Advocacy & Safety - Needa Leash Law -- grrrr!

I'm not much for ranting, but I nearly got clothes-lined by a dog on a long leash this evening. I'm coming up behind a lady walking her dog on a quiet evening and the dog's over sniffing the grass on the right curb. Just as I approach, he spots a squirrel on the other side of the road and darts right in front of me, dragging his master's 30 foot retractable leash. I was able to brake and dodge left to miss him, but a heart-beat later and I would have been eating concrete.

I growled but didn't bark at the lady. What can you say? There otta be a law... in this case a law against those super long retractable leashes.... :twitchy:

I can relate. There's a woman who walks 3 bulldog looking mutts like that on the trail near me. Havent' hit them yet but she acts like she's doing me a favor to let me by.

Those leashes need to be redesigned for sure. Too bad you can't put super strong spring in those suckers so the default length is 6'. Make the dog walker push a button to release it. Otherwise it sucks the dog back to within 6' of you. In short, they need to act exactly opposite of the way they do. It's too late to outlaw them.

Actually, I think all squirrels should be leashed. Hate those suicidal little buggers.

In my town, there is a law. Retractable leashes are not considered leashes. Dogson them are considered off leash and at large.
Yes, our Animal Control lady is a Nazi.

What about dogs on leashes being jogged by owners on bikes?

Seems to be theme for summer '09 - even had a noob at a maintenance workshop ask the wrench what kind of bike she should buy that would be better suited to riding with her dog at her side on the leash. Sheesh.

All it takes is one frisky squirrel crossing in front of you, and Fido forgets - "Ahoy, there be wheels there, ye mateys!"

Actually know someone who made a habit of riding with their large-breed dog beside them, one day the dog took off to the left, rider kept going straight - they clotheslined a street sign and it earned the rider 6 months of knee rehab.

There was a kid turning in front of me onto an MUP this week to go in the opposite direction - a kid on a small bike, but walking her labrador next to her. She wasn't skilled enough to turn any way but slowly, and together they were the equivalent of an MUP Mack Truck blocking an intersection. When my braking came to a hault, they were still just two feet apart from me. Yet I'm sure if something had happened, I'd somehow have been made to be the villian.

What makes people think jogging their dog and cycling at the same time is a good idea? I love my chocolate lab and she's extremely well-behaved, but I wouldn't trust for a second that she wouldn't get hurt from putting a paw by the tire or trying to dart away from me. Above and beyond not wanting to have a stranger get hurt because my dog just decided to dart.