Dog Issues

As told by Tricia, Ohio Bike Federation Board Member:

My husband and I had our worst experience with loose dogs on a cycling weekend near Georgetown. We spent the weekend in Ripley and rode up to Georgetown and back on Old route 68, running a gauntlet of mean dogs in both directions. We enjoy visiting Ripley but will never ride to Georgetown again. I don’t recall ever meeting Michael or visiting his shop. I had no idea that Michael was trying to resolve this problem and that he had been having so much trouble.
Tricia

 

As told by Tim Guthrie

I have had several issues with dogs cycling in Brown County Ohio. For the record, I am a competitive road cyclist, mountain biker, and duathlete. I also often ride my bike to work, 40 miles round trip. I have years of experience cycling on the roads.

Late summer 2007 I was riding my bike to work.  An aggressive dog chased me. It was a close call.  I had heard of the difficulty in dealing with the dog warden from Mike and others, so next time I brought my video camera.

On the next ride, there he was, giving serious, dangerous chase. I got it all on video, or at least enough. I made still photos from the video. I sent a letter with the date, time, circumstances, and photos to the dog warden. After a few weeks I rode that route again (it was the most direct route to my office). The dog was still there, at the same house, and gave serious chase for several hundred yards almost getting his teeth into my rear tire.

At the time I was invovled in local politics. I called a (now retired) County Commissioner, and brought him a copy of the letter and the photos. At that time the problem was then resolved, with the dog owner consenting to the dogs distruction. I do not know if the owner was cited. I do know, that I had to make multiple efforts even with photos.

Mike has done the same, but without the success I then enjoyed as a ‘insider’.

Also,

Twice since fall 2009 dogs have been killed chasing me. In both instances, I was just commuting on my bike. I was heading west, and the dog belonged to a family on the opposite side of the road. The dog ran out to chase me, and was hit by a car. It is sad thing to see a dog killed like that. Twice. I am glad the drivers did not swerve away from the dog and hit me head on.

Dogs on the loose cause harm to themselves or others, everytime.

 

As told by Chuck Krainz,

While legally traveling a road in Brown County on 8/12/2009, I was attacked by a large vicious dog. After 42+ years of bicycling, this incident was not unique. The intensity and duration of the assault was unusual. As soon as I had a telephone signal, the Dog Warden’s office was contacted. Approximately 35 minutes later, I arrived at the Warden’s office only to be informed that he had “a conflict of interest” with the occupant/dog owner at the reported home. This statement by a “law enforcement officer” created a feeling of abandonment, not unlike the descriptions from Mike Hart for over 3 years. I was told that the Prosecutor’s office would need to handle this situation. I quickly rode back to town (on my bicycle) to find Ms. Little on the phone seemingly getting details of the Warden’s perspective.

The prosecutor did not seem at all disturbed that an officer had refused to perform his duty. She seemed certain that her office could handle the issue. She was completely oblivious to my observation that taxpayers expect that even the Warden’s mother is not above the law. Additionally, the Prosecutor’s office SHOULD have been handling non-dog issues. As a taxpayer I was offended, but respectful. I told her calmly, yet emphatically, how I felt and filed a report. I left to speak with the Commissioners. I had previously conferred with one, in depth, about the very same life-threatening issue – uncontrolled dogs.

The Commissioners shared the blase’ attitude of the prosecutor. I was not convinced as they claimed this is a serious issue and they would look into it.  Later, during a conference call I was informed that the alleged perpetrator was employed by the warden’s wife. This supposed “conflict” was as lame an excuse to shirk duties as I could have imagined. I told the commissioners, “this is my life and well-being they were toying with.”

Two days later, I followed up with Ms. Little’s office. They explained that they were having problems discovering the identity of the alleged dog owner. How can you NOT know the identity of the Dog Warden’s wife’s employee. “Pick up the phone!”, I said with notably less respect in my voice. 24 hours later their ‘investigation’ was complete.

Respect waned when I discovered my alleged perpetrator was the same nemesis of Mr. Hart’s frustrations. “Why”, I questioned Mr Geschwind, “would this be tolerated by my government.” Is this woman somehow above the law? Is she entitled? Is she more equal than others? The Commissioner’s claim that this was a completely unique situation fell hollowly on my ears. Subsequently, the Sheriff’s office failed to deliver my summons to appear in Court. I had no say. Dismissed. 

Thanks Chuck.

A thought about rural life and farm animals, including dogs… 

Funny, Your Horse needs to be under control, she might damage someones’  property.

Your Cow needs to be on your farm, if loose she might trample your neighbors’ garden or worse.

Your Pigs needs to be fenced in, if they get out your neighbors parture/field/crops/garden could be trashed.

Your goats need to stay on your farm, they would eat your neighbors landscaping.

Your sheep need to stay fenced in, sheep are stupid.

The same is true for llamas, mules, donkeys, and any farm animal.

Why then, do some think it is OK for their dog to run wild?

I had a dog that got loose. Someone shot it with a hunting arrow. Amputation, then death resulted.

I have had TWO dogs killed in the last year while I was cycling. Both were hit by cars while chasing me. The drivers had to either hit the dogs, or hit me. Nice.

Loose dogs have sent a friend to the hospital while on a mutli-day bike tour.

Loose dogs have killed motorcyclists. Think about hitting a dog on your motorcycle while going 50 mph.

Loose dogs are a threat to anyone traveling, including cyclists, and to anyone not indoors. Most of all, loose dogs get run over by cars.

Ohio law is clear, read it on the “Ohio Dog Law” page. Dog wardens DO NOT have the authority to waive tickets.