In July 2008 VBF announced an upcoming campaign to inform bicyclists and dog owners of the dangers of dogs running loose. We are now asking for your help to bring this important information to bicyclists around Virginia. There are two parts to this campaign.
First is an information article written by Bud Vye, VBF Vice President, that explains the law pertaining to dangerous dogs, and VBF’s recommendations on how to respond when you are injured as the result of actions by a dog, whether a bite or being knocked down. Full text of the article follows below, or you can download and print this file:
Dangerous Dogs — What To Do If Injured (PDF)
The second part of the campaign is aimed at dog owners who allow their dogs to run loose. We encourage all bicyclists to download and print the Dangerous Dog Hang Tags, fold them and keep them in your tool pouch or jersey pocket. When you are chased by a dog, fill in the information indicated and hang the tag from a mail box (outside of the box) or other location where the dog owner will find the tag.
Dangerous Dog Hang Tag, Tall Style (PDF)
Dangerous Dog Hang Tag, Wide Style (PDF)
VBF encourages clubs and organizations to make these files available to their members by linking to the this page, or by posting the files directly on the club/organization web site. The material may also be reproduced in club/ organization newsletters.
If we all work together we can reduce the incidence of injuries caused by unrestrained dogs.
Dangerous Dogs — What To Do If Injured
by Bud Vye
A 2006 Virginia law provides for the registration of dangerous dogs and establishes penalties for owners of dangerous dogs who do not comply with registration and confinement requirements.
The Virginia Bicycling Federation (VBF) urges bicyclists to report dangerous dogs to law enforcement authorities to make our roads safer for everyone.
This law is relatively new, so bicyclists must know the law to effectively coach police, animal control officers, and judges through the steps needed to have a dangerous dog registered as such. Thus, VBF encourages all bicyclists to print the act [http://tinyurl.com/3wprxe or http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/animals/dogs.shtml] and read it closely.
The law defines a “dangerous dog” as a dog that “has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on a person”, whereas a “vicious dog” is a dog that “has killed a person, inflicted serious injury, or continued to exhibit behavior that resulted in a previous finding that it is a dangerous dog”.
There are serious consequences for a dog owner when a dog is declared “dangerous”, including registering the dog with the Dangerous Dog Registry; paying the registration fee; maintaining $100,000 in liability insurance coverage; and conforming to confinement, leashing and muzzling requirements. Should the dog repeat the dangerous behavior or should a dog be declared vicious, the court may order the dog euthanized.
If you are bitten by a dog, the law requires that a law-enforcement or animal control officer “… apply to a magistrate of the jurisdiction for the issuance of a summons requiring the owner … to appear before court, etc.”
Because it is often difficult to contact animal control officers, VBF suggests that bicyclists who encounter a dangerous dog call 911 to report an “attack” to the responding law enforcement officer(s) and ask them to contact the animal control officer. A cyclist who has been bitten can certainly make a case for a dog to be declared “dangerous”; and a cyclist whose bike has been run into, or under, by a dog, and caused to fall, could make a good case that they have been “attacked”. If, however, the dog has run at your bike, but not bitten or caused you to fall, enforcement officials are unlikely to declare a dog “dangerous”.
Please notify Bud Vye [bdvye@comcast.net] if you contact law enforcement officials about a dog attack, so that VBF can document dog attacks against bicyclists.
There may be some effort and inconvenience involved in waiting for police and/or animal control to arrive at the scene, and appearing in court later. However, if we, the bicycling community, can track and publicize these judgments, we hope owners of these dogs will better control their animals, resulting in fewer dogs interfering with, chasing, and attacking bicyclists.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
One problem with the “dangerous dog notification” tag. If I was being chased by a dog, I think the last thing I would want to do is stop and fill out a form to hang on the dog owner’s mailbox. My primary concern would be to get away from the dog, not stop and risk getting bitten.
I totally agree with Brad. I don’t think the person who came up with the dog notification tag was thinking clearly at the time.
If the dog is still threatening you, come back later when it isn’t. In most cases the danger isn’t being bitten. It’s that the dog may give chase, get under your wheels, and cause a crash. The remedy is to alert the dog’s owner, and the authorities, before the dog causes injury to someone else. Our hang tags give people a place to start.
