Dog attack. What would you do now?

[Mabouya]

I'd say bear spray for the dogs. How hard you go after them for $$$ is up to you, and may or may not be worth the trouble.

Good Luck

[Too Tall]

Some good advice here. At the very least file a police report so that nuisance dogs are identified.

[holliscx]

Not to hijack the thread but theoretically speaking if you shot a dog that chased / attacked you would that be considered self-defense? SD only applies to one's property right i.e. you can't pack a nine in public right?

[sine]

Some good advice here. At the very least file a police report so that nuisance dogs are identified.

This and animal control. Might help......depending on where the attack took place.

Dogs don't know what you are when you are riding by on a bicycle through their territory. I see a pup charging up ahead, I slow way down and use basic pup voice commands. Works many times. The other times, they just don't like strangers so good luck.

[suhacycles]

I'm curious, has anyone here ever tried food, like throwing beef jerky at a dog as it approaches and seeing if it gets them to reassess that you're not a threat the next time you come around? Sometimes dogs end up being more reasonable than their owners... =P

[lakeman77]

Nothing more to do. You did the right thing. You MUST call the police and have a ticket written. No paperwork, it didn't happen. The owners will deny it next time. I was bitten last fall. I had called the police a few months before about same dogs, they talked to the owner and didn't write a ticket. And the police said he had been there before for same dogs. When I was bitten, the owner denied talking to police before and there was no record.
A friend who is a game warden said all you want is a conviction, then when it happens again, there is a record and the police might take the dogs.

[rabo]

I'm curious, has anyone here ever tried food, like throwing beef jerky at a dog as it approaches and seeing if it gets them to reassess that you're not a threat the next time you come around? Sometimes dogs end up being more reasonable than their owners... =P

My friend threw dog cookies for a while. I told him that he reinforced exactly the wrong action: dog tries to bite you, you say "good dog" and give him a cookie.
He stopped after being knocked of his bike and bitten twice.
Apart from the fun dogs that race us, I'm as aggressive as need be to kick the dogs when they come close. Pepper spray gets expensive quickly in the country.

[Chris]

Not to hijack the thread but theoretically speaking if you shot a dog that chased / attacked you would that be considered self-defense? SD only applies to one's property right i.e. you cano't pack a nine in public right?

I would assume that if you are permitted to carry a gun then this would be a course of action for which these permits exist. I'm a dog lover but I would have no problem with someone putting down an aggressive dog in this circumstance. In the grand scheme of things your losses are minor, but what if you had shattered an elbow or hip or shoulder or worse yet sustained a spinal cord injury. You didn't, but the next guy might.

[spopepro]

Not to hijack the thread but theoretically speaking if you shot a dog that chased / attacked you would that be considered self-defense? SD only applies to one's property right i.e. you can't pack a nine in public right?

Depends on jurisdiction.

Do you know who would have an answer?

A lawyer.

Seriously people, I realize this question (as are many in this thread) is hypothetical and academic, but few things make me as worried as opining and well intentioned advice from the internet regarding personal injury, negligence, and firearms. And we have hit the trifecta.

[bikeman]

Thank you for all of your posts. The Vsalon, as always, offers a wealth of insightful views and opinions. As cyclists, you can all relate to this scenario in one way or another and I appreciate the advice. I had already however decided to seek legal advice and am proceeding in that manner, but second guessed myself a bit. I am thankful I didn’t sustain more extensive injuries. My road rash will heal, but it could have just as easily gone a different way. My bike will not heal, and I feel it should be in the same condition it was before I rode by this property. I’ve been a cyclist for 38 years and typically put in over 10,000 miles yearly, so I’ve experienced a whole lot of things while on the road. These were vicious dogs, and the owners need to feel whatever pressure I can give them. If they learn something from it could prevent a future injury or even death. When it is all said and done I will share the outcome here. Thanks again.

