Lazyass

So I ride in really rural areas and chasing dogs is a daily thing. 3-4 days a week I always pass by this one particular house right on the NC/SC border. Every time, without fail, there's these two smallish/medium size dogs that sprint out from the yard and come after me. They always run beside me yapping for a couple of hundred feet until they get tired. I figured they were like the other dogs that chase me, they just want to run next to me for fun.

This morning was different. As usual, I spot them about a hundred yards ahead coming out into the road to meet me. But this time they were real aggressive. One shot out right in front of my bike and I had to slam on the brakes to keep from hitting it and crashing. When I slowed, the second dog jumped up and clamped his jaws on my bars and ripped up the bar tape. So now I'm trying to accelerate and shake it off, it won't let go so I pull out my bottle and spray water on his face and unclip and kick it at the same time. He stayed locked on for about another 50 feet before he let go then I sprinted away. It was hard to steer because almost all his weight was on the bars and he was shaking his head at the same time. For the first time this year I was on my modern bike with no frame pump. I wish I had it.

After I get home, clean up, eat, ect I decide I'm going to drive out to that house (15 mi away) and have a discussion with the owner. This is in the boonies, there's no other houses for a good half mile. I pull up into the dirt driveway and see no dogs. I knock on the door and hear them yapping inside. This older lady, about 400 pounds worth, answers and I begin to politely explain what happened. I'm even smiling trying to be nice. I told her I never had a problem with her dogs before but today they actually jumped on my bike and tried to bite me, that it was illegal for her to allow her dogs to roam the public roads and please keep them on her property. I also showed her a pic of where one chewed up my bar tape and said if I had been grabbing that spot it would have ripped up my hand.

She then proceeds to get a total attitude with me, starts cussing, calling me names and tells me her dogs never hurt anyone. It was 10am but I think she was drunk. One thing I cannot stand is a smart ass punk so I just snapped and went off on her. I told her I have a 2 foot long metal tire pump and the next time I see those dogs come out into the road after me I'm going to bash their skulls in until they die, so if she ever sees them lying in the road with their brains out it was me who did it. I also told her if they ever bite me I'll sue her for everything she owns, and she'll lose the case. Cuss words were spread throughout. Before I walked away I calmed down, looked her in the eye and assured her that the next time I will stay there until they are both dead. So if she wants her dogs she better keep them locked up.

FYI, there is no police in this area, they won't come out unless it's a serious emergency and then it takes them 30-45 minutes to show up. So unless I actually get mauled it would be pointless to try to get them out. I hope I see those dogs tomorrow, I'll have my Zefal pump in hand.

Hard to see it, but there's teeth marks all the way up to the bottom of the brake hood.

Mr IGH

It's why I always have my LC9 with me these days. So many stray dogs on the bike trail, I even adopted one from the local shelter, he was picked up at the trailhead.

jefnvk

At least file a police report. Even if they don't come out and do anything about it, if there is ever an issue with you or someone else in the future, there is a record of past behavior that can be used by the appropriate authorities in whatever judgement need to be handed down.

mcours2006

Glad you weren't hurt. But in the future perhaps it's best to avoid that part of your route. You might be tempted to go looking for trouble next time, and you know what they say about those who go looking for trouble...

rgconner

In the middle of the boonies?

If you hear banjos.... RIDE FAST!

Lazyass

I might file a report but I'm not too worried about it. This is a small town and my best friend of 28 years is the court clerk and I know a few police officers. They all know me as the retired military guy who rides a bike everyday. I'm like the only cyclist around here. I'll be taken care of if something happens. I'm certainly not going to be scared away of taking that route.

10 Wheels

Please make a Police Report.

The dogs could cause you to Crash and get an injured head.

I don't remember my crash or the next three days in the hospital.

coffeesnob

Throw a piece of meat laced with ex lax at em. Hopefully they are house dogs

jimincalif

I'm not a lawyer, but since this situation could deteriorate into something that involves civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution, perhaps it would be best for you if this was not discussed in an on-line forum. Much like the recommendation regarding the posting of car-bike altercations. Good luck, hope you stay safe.

Lazyass

Interesting

Jarrett2

That's what this thread is for.

I've had hundreds of dogs chase me, never one jumping up and locking on to my bars. I've had them go into my wheels, but never lunging at something higher.

They'll be looking for you tomorrow. The dogs and the owners. Hopefully not a showdown at the OK corral. Might want to run a camera if you don't already.

Seattle Forrest

Either your leg strength or your aim has lots of room for improvement.

Blanbrineson

please dont kill the dogs and brag about it like some sort of sociopath

johnnyace 

For the dogs AND the owner...

tdavenport56

don't kill the dogs

jefnvk

You all can do what you want, but if dogs are attacking me, I'm in no mood to act in a manner that takes their health into concern. If they've attacked me for a second time, just like the OP I'm much more likely to escalate my response to a deadly level.

If they are attacking me, it is just a matter of time before they attack someone who may not be as able to defend themselves. I have exactly zero patience for dangerous pets.

johnnyace 

Not to mention that in some states, including Oregon, they will put down a dog that has verifiably attacked a human.

Lazyass

It's not my decision. What happens is up to the owner. She's been warned.

If I were a sociopath I would drive over there with my 95lb sharpei, Chubby, and laugh while he swallowed those two yappers whole.

Blanbrineson

You said they were small/medium dogs are you really threatened by a 25 pound dog? lmbo

TimothyH

Threatening to kill the dogs wasn't the solution. Neither is insulting the woman because of her weight in a public forum.

The solution is to spray the dogs with pepper spray and then file a report with animal control.

Spray the dog with Sabre Red Pepper Gel and that dog won't come within 50 feet of a cyclist ever again. I ride with a small canister on my arm and a spare canister in my jersey pocket every ride.



Rural Georgia can be brutal in terms of dogs. NC and SC are much of the same. I don't hesitate to spray.

-Tim-

Lazyass

Don't lecture me. Thanks.

TimothyH

Get Sabre Red Pepper Gel and spray at the first encounter. Problem solved. That's my point. That's what I do.

I didn't mean to upset you and apologize for that.

Everyone in the South has a gun. I'd hate for something bad to happen. That's all.

TimothyH

This really isn't needed, especially someone from a big city (assuming you mean Los Angles and not Louisiana). I apologized. That should be the end.

Aggressive dogs are a very real problem in the rural south and they are being bred to be more and more aggressive. What Lazyass describes is entirely believable and I sprayed a dog which tried to bite me just last week. A friend was surrounded by six farm dogs just last fall, sprayed but still got bit by one and the owner came after my friend in his truck and pulled a gun. One of the local riders has been bit three times.

I didn't know Lazyass was just over in the next state and I'd love to ride with him any time. He can carry the stick and I'll carry the spray. I think that is a pretty good combo.


-Tim-

Lazyass

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Juan Foote

One of my friends, and ex regular poster here, had a much similar situation, without the confrontation (till after). He proceeded to protect himself from a large aggressive dog with spray. The owner (who happened to be local sheriff dog patrol) proceeded to chase him down with his truck, run him down/off the road with said truck, and proceeded to assault him vigorously. He found out about this guy being a cop when he went to file a report about the incident.

He was advised to find somewhere else to ride. By the police.

Really, he came out lucky. He could have been dead in an automobile strike right down the road, and you know how that goes for offenders.