The link worked for me (for whatever that's worth). Here's the "Useful" bits:

Bunkie Louisiana Animal control

1-800-872-0222

When talking with animal control (based on my experience from when I volunteered at a shelter in California):
1. State that the property owner/renter said the dogs were strays that he feeds.
2. State that the property owner/renter said that the dogs hunt as a pack, and state that you don't know if the dogs are hunting deer or livestock.
3. Tell them about the neighbor's child and give them the neighbor's address and telephone number if you know it.
4. Tell them that the local Sheriff apparently knows the stray dog feeder.
5. Tell them that the dog feeder gave you a can of pepper spray to spray the dogs with (which now shows that the dog feeder knows that the dogs are a nuisance).
6. Do not tell them about the hog trap or the lethal options you have considered.
7. Report back here with an update.
8. Keep an eye open for tacks in the roadway once the dogs are removed.

The above are just thoughts and suggestions, use your own judgement on what to do and say.

Good grief... this pseudo-owner is being ignorant. It seems kindly to feed strays, but now he's unwittingly contributing to a problem. The best is if he either calls the shelter to round up the dogs, or if he goes the other way and fully adopts the dogs and cares for them properly. This half way inbetween situation is a mess, and not only is he putting you at risk as a passing cyclist, but the little boy across the street, others who walk by, delivery persons, and so on.

Good luck with the trap.

I should have said pistol. I would think it would be enough to drive them away and after that just the sound of it would keep them away.

Being an animal guy myself, initially I was like, there's got to be a better option than shooting. Then I read the rest of the story, about a firefighter afraid for his life and occasionally having to shield himself with his bike against these dogs, and I'm less interested in saving the dog's lives than I am with a dedicated public servant's life. I say either shoot the dogs, but given that even a really good shot shooting backwards on a bike while riding downhill is sketchy, I'd contribute $20 to getting you a bottle of this:

https://www.amazon.com/SABRE-FRONTIER.../dp/B000H7N26A

Easier to spray that all behind you than it would be to be accurate with a pistol, even at short range. A worse situation would be you shooting, and losing focus on controlling the bike and crashing while the 6 remaining dogs decide to continue and have you for breakfast.

And having heard stories of dogs returning home on foot from thousands of miles away, I just get the feeling that relocation will be a stopgap measure.

One of the problems with the bear and/or pepper spray, is if the wind is at your back. Normally a tail wind is welcome when riding, but definitely not in this case. You certainly don't want to get a face-full of what you're trying to use to get the dogs to back off. This could likely cause the situation to end badly.

Here's why it's critical stray dogs are not allowed to roam in packs. https://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013...rs-kill-jogger and whatever force that's necessary be used. I am an animal lover as most are, but there is no reason to wait until a disaster occurs. That is why law enforcement gave the OK for plan B. It is great to want and try to do right by the animals, but not at the risk of personnel safety or the safety of others.

Oh oh, he hasn't posted since two days ago, he could just be busy.

Your answer is understanding Pavlovian behavior and how this relates to dogs. What you need to do is create something very unpleasant for the dogs and associate it with your riding a bicycle past them.

Dogs have very sensitive hearing and unless these dogs are condition for hunting, they will hate sudden load noises. Something like a thundering explosion from an M80 explosive. All you need to do is ride your bike and before you pass the house ring your bell, then as the dogs get closer throw a few M80's at them or if you don't want to screw with the explosives, fire at the dogs with the intent to miss if you're that good a shot. After several days they will probably run away or start shaking if you just ring your bell.

I was half excited to see a drive-by on a bicycle in small town America.

Hey guys, sorry I haven't posted. It doesn't look like I'm gonna go with the trap. I scouted the situation and its just to much trouble. I'm just gonna use the spray until it runs out. When the spray runs out I'm gonna call the sheriffs office, make a report with full details about the situation and then I'm gonna call the guy and tell him that I'm not gonna tolerate it anymore. I'm hoping they get tired of the spray and leave me alone. I'm sure it won't workout like that though.

Quoted for emphasis. That's pretty scary, and it's all over international news. I feel bad for The Dog Whisperer guy, he's a fan of the breed himself.

In case you didn't know where the location was, here's the town of Littlerock, CA on Google Maps. It's definitely rural desert.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Littl...California&z=8

I'd encourage Bunkie to take whatever steps necessary to protect himself and nearby neighbors from this certainly lethal menace... I'd almost consider getting a can myself... just in case I'm in a location that might have such a situation.

Well guys, I haven't had any problems lately. He still has one for sure, haven't seen all the others. I got a chance to spray the one that he still has. When I sprayed him he went nuts lol, he started moaning and veered of to the left of me and stumbled in the ditch. I should have videoed him for a minute, it was priceless. Hopefully, the dog got the picture and won't run after me anymore. If he does ill just spray him again. It's not bad spraying one dog, it's when there is several after you, now that's tough.

Glad that worked on one. I was seriously looking forward to hearing back about this story. Kept a browser tab open just for your update Bunkie.

Hope the other owners keep their dogs in check!

Cool deal, thanks. Yea I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the dog remembered that incident. If not ill just spray him again, he'll eventually get the picture I think. I'm about to leave the fire house and head home, so will see what happens.

Ill keep them in check for them. Lol that spray is pretty awesome. I'm gonna continue to carry it with me just for the heck of it. Never know when you'll need it. Never know when you'll need it on a human! These days, you never know what's gonna happen in the next 10 minutes.

Actually, call animal control, and if they don't come out and meet you there, call one or more of your local TV stations. Play up the 'what if a small child is bicycling past' bit and see how fast they react.

Is all well
anything new with the situation ?

A gun? Really?

A frickin' squeak toy distracts those things.

Maybe the pepper spray will deal with it - maybe not. The pack instinct/adrenaline high these dogs are getting may override any discomfort from the pepper spray. If you need to escalate, maybe rat shot would work - less lethal, but it still hurts.

You said you talked to a police chief who does not have that area under jurisdiction. Why not talk to the police IN that jurisdiction?

They are still there. He got rid of some of them. I'm just outrunning them. I'm burnt out though.

[QUOTE=jowilson;15728842]A gun? Really?

A frickin' squeak toy distracts those things.

Were on earth, let me know when you get here to join us. These aren't poodles that are running after me.

I used the pepper spray a few times. Doesn't really affect them that much any more.