From my experience as a dog owner with leashed dogs who nonetheless will lunge at cyclists if I haven’t seen them in advance and cleared the path, dogs chase cyclists but it is the bicycles, the turning wheels really, that seem to be to draw, not the people. I understand that you can’t tell if a dog is vicious or not when they are chasing you but cyclists that are not fearful will stop and often that is the end of the problem. The best strategy is to alert the owner, with a bell preferably, if they are leashed dogs or in control of their owner so that they will remain in control. If the dogs are loose steer wide around them or walk. Try to dismount before the dogs get upset. It defeats the bike ride but it could save injury. Usually stray dogs that bite and need to be outrun are not roaming around (my take). It is the bicycle that inspires them.
I have a permit and carry a .357 pistol. On a public right of way or land, the first time, will be the last time your dog attacks anybody.
Enclosed is a link to a blog written by someone who has traveled all over the world including many places where dogs roam free in packs. While the chance of getting bitten is real, the fear of getting bitten, and the cyclist’s anger, is what defeats most cyclists. The truth is that the real danger is from falling.
http://www.cyclingscholar.com/danger.html
For DawgKiller:
(http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9013339)
“In Virginia, it is now a felony to kill a companion animal even if it’s on your property (also known as the T-Bone law – named after a dog killed by someone other than its owner). The law is less than a decade old now I believe – or close to that.
Individuals have been prosecuted on this charge and have received as much as 10 years in prison.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-144
� 18.2-144. Maiming, killing or poisoning animals, fowl, etc. “
Well of course just shooting a dog would be an offense but I will bet that if a dog is chasing someone and that person fears for there safety and kills the animal they will not see a day in court. 10 Years in jail for killing a dog yeah maybe 1 case and it wouldn’t have been 1 animal people kill people and can go to jail for 4 years. I love dogs I have 2 but I keep mine safetly contained and that is the responsible thing to do. If you are walking your dog and can’t hold them that is irresponsible. Lets not put an animal equal with a human thats when you lose control of your animal. The way i see it is if your dog gets shot because it scared someone then it is your fault and the owner will be held liable and can and usially do end up paying in court for their pets damage just be responsible everyone
Hey Madmat,
I’m not condoning irresponsible dog ownership. But I am hoping that cyclists behave responsibly. I’m a avid cyclist who logs hundreds of miles. Dogs and babies in my path are very dangerous. Young kids on bikes and motorists on cell phones are extra scary. I try to control what I can. That includes giving audible warnings.
If somebody buzzes me on their bicycles with less than 3′ of clearance and my dogs bite them, it is their fault unless they didn’t see me. Also, unless a dog is truly vicious, walking a bicycle in tight quarters with dogs will save your legs. Why encourage violence?
Lastly, people with anger management problems should not carry guns. If you shoot a dog because you are scared you could shoot a person because you are scared. Not a good time to make a life or death decision.
I was riding my bicycle today on a public road in rural Amherst county. Va, when a doberman charged me at full speed, barking and showing its teeth in a very threatening manner. It caused me to take immediate evasive action, going to the other side of the road and peddling like there was no tomorrow. It chased me several hundred yars until I outran it, but for the entire time it was within 1 ft. of my leg. When Iold the sheriff deputy that the next time it occured, that I’d defend myself with a 9mm, that I have a CCW for. He told me that if I shot the dog that they would revoke my CCW license. The dog owner told the deputy over the phone that their dog routinely chased all vehicles passing by, and then lied to the officr stating their dog was a mixed breed, when anyone could see that it is a full blooded doberman. I’m calling the sheriff tomorrow to discuss the dialog I had with his deputy, and also requesting animalcontrol to investigate the dog to determine that it is indeed a full bred doberman. Any helpful info is appreciated.
Find out the local laws. Find out what the penalty for a dog bite is in that locality. Find out what the leash laws are. Dog breed has nothing to do with it unless a breed is prohibited in that locality. Find out if the dog has ever bitten someone. That could help your case. If the dog has never bitten then it is hard to do anything. Perhaps there is a way to prove that the dog caused a hazard? I’ve had to report kids that threw things that almost caused me to crash and the police took it seriously.
