yard after me. Her garden is set about 50-75 yards off the road and I see her, stop what she's doing and calmly watch the dog as he streaks after me. I'm pretty sure she's grinning and enjoying the live entertainment my appearance and her dog are providing, until I retrieve my spray can off my belt. At this point the dog is just about to reach me and I spray him in the face as she, now screaming her lungs out, explodes with every expletive imaginable. She'd never tried to call him back.


A few weeks later the same pair, doing the same garden work, see me passing by on the bike again. This time she quietly holds the dog by the collar.

Nice lady. Nice doggy...

You're training those dog owners.

Would you be willing to add my county road to your biking route? We've got some folks who need this kind of training around here, too.

Abraham wrote:Strange, at least to me, are those who allow their critters within their view to chase folks passing by and then react with outrage when these folks protect themselves.

Two examples: A very large, Siberian Husky barking with with appeared to be rage, appears in front of a house while I'm about to pass by on my bicycle. I quickly retrieve my pepper spray. As I'm about to pass by, he starts to chase me and almost immediately the owner appears and calls the dog who obeys. I stopped as the owner wants to talk. He holds the dog by his collar and explains his dog was coming after me because he was "just going to chase - not bite me".

Uh-huh, like I'd know that and this was a reasonable thing for him to allow his dog to do. I said nothing. Just listened. He then goes on to warn me to NOT ever spray HIS dog. I peddle on without saying a word. Of course, what he fails to consider are all the potential horrors his very large dog can cause chasing folks or get hit by a car, etc. Plus, how does he know the dog absolutely won't bite? It won't bite him, but he sure as heck might bite someone else...

A woman is working in her garden and we see each other at the same time her very large dog bolts out of the yard after me. Her garden is set about 50-75 yards off the road and I see her, stop what she's doing and calmly watch the dog as he streaks after me. I'm pretty sure she's grinning and enjoying the live entertainment my appearance and her dog are providing, until I retrieve my spray can off my belt. At this point the dog is just about to reach me and I spray him in the face as she, now screaming her lungs out, explodes with every expletive imaginable. She'd never tried to call him back.


A few weeks later the same pair, doing the same garden work, see me passing by on the bike again. This time she quietly holds the dog by the collar.

Nice lady. Nice doggy...

I used to get the same speeches from Dog-owners, even while I was standing there with my trousers torn and the owner having watched the entire episode.
One lady claimed it was my fault for coming in her yard to put mail in her mailbox. My Postmaster told her to buy me new trousers. She refused. She paid for them a week later when she hadn't received any mail deliveries since the incident.
Dog-owners come in all types. Responsible, and not responsible. Kind of like parents.

Purplehood wrote:

... Dog-owners come in all types. Responsible, and not responsible. Kind of like parents.

...and the offspring of those parents...

Our dog is lovable as all get out, but I would never have that animal unleashed like that.
1. even if legal, its stupid
2. Any dog could scare someone. If he runs along not to attack but to play, he could knock you off, or y'all could get entangled, hurting that fat cow of a dog (ok realistically he's not going to put that kind of effort into it unless you're dangling a steak, in which case both he and I are now chasing you-mmm steak!!! )
3. More importanly, he could chase after a squirrel or you and get lost or hit by a car. I have had that happen when our old dog got out and wish that on no one.