Uncontroled dog - what recourse?

[GrasB]

On my commute to work I keep on coming across a guy walking his dogs, both of them off the lead, running around etc. I've repeatedly asked this person politely to control their dogs but this hasn't happened. Today I was chased by both dogs & felt intimidated enough, due to the snarling bark, to do a full on sprint (& ended up doing around twice the speed limit, which is not a good thing) to drop the dog.

Who do I speak to/notify to get this dealt with. This is beyond a nuance & is becoming a real safety problem.

 

[chqshaitan]

Hi Bud,

Thats out of line, they guy should control to a certain of his dogs at all times. . I am a dog owner myself so know how 'excited' they can get when they see something they want to chase.

here is some hints and tips. throwing some water of them should stop them , but can be tricky when pedalling like mad lol

http://bicycling.about.com/od/howtoride/tp/dogs_and_bikes.htm ,

 

[Sara_H]

Thats not on. Whats The fella said about it when you've spoken to him?

Squirting water may work, though it may also just excite them further

 

[Globalti]

 

[sidevalve]

All depends where you are. On private land [some "shortcuts" can be a bit iffy] or a public bridleway or road. As you say he's walking them off lead then I assume it's off road. Either way if there is genuine public access then report to the police as a dangerous dog issue [they are getting tighter on this at the mo]. Point out that you could escape but a child for example could not. HOWEVER take a good look at the person involved before you do this. There are those in our society who will use you as a punch bag for a lot less, and they wont do it on their own.
A sad state of affairs I know but be carefull there are some strange people out there.

 

[addictfreak]

 

[GrasB]

All depends where you are. On private land [some "shortcuts" can be a bit iffy] or a public bridleway or road. As you say he's walking them off lead then I assume it's off road. Either way if there is genuine public access then report to the police as a dangerous dog issue [they are getting tighter on this at the mo].

All of the above. The area in question includes a cycle path, University property & a very quiet public highway. This of course makes the problem a little more complicated.

 

[MichaelM]

You could try your local dog warden - contact them through the council. This may or may not be of use depending on whether or not they'd be willing to visit the area that you keep meeting the dogs at the time of your commute.

 

[CopperCyclist]

There's a rumour that CS doesn't affect dogs. I have no idea if it's true or not, but have heard it said many times. It's also illegal, but I'm presuming the post was tongue in cheek anyway!

There is 'dog specific' spray called 'BiteBack' that works against them though.

OP, you can report the matter to the police. An offence has been committed if a dog was out of control and made your fear that it would injure you. Not sure how much luck you'll get on the investigation side though, as it would be unusual for an offence such as this for them to be allowed to spend much time trying to trace said dog by patrolling your route. Uness you know where he lives, in which case they could definitely have a word. Even the worst sort of person often loves their dog, and being told that try of get the go seized with a view to a magistrate possibly ordering destruction tends to stop them.

Don't bother with the dog warden, they won't do a thing. They only deal with stray dogs, and even then they don't want to. They often refuse to come out to a member of the public who has caught a stray, as they argue it's that member of publics responsibility once caught! They refuse point blank to take any strays that we catch, saying they are now our responsibility.

 

[Saddle bum]

Dogs are unaffected by CS sprays. What is needed is CR, several quantum leaps mor effective.

All academic really, such sprays are deemed to be Section 5 firearms and the penalty for posession is up to 14 years.

You seem to forget that is ILLEGAL to defend youself effectively in UK.

 

[benb]

You seem to forget that is ILLEGAL to defend youself effectively in UK.

No, it really isn't.

 

[Minotier]

Putting your foot down the owners throat is also illegal, but can be effective.
Bad owners make me spew, dogs need to be controlled when out and about.
My wife and I have spent hours and hours doing something called basic training, not only does it save embarrassment and danger. It also costs less than third party claims.
It's not difficult. If it is perhaps said dog owners should maybe keep fish or something else.

 

[steve52]

No, it really isn't.

this has not been my experiance, but im sure you know best, and how reasureing for the odd victim ,that is out there,or are there none any more?

 

[antnee]

Yes It can be annoying to the point of being a threat to life and limb. would your local RSPCA perhaps be an approach before you lose your cool?http://www.rspca.org.uk/inyourarea I aways had dogs until recently and often find that some people are just not as aware as they should be over how to control their dog when around cyclists more in towns I've found than the countryside as perhaps most people that live in the country are more understanding as there are more animals around and so need to control their dogs As if they don't and start to worry sheep the local farmer is quite entitled to shoot them.!

 

[Peter Armstrong]

On my commute to work I keep on coming across a guy walking his dogs, both of them off the lead, running around etc. I've repeatedly asked this person politely to control their dogs but this hasn't happened. Today I was chased by both dogs & felt intimidated enough, due to the snarling bark, to do a full on sprint (& ended up doing around twice the speed limit, which is not a good thing) to drop the dog.

Who do I speak to/notify to get this dealt with. This is beyond a nuance & is becoming a real safety problem.

Wow, i could really do with them dogs around my strava segments!