Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on January 2, 2012 at 9:49am

That's what I'm thinking and I don't like not having a Plan A, B or C for this, if and when it happens to me.  Goes against my nature.
 
Jeff Schneider said:

I don't think there is any kind of defense against this kind of animal (I mean both the dogs and their moronic owner), other than having the good fortune not to be where they are.

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Permalink Reply by S.Presley☠ on January 2, 2012 at 10:15am

Not having your dog on a leash is one thing (my biggest pet peeve[no pun intended]) but not having Tags on your Dogs tells volumes about the owner. I hope they find the person responsible.

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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on January 2, 2012 at 10:24am

Thanks, all good advice, h'.  I'm mentally filing this away for the really bad day I have to use it. 

As far as finding the owner, if they live nearby I wouldn't be surprised if a neighbor tipped off the cops, especially if a reward is offered.  It would be hard to keep two vicious dogs a complete secret in a neighborhood.  If I lived next door to them, I sure wouldn't be pleased. 
 
h' said:

Seen this discussed on other forums all day.

What I've taken away is:

1) Don't try to run away-- you can't outrun them and that will reinforce that you're "prey"-- instead, confront the dogs-- common theme is sticking out your hand and yelling "stop."

2) If you can get your bike in between you and the dogs it may help

3) Pepper spray is apparently effective against Pit Bulls.

 

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Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on January 2, 2012 at 10:34am

Just heard this story on the radio.  Truly awful...

And yeah that is good info right there.  

I almost never got on my bike without my pepper spray now, and even though it's likely some weaker stuff since I bought it at Sport's Authority, it makes me feel a lot more comfortable while riding to know I have some form of protection should an event such as this ever arise.  

Another thing to consider maybe is a tactical pen.  I actually bought one as a gift for a friend who is an ER nurse for xmas, because I remembered she encountered some dicey situations while leaving work late at night and such.  Here's the link:  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0037EZ7TA/boiboi-20

I guess a small knife would work too?  But if you don't like carrying things like that on your person, this would fit nicely in a bike bag or jacket pocket.

h' said:

Seen this discussed on other forums all day.

What I've taken away is:

1) Don't try to run away-- you can't outrun them and that will reinforce that you're "prey"-- instead, confront the dogs-- common theme is sticking out your hand and yelling "stop."

2) If you can get your bike in between you and the dogs it may help

3) Pepper spray is apparently effective against Pit Bulls.

I can see why people on national forums who live in Mayberry would assume one could find the owners and make them responsible, but I'd have expected Chicagoans to know how unlikely identifying any owners in a situation like this might be.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 2, 2012 at 10:47am

I've been able to outrun dogs in the past, but I was in my 20s, on a fast road bike, on clear smooth pavement in summer, and a lot less injured than I am now.  Even back then, it took every ounce of strength and every bit of oxygen to outrun them, and it totally wore me out.  I seriously doubt that I could do it now.  Even if I startled them by squirting them in the face with a water bottle, I don't know if I could outrun them today.

When I've encountered loose dogs who looked like they might attack, I've used the "stop" hand as Howard described and yelled STOP!!! in my loudest possible voice.  A very loud NO!!! works, too.

If any of you have studied singing or played a wind instrument, you should be familiar with breathing from your diaphragm and using everything you've got for a fortissimo passage.  Yell loud enough to intimidate the piss out of them.  That stops most dogs in their tracks.

Good tips, Howard.




h' said:

Seen this discussed on other forums all day.

What I've taken away is:

1) Don't try to run away-- you can't outrun them and that will reinforce that you're "prey"-- instead, confront the dogs-- common theme is sticking out your hand and yelling "stop."

2) If you can get your bike in between you and the dogs it may help

3) Pepper spray is apparently effective against Pit Bulls.

I can see why people on national forums who live in Mayberry would assume one could find the owners and make them responsible, but I'd have expected Chicagoans to know how unlikely identifying any owners in a situation like this might be.

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Permalink Reply by Davo on January 2, 2012 at 11:56am

My guess is that these dogs were probibly used for fighting and would probably have no way of identifying the owner.

S.Presley said:

Not having your dog on a leash is one thing (my biggest pet peeve[no pun intended]) but not having Tags on your Dogs tells volumes about the owner. I hope they find the person responsible.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on January 2, 2012 at 12:08pm

My neighbor has one and after playing with it, it's like an Alligator jaw combined with a vice clamp.

h' said:

I could be wrong but I'd think a small knife might backfire . . . once a Pit Bull has its jaw locked on part of your body it's reportedly pretty hard to get it to let go.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on January 2, 2012 at 12:09pm

Maybe but dogs let out or have gotten out of a yard that are naturally territorial and/or trained to attack will do just that. It's too bad for the animals just being animals.

Davo said:

My guess is that these dogs were probibly used for fighting and would probably have no way of identifying the owner.

S.Presley said:

Not having your dog on a leash is one thing (my biggest pet peeve[no pun intended]) but not having Tags on your Dogs tells volumes about the owner. I hope they find the person responsible.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 2, 2012 at 12:22pm

From the Tribune story:

Cherie Travis, commissioner of Chicago Animal Care and Control, said the two dogs were adult male dogs that were not neutered and weighed about 70 pounds each. She confirmed that the dogs were pit bulls and were large even for the breed.

She said the dogs had two-inch nylon black collars that appeared new, which led her to believe they may have belonged to someone and may have possibly escaped from a neighborhood backyard.

The dogs did not have a microchip embedded under their skin that could help officials track down their owners, she said.

"To have two stray dogs wearing matching collars would not be consistent," she said. "The likelihood is these dogs are owned by a person who obviously had both of them."

... She said the way owners treat dogs are the main factor for dog attacks, not the breeds. ... "The problem with the breed is not that they are bad dogs, the problem with the breed is people get them and don't socialize them and don't take them for training and they're strong dogs," she said. "The reality is we need to hold people responsible that if you get a dog, you are responsible for everything that happens."

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on January 2, 2012 at 12:26pm

Aerosol pepper spray will work on just about anything but I would not recommend it for any kind of defense.  Especially if you are often outdoors and in windy conditions as blow back is a very real danger when using aerosol pepper spray; not being able to stop a dog or attacker is bad but having it blow back and blinding you as the attack is even worse. 

What you really want is a pepper foam.  It has greater range and little to no chance of blow back; it also does not rinse out of the eyes as easily or as quickly.

Knifes, and most other weapons, unless you are trained to use them are often going to get you hurt, and possibly in legal trouble, in the long run

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Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on January 2, 2012 at 4:10pm

I was surrounded by 6 dogs near Belmont Harbor on the path at the north point this summer. I stopped immediately and they stood still although two growled. I told the owner to control the dogs and she called me a crabby old man (she may have been right; I am always crabby when surrounded by a half dozen dogs). She eventually left with the dogs after I called the police who came and ticketed her.

Stopping seems to be the most important thing you can do, because the dogs no longer view you as fleeing prey.

Although I have yet to use them, I also carry a small spray bottle of ammonia and water - mixed 5w to 1a - and an airhorn. One for the nose and one for the ears. Both are within easy reach.

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy on January 2, 2012 at 4:24pm

WGN just said police have someone in custody, likely the owner, but no charges pending yet. This is a terrifying story, not just for the attack but also for the idea that there are truly awful pet owners out there whose dogs turn out capable of something like this. Everything about this story is terrible.

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