Honestly I would recommend running a different route. I know people will say you should be able to go wherever you want blah blah blah... however, is it really worth putting yourself in harms way with 5 dogs?

This is the kind of thing that has enabled entitled people to take over the US, minority rule. Making it non-PC to enforce or control bad behavior.

Carry protection at the next interaction (mace or something), and video tape it. Then, immediately call the cops/sheriff. File suit/charges against the owners. If anything, list the cost of the mace.

I'm so tired of hearing about people rolling over and letting human filth run our country because we're too PC to deal with them.

Cracking first reply haha... carry a weapon!

Seriously get a grip. Talk about first world problems. You live in America, it’s massive! There is literally so much land to run on, why put yourself in harms way?

If it was something that really mattered I’d say yeah do something about it, but let’s face it, it’s just a running route. It’s fun to explore, the OP could find a new route, it may even be better.

Just think of it as free speed work.

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Take a short break from ST and read my blog:
http://tri-banter.blogspot.com/

I get you on trying to deal with the problem instead of finding another route, but what does any of it have to do with people being PC?

I have used this a few times on runs and on the bike. Seems to turn them around.

PC was the wrong word or phrase.

It made sense at the moment, but doesn't now.

And, to be honest, if it was me it wouldn't be a war unless it was part of a favorite route, or it really was detrimental to what I wanted to do. On the bike, I have favorite places I go that include hills. If I couldn't do my favorite hill because of a dog pack, I wouldn't let it go.

Rural areas may seem like your oyster to go where you want, like there's always another road or something. But that isn't the case. Sometimes if you want to go anywhere in a certain cardinal direction you are forced to take a certain road to get there.

Business idea for the bike.......rear facing pepper spray mounted like a bike light that's activated by a covered button on the handlebars. Lift the cover, depress. Win. Bond style.

I love this reply. But considering most average dogs can easily run up to a mile faster than any human in history, this would probably not work out for me.

I totally agree. I was circled by a pack of dogs while running in Turks. They were snarling, showing their teeth and lunging at me. I realized at that moment they could rip me to shreds. A passing car saw it and came to my rescue. I would NEVER run that way again.

Exactly. But this also means they aren't really serious, since they haven't caught you. Get some pepper spray and train them to keep their distance if you really feel threatened.

Another option would be to get the owners phone number and ask them to lock up the dogs when you are going to be running by.
EDIT: Oh... you've already called the "cops" on them. I think that was a big mistake! I don't understand this behavior unless you want to make enemies. Talk to them like a normal human and be nice. I've found that pretty much everyone is reasonable if you show a little friendliness and respect.

An option besides pepper spray might be Pet Corrector spray (basically compressed air). Dogs absolutely hate that stuff and it won't rely on your aim with the pepper spray, can be effective on all five at once. Of course, it might not work in that particular situation, I'm not a dog expert.

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Dimond Bikes Superfan

if you go to petsmart or whatever your local pet store you'll find doggy pepper spray. works great. solves your problem. honestly, a water bottle full of water would also likely work. but the pepper spray is lightweight, and guaranteed to work.

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

I'd do both. Those aren't the only 5 untethered dogs in the area.

Carry a baggy of doggie snacks. They'll come out wagging next time.

Or an air horn. I have one that I can recharge with a floor pump. Not so unobtrusive to carry, but you'll likely only need to use it once.

When I was running in my old rural home town in high school, dogs were just a daily thing. Pretty much all I'd have to do is bend over like I was picking up a rock, and they'd turn tail. Rarely ever did I have to actually pick one up and throw it.

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Some are born to move the world to live their fantasies...

https://triomultisport.com/
http://www.mjolnircycles.com/

There are responsible dog owners and there are assholes. These people are the latter. Unfortunately they get away with it because dog control won't do anything until you're attacked. Mace and pepper sprays work but be prepared for the owners to get seriously pissed. Think.. chase you off in a pickup truck with or without shotgun to menace, then you'd better be recording it.

I've never done this but thought about it often.. ride or run by so that the dogs come out and tag team with a buddy who drives by at that moment and runs a couple of them over. Obviously it can only be a "coincidence" once.

Trust me......pepper spray works well.

Just use it as a speed workout.

