General Cycling Discussion - Dog(s) chasing me story (long)

Here is the story of 2 dogs and there stupid owners. A few months ago I got bit by a dog 3 blocks from my house. It was a pit bull type mutt dog, It bit me on my right calf and almost yanked me off of my bike. I was ok but it had punctured my skin in about 4 places (blood running all over my leg) no stitches or anything but it was bruised and hurting for a couple of weeks. Anyway until that point I had never really gave dogs a thought while riding. Well jump forward a few weeks and I'm riding my normal route and this dog comes at me (another pit bull mutt type dog). Its a big ole dog, and by the time I notice it It's to late to outrun it so I stop and put my bike between me and the dog. I look over and the owner of the dog is sitting on his front steps just looking at me and the dog IN THE MIDDLE of the road. His son (or somebody) 18-20 yr old kid is just standing there with him looking at the dog while it is barking, growling and snarling at me. I say "how bout calling your dog". The old man (straggly beard pot belly) says "He wont hurt you". I say "come on just call your dog I just got bit a couple of weeks ago". He says "He wont hurt you just don't look at him and keep riding by". So I repeat "Could just call you dog man I just got bit and I'm a little nervous of dogs right now". He goes on to say "well this dog didn't bite you did it?". I'm like "no" He says "don't worry about it then he didn't bite you". I know this whole confrontation only took maybe 3 minutes but it seemed like forever. Finally he sends his son out to get the dog and I ride on by.

Skip forward a few weeks now. I change my daily ride so that I don't have to go by the house. Which kinda sucks because I really like that route, I can avoid some dirt roads (I ride a mountain bike on the road DOH :-) I drive by the place once or twice a week and (during the 3 weeks that have passed) and never see the dog there again. So I decide it might be safe to ride my old route again. Everything is cool for a few days no dogs nice rides. Then one day the dog and its new friend chase me, only this time I have the drop on them and outrun them. I get home and call the dog catcher and tell them the whole story (same as here) and she goes and gives the owner a warning. So I change my route AGAIN and ride for a few weeks.

Almost done now..... About 2 weeks ago I go back to my old routs (one with the dogs) and everything is fine nice rides no dogs for the past 2 weeks....... Until today. The same 2 dogs chase me again so I turn around and head to the house. I grab my driver (sister) and we head out with the digital camera and I'm gonna take some pictures of the dogs and get the address of the house. This way when I call the pound I can show them the dogs and where they are at. So we're stopped in the road (big subdivision paved road not much traffic) and I'm getting some nice pictures of the dogs. And some guy walks out of the house and says "whats up? What are you doing?" I say real sarcastically "I'm taking some pictures so when I call the pound they know what the dogs look like". He says "why are you doing that". I tell him all why about whats going on. And he says "they just want to get to know you". I'm like "I don't want to know them I just want to ride in peace". In the meantime 2 other guys (18-22 yrs old) come out and start getting real belligerent. Saying "you don't have any proof these dogs chased you, let me see the pictures". And one of them reaches through the window towards my camera. One of them is "posing and strutting" in front of the van so we cant leave. They keep cussing and talking crap but finally get out of the way so we can leave". To hell with calling the pound we call the police when we get home. The officer that shows up knows my sister and TOTALLY sympathizes with me (us). Says he know the house and has been there before, even knew the old guy that was there the first time that would not call the dogs off. They are going to be issued a citation for not having the dogs on a leash and a warning about the confrontation in the street.

Soooo I guess I change my route for awhile again. But the problem now is I'm kind of worried about them seeing me riding and just running me off the road or, or I dunno.

Anyway thanks for letting me vent, I feel much better now :-)

Seeeee ya.... Jay...

Been there, still frustrated as H***, But here in Rural KY, you can call a guy names, mess with his wife, throw sticks & stones at his car but NEVER mess with a man's dog on his property. Personally I'd avoid the area.

that really sucks. I have had dogs chase me before but not really big dogs like what your talking about.

I would try to avoid the area, maybe leave a little earlier so you can take a round-about way.

If the dog bites me he is dead. No ifs ands or buts. People will flame me for saying that, so be it. However, if you can't or won't control your "pet" you shouldn't have one. Chances are you can't take care of youself.
Dogs will try and take advantage of you IF they think thay have the upper hand. If you can't outrun them and avoid a situation you must convice them that your not one to be messed with. I've already stopped my bike and yelled at them if they were being particularly aggressive. They almost always run away. Some will come after you, but a well placed foot will convice them otherwise. I've had owners yell at me. I say nothing, give them the landlords stare and ride away.
Yes there are people who think its allright for fido to sink his teeth into your various body parts. After all, he's only a poor little dog! I can only hope that they get bitten by thier own untrained animal. Now that would be justice.

Yep I changed my route AGAIN. Couple more hills and another dirt (sand) road on the new route. I'll put a positive spin on it and just look at it as a new challenge (more hills and more dirt better workout) LOL

When I called the dog catcher after the second time they chased me the catcher asked "Would you like me to issue a citation or a warning if i see the dogs loose". Hell I didn't wanna cause any trouble I just want to ride in peace, so I said just a warning. After the crap yesterday though..... I hope they slap the owner with a $60 fine for each dog.

Cant we all just get along...... I just wanna ride :)

well, I guess this is what tasers are for.