[monadnocky]

No particular insights on how to proceed but as a few others have pointed out, I think that there's an argument to be made that we have the responsibility to do something other than walk away from these sorts of things when we weigh that it will likely happen again to someone far less physically capable (or fast) compared to most forum members here. I don't think it's a moral imperative, and its a complicated issue depending on jurisdiction and local cultural views pertaining to dog ownership, etc., but I do think that reporting it or at least doing something might prevent something very, very bad.

I was almost knocked off my bike a few years ago by a pitbull who meant serious business- full charge, going for my leg, sort of bounced off my crank as he couldn't zero in on my rotating ankle. Uphill, so I couldn't have been going more than 8 mph. Only lots of screaming and me in full-adrenaline I'm-about-to-get-seriously-hurt sympathetic nervous system overdrive saved me from what could have been very, very bad. After it retreated, I went on my way and I am absolutely not making this up - a girl on a bike was coming the other way- couldn't have been more than 11. I stopped her, explained the situation and then called the police (mostly because I think she thought I was trying to abduct her!) who were very responsive and understanding, said they would take care of it.

It's an extreme example admittedly. But I really do shudder to think what would have happened to her.

[Tom]

Definitely follow up with the authorities and have a report filed on the dogs. Anecdotal - in the Dorptown this August a mastiff and a bull terrier jumped out an open window, crossed the street and mauled to death a small dog being walked on a leash by its owner. After several twists and turns (the large dog owners got the dogs released from shelter and hid them) they were dealt with because this was the third time these dogs had attacked somebody. Apparently they hadn't actually killed anything before but they had been declared dangerous the next town over before the owners moved. You have to file and it may take a couple of filings. It just sucks when the dogs are victims of their idiot owners. Great quote from the judge in this case - "You may not be the worst people I've had before my bench, but you certainly are the most childish."

[suhacycles]

That reminds me has anyone here used the Kimber Pepperblaster before?

[lakeman77]

from experience pepper spray sounds good but very difficult to use if you are sprinting 25+ mph for your like to get away from a mean dog.
you have to see them coming and have lots of time to get the spray out and use. and if you have that much time, just turn around and go another way.

[monadnocky]

That reminds me has anyone here used the Kimber Pepperblaster before?

I started carrying some around with me after the attack mentioned above. Works better in theory than in practice. Really, pretty unless you can get it and discharge it very, very quickly (jersey pocket = too much fumbling, possibly Velcro to the underside of the TT?), and if the dog's in front of you and you're moving you're going to get it in your face.
Might be good if you're forced off the bike, but for on the bike use I can't imagine it. Took me one ride to figure it just wouldn't work. Things happen too fast and your energy is better spent getting away.

[monadnocky]

^^^^ should have specified, I was using generic pepper spray. Not the Pepperblaster....

[Earl Gray]

This is NOT addresses specifically to the OP because I have no idea how his incident went down.

However, I think all cyclist should understand that you should not try to run/ride away from an aggressive dog. Large breed dogs can easily hit 25-30 MPH. Fleeing from them only further triggers their hunt instinct.

Stop and get off your bike. This will also allow you time to get your pepper spray, lacrosse stick or hand gun out to properly handle the situation.

[jbartmc]

Most states, counties and cities have leash laws. So, call a lawyer and if such a law exists where this incident occurred, then you may have a claim for your injuries and property damage that could be covered by the dogs' owner's home owner's insurance. I have represented cyclists harmed this way and recovered damages for them. Animal owners have a duty to contain the pets.

Forgive, Forget and find another route.

Without being bitten and regardless of the reality of how it happened, you have no chance of holding the owners responsible.

[acorn]

If you see a dog coming up running towards you, just take out your water bottle and squirt some water at the dog. This will, at the least, slow down the dog or stop him altogether so that you can hurriedly pedal out of sight.

[monadnocky]

If you see a dog coming up running towards you, just take out your water bottle and squirt some water at the dog. This will, at the least, slow down the dog or stop him altogether so that you can hurriedly pedal out of sight.

Sounds like it has worked for you in the past... but it has never, ever worked for me. On the few times I've tried it it's had absolutely no discernable effect.