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https://connect.garmin.com/modern/profile/domingjm

Lol, or just run with a slow friend.

You aren't the OP, so how do you know that?

I do not own a dog. That may or may not refute his point.

I love this thread. I've been bitten twice and I'm just not a dog person. I was recently chased by a German Shepherd who was coming at me full steam from a ravine I was running by. I had my headphones in and it was near the end of my long run so I was sweaty and tired but when I heard loud barking, I turned my head and there he was....a full grown dog on the hunt. I started yelling while getting ready for a fight then out of nowhere a voice came and called him back. He was part of a dog-walkers crew and thankfully he decided to listen to his walker. Long story short, I went on the online hunt for convenient repellent gear and came to the conclusion that in the event of an attack, it's extremely unlikely I'd be able to pull out whatever I brought and am best off with the yell/scream/act big and scary approach.

Total bullshit! God forbid a kid goes by on his bike and gets mauled. Keep calling the cops/animal control until they do something. Irresponsible dog owners are the worst.

Dog owners that let their pack of dogs accost an individual on a public road are assholes. It's BS to the person, and not really fair to the dogs either. Do the work to put in an electric fence.

-dog owner

 
I lived in rural NC and many other places in the backwoods as well as cities. Have never seen the sort of payback carried out like in the back woods.

Similar situation but dogs chased a woman on a bike. Her husband went back waking past the trailers. Dogs came out. He bear sprayed them all. They ran off

Two days later the guy comes out of his house and his own dog is dead on his porch with a rope around its neck. Country justice and injustice is often swift and unforgiving.

I would run a different route

Preconceived notions much? Since the dogs aren't really aggressive, there is a good chance there has never been an issue with them until the OP ran by. Loads of people in rural areas let their dogs run loose. Assuming the owner is a dick and escalating the issue without even speaking to them with some respect is juvenile. Moving "out to the country" and calling animal control because some dogs chased you is not a smart move. Unless you want the locals to hate you...

I'll 2nd the air horn. So effective, that a friend of mine had a special air horn mount made for his bike. Now friends he ride with, want them too. Hasn't failed to deter an attack yet.

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Athlinks / Strava

rruff wrote:

ripple wrote:

Dog owners that let their pack of dogs accost an individual on a public road are assholes.

Preconceived notions much? Since the dogs aren't really aggressive, there is a good chance there has never been an issue with them until the OP ran by. Loads of people in rural areas let their dogs run loose. Assuming the owner is a dick and escalating the issue without even speaking to them with some respect is juvenile. Moving "out to the country" and calling animal control because some dogs chased you is not a smart move. Unless you want the locals to hate you...

To quote the OP:

Quote:

pack of 5 pretty mean dogs that run out snarling, barking and nipping at me

Doesn't sound "not aggressive".


I expect dogs in the country, and around my area almost all owners call their dogs back, and most have electric fences. If the owners aren't even giving the OP the courtesy of calling off the dogs, that says a lot. Unless they aren't home, in which case leaving your 5 dogs to run loose during the day is just plain stupid.


It sounds like the OP didn't have a chance to talk to the owners. That is often fruitless anyway. The nice owners have already presented themselves as wanting to call the dogs back in. Personally, I've never called dog control and never used a spray, a horn, or anything. I just deal with it, but have 2 particular houses in a 20 mile radius around where I live that I won't go by, because the owners are assholes and won't get a handle on their dogs.

I'll 3rd the air horn. No physical damage is done and the dogs will quickly learn to leave you alone.

If the owners are true rednecks, and you call the authorities on them, prepare for payback!! Last thing you want or need is a couple of pickup trucks full of good ol' boys rolling up on you in the middle of nowhere while you're running. Ever seen Deliverance?!?!

In which case Prestone + Stake = dog problem solved

Similar in N GA but it's usually only 1-3 dogs. My tips: channel your inner dog and don't show fear, I like to yell YEAH DOG with a guttural yell (I sound like my farmer father when I do) (that often makes the owner in the house aware too), reach down like you're going to pick up a newspaper, stick or stone (dogs know that that means business even if you don't use it).

I like to avoid dogs especially on my bike; yet, not to the point of avoiding a perfectly good route. Yelling at the dog works better than yelling at the owner lol

Whatever you do - don't show fear - communicate in every way that you have the advantage over the dog(s).