Dogs can’t talk so all they have is their bark and their bite. You are lucky to have outrun the dog although you probably just rode out of the dog’s territory. Most people can’t ride faster than a dog can run and so it really is better just to stop and act big and hope it works. You will be bitten anyhow unless you are a great rider if the dog is truly vicious. Get off on the side opposite the dog and use the bike as a shield. Yell in a commanding voice for the dog to stop, stay, go home. Never crouch. hit the dog on the nose if it gets too close. read about defending yourself from vicious dogs. Walkers and runners have this problem too.
I completly agree that people with anger problems shouldn’t own guns I do understand if a biker comes within 3 inches of me or my kid I myself may have an issue and that comes down to people having respect for ones safety and personal space. Simply saying that if you truly feel your life is in danger and you cannot avoid an attack weather you lose your license or not you know weather the situation warrants self defense or not. I bike but i am also a runner so there has been times when i was chased and fortunatley I stopped and the dog was actually not at all on the attack. If you have to protect yourself let the sheriff take your license and bring the matter to court you may be suprised the judge may reinstate it if you had no other choice. It amazing to me all these police officer shooting dogs in residential neighborhoods and they are never dragged through the ringer. everyone has great points and it is a very diverse subject.
Angered that a dog owner, especially one of five breeds catagorized and recogized in Amherst county as requiring different rules of ownership responsibility, and these irresponsible owners do not pay heed to rules and laws….subjecting me to a possible dog bite, accident with a car, accident from crashing…..yes, it angers me. However,it has nothing to do with gun ownership. Even if I did not have a CCW permit, I could legally strap a pistol on my waist in plain view and be out in the public forum. Compounded by ignorant, uneducated, overzealous dufus’ wearing a law enforcement badge just raises the frustration level; that said, the animal control officer is a great guy, knowledgeable, and very willing to assist me as an endangered citizen on a public thoroughfare. The dog owner is in violation of three different codes, and these codes are going to be enforced, by me through the courts, with the animal control officer’s assistance.
Just joining the conversation rather late … concerning dogs chasing down bikes. One of the things taught to motorcyclists (I used to teach MSF BRC) is that dogs have this uncanny ability to do the trigonometry in their heads to intercept a passing bike (motor or pedal). An easy fix to this is to slow down a little or to change directions and mess up the dog’s OODA loop. Of course that may not be practical on all occasions, so just put this strategy into your kit with some of the others.
I think it was Mark who described being chased with the Doby behind him, so that’s a different story. Putting the bicycle between you and the dog sounded like good advice.
I don’t think shooting an animal will put you in very good position, though. As an avid shooter (combat tested), I can’t think of how I can reasonably go through the process of (1) recognizing the threat, (2) getting access to my pistol, however I were to carry it whilst bicycling – maybe in a camelback?, (3) take aim with one hand while controling the bicycle with the other, and (4) place a single-handed, well-aimed kill shot without the risk of follow-on or riccochet damage. I imagine that if I were a defendant in the civil or criminal case that followed (CCW or not), the plaintiff or prosecution would ask how I was able to do all of that but didn’t have time to simply get out of the way or dismount and use the bicycle as a shield. Maybe you should just leave the firearm at home and carry a long-handled wrench instead. Make sure it’s a 15mm so you at least have a reason to carry the wrench: “Well, deputy/officer/trooper, that’s for tightening my pedals should they come loose.”
Some may consider this inhumane, but for at least the last 25 years I have carrid an extra water bottle with water and cayenne pepper mixed in. It stops the dogs in their tracks. My regular route crosses paths with many dogs, some of which are not tied at all times. I’m not afraid of getting bit but I don’t want to go down because the dog put its head under my tire. Anyhow, this has always worked for me. The dogs that I have actually sprayed still chase but don’t come within 10 feet of me. They just play now. Remember not to drink the bottle with the pepper in it.
Josephus, I like your suggestion. I totally forgot about pepper. We used to hit the dogs in Iraq with pepper spray to keep them away. Either your cocktail or a commercially available sprayer would likely do the trick – and it sounds like you have the test results to prove it. If one prefers the commercial sprayer over the Josephus homemade recipe, a riders can probably fashion a pepper sprayer to his or her cross bar or handle real easily. Thanks for your input.
{ 2 trackbacks }