thielges@uiuccsb.UUCP (04/17/84)
#N:uiuccsb:16200017:000:1461 uiuccsb!thielges Apr 16 21:42:00 1984 As we got the first few pieces of warmer weather here in Illinois a couple weeks ago, I took to the road. Within those few days I had several encounters woth dogs. Two of them are noteworthy. 1. Three big (about 75 lbs.) tan colored dogs head off toward me from a distant farm house. In a moment of panic, I begin to pedal furiously. Then I remember "Hey, weren't you the one who posted those 'Be nice to dogs, they don't mean any harm' articles in net.bicycles ? Don't be hypocritical. Slow down and be brave" I did and the three dogs barked a lot and jumped back and forth in my path. They lost interest in about 1/2 mile. 2. I am riding home from Charleston, IL and 15 miles from home. A little mutt like dog takes off after me. I am exhausted so I have no choice but to ride slow and humor this canine noisebox. Why not? Dogs don't bite. YEEEEEOOOOOWWWWW HEY hey get away ( I've been bit !!!!) Now I am riding faster. I squirt from the water bottle gets rid of the dog, but now I'm bleeding. #'%#''"!!! Yes, now I admit that there is a danger of dog bites. I did , however, talk to the owner of the dog later to fill out an animal control report. Now the dog is supposed to be confined so that it won't be a threat to me or any other bikers on Champaign county road 1350 north. I do urge anyone who has been bit to do the same so we can reduce the number of vicious dogs that are loose. Bart Thielges ...uiucdcs!thielges
schwager@uiucdcs.UUCP (04/17/84)
#R:uiuccsb:16200017:uiucdcs:38200005:000:885 uiucdcs!schwager Apr 17 00:30:00 1984 /**** uiucdcs:net.bicycle / uiuccsb!thielges / 9:42 pm Apr 16, 1984 ****/ Yes, now I admit that there is a danger of dog bites. I did , however, talk to the owner of the dog later to fill out an animal control report. Now the dog is supposed to be confined so that it won't be a threat to me or any other bikers on Champaign county road 1350 north. I do urge anyone who has been bit to do the same so we can reduce the number of vicious dogs that are loose. Bart Thielges ...uiucdcs!thielges /* ---------- */ This brings to mind a question of mine- what does one do if bit by a dog while bicycling? Go to the house immediately (and get munched upon just a little more)? Call the police as soon as you can? I'd be interested in finding out- I think I know the three dogs you're talking about. Arrgh. But in general, what does one do? -mike schwager uiucdcs!schwager
thielges@uiuccsb.UUCP (04/17/84)
#R:uiuccsb:16200017:uiuccsb:16200018:000:635 uiuccsb!thielges Apr 17 12:15:00 1984 I filed a report the day after I was bit. The folks at the hospital who treated me told me to get some info on the dog and owner and then call them back. The county animal control people require this (mainly because of the rabies threat) and will supposibly pester the victim (me) until they get the info. I drove out to the farm where the dog came from and talked to the owner. She was very nice and was sorry her dog was so mean to me. The dog was really nice, probably because I did not bike. I even patted him on the head. I think you're safe around dogs if you're on foot. Its just bikers that they hate. Bart Thielges
richards@uiuccsb.UUCP (04/17/84)
#R:uiuccsb:16200017:uiuccsb:16200020:000:511
uiuccsb!richards Apr 17 12:30:00 1984
The big thing to remember here is to able to *IDENTIFY and FIND* the dog that
bit you, especially if you go for medical attention first. If you can't find
it, you almost certainly will have to have the rabies shots.
I've been chased several times by dogs that I had no idea where they came
from (with only one farmhouse every couple of miles). Unfortunately, they
seem to be the ones who consider the road their own territory and are more
aggressive.
Paul Richards ...{ihnp4,pur-ee} ! uiucdcs ! richardsharris@uiuccsb.UUCP (04/25/84)
#R:tektroni:-234100:uiuccsb:16200028:000:589 uiuccsb!harris Apr 25 01:27:00 1984 Yours is the first bad experience I've heard with Halt. I'll keep that in mind. I know about half a dozen ardent bicyclists who like the stuff. The can has a little plastic clip on it, which I find works quite well for clipping the can to my belt. I keep it clipped inside the front bag when its mounted on the bike. This is the same stuff that mail delivery people use. Of course, they aren't riding a bicycle while trying to spray, but it seems that they would use something else if it really didn't work. Maybe they just don't grow dogs quite as nasty out my way. Jon Harris
joels@tektronix.UUCP (Joel Swank) (04/26/84)
I think you are doing a disservice recommending HALT! for dog problems. I squirted 2 cans before giving up on it. The first problem is some place to carry it so you can get it easily. I could not find a good place for the mounting bracket I bought with it. I ended up carrying it in the side pocket of my handlebar bag. Then it took a half a can to learn to hit a moving dog from a moving bicycle. The range is only 6 to 8 feet. The only place it has any effect on a dog is directly in the eyes. It will only stop the dogs who just wanted to play anyway. The ones intent on physical contact will ignore the stuff. One dog that I hit directly in the eyes just ran over in the grass, wiped off the HALT! and came after me again. Dogs that are really into the sport of bicycle chasing quickly learn how to avoid being squirted. HALT! is definitely not worth the time or money I spent on it. Joel Swank Tektronix, Beaverton OR
harris@uiuccsb.UUCP (05/01/84)
#R:uiuccsb:16200017:uiuccsb:16200022:000:796 uiuccsb!harris Apr 17 23:39:00 1984 You've found out the hard way that dogs can be dangerous. It is a fact of animal nature that dogs act the way they do, and a bicyclist is neither cruel nor vicious if he/she protects him/herself. Avoiding the dog by steering wide can get you run over, and running into the dog can get you thrown and possibly run over. The practical solution is in dissuading the dog before it gets too near, hopefully in a way that will discourage such attacks in the future. A particularly effective solution, one which even the most devout of animal lovers (of which I consider myself one) can conscience, is HALT. The stuff works. Period. A side benefit is that you have probably protected other bicyclists from being similarly attacked, and you might prevent the dog from being injured. Try it!