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Indoor Triathlete - I thought I was right, until I realized I was wrong.

I've looked at a few stun batons for just such a reason.

https://amzn.to/2XiLwky

Lots of reviews that the sound will frighten the dog off initially.

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Ryan
http://www.SetThePaceTriathlon.com
http://www.TriathlonTrainingDaddy.com
I got plans - https://www.trainingpeaks.com/...dotcom#trainingplans

You don't have to give a specific, but where generally? I've been riding east of Clayton and there are a couple such properties you wouldn't be able to run past. Just curious.

My brother and I ran by a trailer park once and around 7-8 dogs came from under the trailer into the road looking to bite us. We got away but had to run back by there to get home. We each picked up a stick about a half mile from the trailer. Sure enough, the dogs came back out into the road nipping and growling. My brother busted one of them across the head with his stick. It ran off whimpering and whining. The others followed suit. We never had any problems from those dogs again.

It's on the Iredell/Rowan county border.

Someone recommended the "pet corrector" above, and I would absolutely second it. The product is essentially a small, lightweight can of compressed air that makes a loud, shearing noise when sprayed. It's designed to stop animals in their tracks when they're misbehaving, and it really scares the hell out of dogs (tail between the legs, scared).

It may not train these particular dogs to leave pedestrians alone, but it will scare them away any time you use it.

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"The right to party is a battle we have fought, but we'll surrender and go Amish... NOT!" -Wayne Campbell

Carry pepper spray. Had the same issue while riding. After the dogs got sprayed once every time I came by they turned around and walked home.

Well, then it turns into resistance training after the dog is attached to your leg.

Sometimes you read something and you're just thankful you haven't been put in that position because I'd go full war with those bumpkin pieces of trash.

I hit the same dog with pepper spray on two separate occasions, think it would learn. The second time the owner came out and threatened me. I called animal control and reported the dog and threat. The problem is that in my state dogs are assumed harmless until they are not. The dog has to bite or previously bitten someone before any action is taken. So a pit bull chases me twice, only stopping when hit by pepper spray, and nothing can be done until he catches and bites me. Haven’t taken that route for awhile, owner probably has the dog doing speed work to catch me next time😳

With so few people having landlines anymore & no reliable cell phone directories the only way to do that would be to knock on the door, which means walking into the dog's yard. Personally, I wouldn't do that.

The house is obviously local to the OP so he can stop by in his car.

The dogs back off when yelled at, so they don't really mean business. Somebody running by is just too irresistible to ignore. Stop and pet them. Give them some doggy treats.

BTW, I don't have a dog and I don't have an urge to own one, but I can understand the perspective of someone living in a rural area and letting the dogs run loose... particularly if it's a place where runners and cyclists are rare. They aren't necessarily evil, or stupid, or assholes.

I have been bitten by a pack of dogs when on the bike. My answer is pretty simple: bear spray.

I am also pretty shocked by replies in this thread. Are you people really genuinely scared of "rednecks" taking revenge? Geez. You make US sound like some 3rd world country. At least from EU perspective.

That's not particularly funny. I'll assume you're ignorant and don't know how painful and miserable a death ethylene glycol poisoning can inflict.

Do you believe the stuff you’re writing? Just curious.

Reminds me a good one.
In France we only have a handful of bears in the most remote areas of the Pyrenees mountains and a few dozens of wolves that nobody ever see, but agressive (or at least barking) untethered dogs are a common thing in the countryside.
I was running alone on a rural road. When running I'm generally very aware of my surroundings and never wear headphones but a medium sized dog managed to surprise me by surging silently from behind a property wall (the gate had been let open). In the blink of an eye, he was upon me. I don't know where it came from but I had the reflex to throw a kick at him. Unfortunately, it took it right in the nose, rolled into the ditch and stayed lifeless. Shit, I killed it, I thought to myself. I was super embarassed and didn't know what to do. Nobody came out of the house. Finally, I decided to take off and to go on with my run. My course was a loop and I had to run by the house with the dead dog twenty minutes later. A long moment spent dealing with my guilt... Upon approaching the house, I decided to take responsability for my deed and explain myself to the owner (we also have our rednecks in France but very few are armed). What the f..., the dog had disappeared from the place it had been lying in! F..., the owner should have discovered it! Finally, as I reached the gate, I saw the animal standing in the driveway, staring at me. Good lord, he was only knocked out! I was so relieved I could have kissed him!
Needless to say, he never again attacked me!

Supposedly dogs will always back down if you are authoritative enough.

I ran in rural Arkansas for years and encountered loose dogs on most runs. Never got bit, but had some nervous moments. It's a hassle. You have to slow down or stop, sometimes just walk slowly backwards while yelling at the dog. Some people have success with the petting the nice doggy thing, but when they come out angry and snarling, I go with yelling and they've always backed down. But again, some close calls.

Rocks are another tactic. If I see a dog ahead or am coming up to a place I know there are dogs, I'll grab some rocks. I travel a lot in the "third world" and there all dogs understand the language of rocks. In fact, you can scare them off by just bending down to pretend you're getting a rock. But in the US, in my experience anyway, dogs don't know about throwing rocks and you actually have to throw the rocks to scare them off. People with mean dogs know their dogs are mean and don't get upset if you yell at or throw a rock at their dog.

Here in Pennsylvania I run in rural areas but have had zero problems with dogs. A whole different dog culture or something.

Well, a few problems with nice dogs. One place my wife and I run people are out walking their dogs without leashes. The dogs run up and the people say "don't worry, she won't bite you, she'll just lick you to death". Well, you know what? Maybe I don't want dog slobber all over me. Maybe I don't want the muddy dog to jump on me and scratch up my legs and get mud on my clothes. Nice dog people are almost worse than mean dog people. My wife is especially authoritative with dogs and she'll angrily yell at and confront a nice doggy if it tries to jump on her. The owners' jaws just drop in astonishment. It's a shock to them that strangers don't want the muddy slobbery dog jumping on them.

The other day a lady was walking four loose dogs when we came running by. We thought "uh-oh", but then the lady said something sharply and the dogs immediately turned, ran to her, and sat down at her side. It'd be nice if all dogs were trained like that. Our long-time pooch passed on and we're between dogs, but when we get a new one, I'm totally going to go through the training and have it super obedient.

Have you watched the documentary Wrong Turn ?

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What's your CdA?

I have two riding buddies that were out a year before we moved to the area (so I wasn't there, but this is their first-hand account).. they were on a climb and got encircled by 4 dogs, my one buddy pepper sprayed them, the dogs went back and they rode on. 5 minutes later the owner squeezed them both into a ditch with their pickup, and said they'd kill them if they ever pepper sprayed their dogs again. My buddies said it's a public road, to which the owner said I guess you'll have to find another public road to ride on.

A few years later I got into an argument after being chased by 3 dogs while the owner basically laughed at me. I was able to grab a rock and make the one dog scared, and chase them back to the property. I informed her that was BS and get a handle on her dogs. She said this is my property. I said, the road? She said if I see you on my property I'll sic em after you. I again said, the road? She said you're a stranger and I'll use my dogs to protect myself. I muttered a few choice words and left. Not 3 minutes later I was "buzzed" by a large pickup truck about a mile down the road but couldn't get a good view of who was driving. But it was the same model and color as the one that was in their driveway. What was I going to do, go back and see if the truck was mysteriously gone?

So yeah, if you use pepper spray, bear mace, whatever, or god forbid a handgun on someone's dog you'd better be prepared for the fallout. As stated previously, these kind of dog owners are assholes, plain and simple.

And what is that you usually do in such situation? Around here, I would call the police. Death threat is actually a criminal offense, so is squeezing someone into a ditch. Letting unassisted dogs on public road is misdemeanor. They guy would get heavily fined, with possible probation.You just let it go?

I was running late autumn evening through the woods. A wild hog with younglings happened. 1km PB followed.

I know it. Lots of experience.

The US is getting more 3rd world all the time. Wealth and income disparity keeps growing, job opportunities for men of modest intelligence and talent pretty well suck. The media likes to inflame divisive and hateful "us vs them" rhetoric; usually some BS about liberals vs conservatives, but whatever it is, it encourages about half the population to hate the other half. To a redneck in the country, some lycra clad "fag" going by is about as far from their "in group" as anyone could be, and an easy target for their anger or whatever.

That's a big reason why I encourage people to actually be civil and talk! Then you are a human being, not some anonymous target. Or least you have the chance to be. If your first response is to call animal control and the guy really is an asshole, you just started a war.

I think you have a few options.

If you want to be nice you can try tossing some dog biscuits, after 3-4 times you will know if it is the solution, they will pause and wait. I have used this 1-2 times cycling.
It was on a route I was not willing to give up on due to low traffic and miles.

Carry spray and blast them, it will work but you may have pissed off the wrong type of person and you may have to spray them or carry a taser.
This approach kind of defeats the mental uplift of running or cycling as in, you are going preparing for confrontation, so choose the approach that you can legally do.

Call the police or animal control and see what they can do. Maybe you can do that anonymously without the dog owner knowing your name.
Call in the pros.

Rob

I was cycling and being chased by a pack of about 8 dogs. Guy in a pickup put his signal on to pass and ran over most of them. Never had a problem with them after that.

Most people are entirely unaware that they're showing fear or submission, even when it's plainly obvious to everyone and everything else in the vicinity. Unfortunately, animals are keenly aware of even the most subtle body language.

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https://connect.garmin.com/modern/profile/domingjm

He's right. The dogs are bored and likely completely friendly but want the OP to just go away. There are painfully obvious differences between a defensive dog and a dog that's motivated to attack. Barking and other threatening behavior is a ample and charitable warning to go away peacefully; the dog that just wants to bite you....you don't hear coming.

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https://connect.garmin.com/modern/profile/domingjm

As a victim of a dog pack I say complete and utter bullshit.
I was on my MTB and 2 leonbergers (easily 120 lbs) and one mixed breed jumped from the woods barking. They tried to chase me away, getting closer and closer. The mixed passed me, jumped and bit me on my thigh with 2 leonbergers closing distance. It was no silent, stealth attack. It was an escalating brawl.

Where's the "like" button?

The reason we are where we are isn't just because the media finds it fun to pit the libtards against the redneck trash and see us go after each other. It's because there isn't any accountability.

The death threat would go further since they did push someone off a road. There was a case about the FBI "baiting" the "harmless" rednecks with a bomb plot of a mosque or something. To the point they made the final "deal" with the undercovers. The whole excuse of "just some dumb ole boys not meanin no harm" didn't fly too well in federal court.

Lady I used to live next to carried a pistol in her jersey pocket and I have zero doubts as to whether she would use it if threatened. She was trained to use it and of the mentality that she would if she was in danger. Dog, rednecks, or hood rats. Obviously, preferably not the dog.

I think for riding in the country in questionable areas they should sell a "member NRA" bike jersey or something. We do have a few local police fundraiser rides that sell jerseys. That would be a good one too.

Show a little dominance next time. I always assume that people have some idea how to communicate with dogs; the important communication isn't audible. Sounds like you made a pretty fun target.

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https://connect.garmin.com/modern/profile/domingjm

Ya. Police that came to the scene also failed at dominance pose apparently. One of the dogs had to get tasered.

They let it go yes, and figured it wasn't worth pursuing. Their feeling was.. if w call the cops on her and she sees us out again she runs us over, we're dead. In the right, but dead.

What do you do? No good answer except maybe kill the asshole dog owner first? I doubt it.

Why's it almost feel like victim blaming in this forum topic? I don't know how else to interpret that. It's almost like telling a rape victim they should have soiled themselves to prevent it.

Here we have a poster who got chased and bitten and the response is "show a little dominance next time"? Just wow.

Man, I just don't get it. Especially with a bite involved, it's not some simple little misunderstanding. There are crimes and damages involved.

Look at it this way..........if any of these situations happened to a police officer on a bike, running, walking, otherwise.......the dog might be dead and the owner sitting on the curb in handcuffs and you've got a #1 night time news story on your local TV station. But we're in here making excuses for people and almost victim blaming the others.

Currently riding in "redneck" country, which I like. It's not just cyclists. People wave guns at one another while driving and then are pulled over by the police with felony charges. And since anyone could be "packin" here, it's "yes sir or no sir" and some of the most polite people that I've come across.

In regards to dogs on the road and bears on the MTB trails, my local friend actually packs a small pistol while riding. He showed it to me after a ride and the weight weenies would be pleased.

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Indoor Triathlete - I thought I was right, until I realized I was wrong.

I was responding to otesb-whatever, not the OP in that post.

You can inadvertently miscommunicate with a dog (or any other animal) and provoke it into a bite out of ignorance. Yeah, you'd be partially to blame for that. Not legally of course, but if you would have followed some simple guidelines, the situation would have been averted. If you act like something that should be chased, you very well may be chased and bitten. How do you tell a dog "hey look, your property ends at the road and I'm only out here for some exercise"? You don't. You tell it nonverbally that you mean no harm, that you're leaving his "property" but that you're doing it confidently and not because you're intimidated.

Of course, the bottom line is it's the owners responsibility to keep their dogs sequestered from public nuisance, regardless of how far out in the country they live. But when they fail to do that, you better know how to deal with the situation, because you're going to encounter it.

And gtfo with the rape shit. So dramatic.

Edit: also, please note that I would absolutely pursue some sort of follow-up action if I was continually harassed by animals at a particular household. No question.

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To me its a great anti-gun argument. Everyone is terrorized into submission by people "packin". You don't act freely because someone dumb or someone a bit on the nervous side can terminate you. Even if you defend your life from dogs...

Murica is a scary place.

Actually quite the opposite. No one is terrorized. We laugh pretty freely and the women feel pretty safe because they're packin too. lol

Countries where people don't have guns are not that free. https://en.wikipedia.org/...f_gun_laws_by_nation

People who hate Hitler probably hate that Hitler took the guns away from his citizens early on. Or was that a good thing he did for his country?

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Indoor Triathlete - I thought I was right, until I realized I was wrong.

You gtfo out with the victim blaming and Monday morning quarterbacking. Your little comic strip one-liner tips aren't helpful to someone jumped in the woods by dogs by pretending like it's you walking past a house seeing it coming.

You come across as pretty preachy and dismissive of a pretty dangerous topic.

Here, I'll quote your nonsense: "Show a little dominance next time. I always assume that people have some idea how to communicate with dogs. Sounds like you made a pretty fun target."

If you don't find that the least bit condescending, I ain't got nothing for ya buddy. And you can keep the rape comment, because it's a very relevant and modern victim blaming culture that HAS to change in this country. And I'm seeing the same shades of that crap in this topic too.

Again, the condescension was aimed at otebski, not the OP. But I'll stand by the actual advice I gave. I've dealt with more than my share of aggressive and defensive dogs and they're mostly all diffused in the same manner, as I described.

People come here asking for advice, and this thread is no exception. So what do we do? A little armchair quarterbacking, yes. If you're hiking in Yellowstone, it's your responsibility to know how to deal with bears; if you're exercising out in the boonies, you should know how to deal with dogs. Jesus, I'm the biggest libtard on the block, but this rape victim blaming analogy you're making is well-beyond even me. See you in the lavendar room.

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Actually this is a great example. Really think about it. What can you do? Are escalating the fight or backing down the only alternatives? Both suck and are absolutely unnecessary 99% of the time. I can't fight for shit (unless I'm *really* mad) and I don't back down, so...

It's great that the dog owner actually came out and confronted the riders. Much better chance of resolution vs someone who gets out in their pickup with bull bars and just "accidentally" runs over the next cyclist they see.

So, the owner is obviously really pissed off right? Can you relate at all to why they might be mad? If they are a real crusty asshole those dogs might be the only friends and family they have. People can get really attached to their dogs. So from their perspective you just came to their home and hurt their babies! Obviously that isn't *your* perspective at all, but it's important to relate to where the owner is coming from and what they believe. You are about as far from being in their "tribe" as you can get, and they already fear and hate you. If you respond in the same manner, then there is no hope. And running to Mommy (calling the cops or animal control) is about the worst thing you can do! Don't turn your home into a war zone. And don't let your neighbors bully you. I mean, isn't that obvious?

So what do you do? Calmly ask them if they'd like to talk about it. Whatever they fire back, don't take the bait. You want them to settle down and talk as rationally as possible. If you manage that, then you've made great progress. Empathize and deescalate. Very important. Don't engage them while they are still an angry raving lunatic as no communication is possible.

Tell them that you want to find a solution that will be good for everyone (including the dogs). Be completely nonthreatening, but don't back down. Compliment their dogs, tell them that you love dogs and you'd never try to hurt them. You were just trying to train them not to chase people. Even if you didn't ride on that road other people would, and if the dogs are chasing they might get run over. Or if they bite someone the dogs will get put down, and nobody wants that. Do they have any ideas? Maybe the airhorn would work? Etc...

Here is a thought experiment for you. Come up with a measurable statistic that you think would demonstrate the benefits or otherwise of gun ownership. In what area is your country leading the world that we can attribute to guns? If everyone is safe and happy show me the figures.

Don't get me wrong. You can't put the genie back in the bottle, you have guns in the US and they aren't going away. But you are over simplifying the issue by making sweeping statements about how happy 'we' are and 'everyone' is when you are talking about the experience of hundreds of millions of people across many different divides.

His post is total bullshit. I was headed off and surrounded by three vicious dogs this spring. They gnashed their teeth, foaming at the mouth taking turns lunging at me for 10 minutes while I used my bike to fend them off. I still don’t know how I got away as they became more enraged the longer it went on. They were waiting on the highway for me around a hairpin curve.i called animal control. They talked to the guy but when they went out he was with the dogs at his shop and they weren’t just running loose as normal. There was nothing that could be done. The owner was a selfish prick that had no intention of putting up an enclosure to contain his watchdogs as he called them.

THIS is all you need for $9.99...I have it & works great.

This is THE protocol for accomplishing rational discourse and resolution in minor disagreements and in hostile situations. It's something I definitely need to work on, and it pervades all compartments of society. Unfortunately, it's usually more acutely satisfying to escalate and get the better of your "opponent" but there's rarely any long term benefit for either party. Government in particular would run a lot more smoothly, but they seem to have the explicit goal of exacerbating divisiveness.

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https://connect.garmin.com/modern/profile/domingjm

First it was meant with humor but since your brought up the "ignorant" word the last dog that attacked us I simply killed, cut his head off, and took the head to animal control so they could check the un-vaccinated bastard for rabies, which is 100% fatal if untreated. Since it came out on a public road and bit my son, 10 staples to close the wound in his leg, I could have cared less how the dog died.

I love dogs and have two myself but if they attack a human on public property they are fair game.

Politics have been like that forever pretty much... but sowing divisiveness throughout society is a new thing, at least in my lifetime. Half the population gets specially tailored "news"feeds manufactured from BS and spin, telling them all the hideous things the other half is up to, and they believe it! So lots of people are indignant and angry over the fake stories in their minds and it doesn't take much for them to explode.

Meanwhile back in reality, the great majority of people are about the same and want the same things, and there is really no reason why we can't get along.

Have you done 23andme?? I'm betting on an impressive expression of neanderthal ancestry.

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https://connect.garmin.com/modern/profile/domingjm

Absolutely! And we should be scared! Having lived overseas I can understand your disbelief with some of the replies. However parts of the US are very third-world like. There is significant poverty in many parts of the country (the rust belt, bible belt, parts of Appalacia to name a few). Even the rural areas where I live have much economic depression. I haven't dealt with the southern rednecks in rural North Carolina but know the stories. Our rednecks here in Vermont are pretty mean and scary too. I could write a book about my stories of being bullied by rednecks and their dogs while running and cycling. It's pretty bad. And they are vindictive, nasty people. One thing to remember is that we have very lax gun laws in the US so many of these rednecks are fully armed and have an assortment of assault weapons.

I'm torn on what advice to give to the OP. Part of me wants to stand up to these backward redneck f*&Ktards. But it might not be worth it in the end. If the problem isn't solved after calling animal control, I personally would find another route. It sucks! I'm with you!

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Death is easy....peaceful. Life is harder.

No....LOL....Animal Control sent the Sherriff out to tell the owner to surrender the dog and the owner admitted it hadn't been vaccinated. The Sherriff let me do the rest.

I was wondering the same thing.

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http://www.jt10000.com/

1. Spray water at them with a water bottle. Carry extra water.
2. Make a loud noise. It may cause them to back off.
3. Keep calling animal control.
4. Keep calling animal control.
5. Keep calling animal control.

PROVIDED there is an animal control. Not all part of the country have that.