Hi, and dogs???

[xeney]

Ugh. I hate bullies, and that is what these people are, if they are trying to intimidate you into not pursuing it. I completely understand not wanting to antagonize them, but on the other hand, you are going to have to pass that house anyway, and do you think it is going to be less scary if you have let them intimidate you into not making them pay for the damage they caused?

That's a real question, not a rhetorical one. I would not really blame you if you decided to let it go for the sake of neighborhood peace, but me, I would probably be so mad at the attempted intimidation that I would say, fine, see you in court. I mean, it's not like they have a defense, right?

[Artisan]

How comfortable are you emotionally and financially taking care of the 500 dollars yourself? Are going to feel resentment for paying it yourself and/or can you afford to take on the additional 500 debt to your budget? I wouldn't put too much into how "they" are going to feel, you have to do what is best for you.

When I had my run in with a dog, I ended up paying the 250 that my insurance didn't cover. It didn't hurt my budget very much so I wasn't so stressed over it. The owners received a very hefty fine, had they not, I would have pursued payment for my medical bills.

[eclectic]

I am with tuckervill - I wouldn't settle but then I am not in a financial position to eat $500. small claims court is pretty painless and they can go to their insurance company - yes their rates will go up for a couple of years but that is the price they pay for owning a dog that runs loose


On a related note I learned the VERY hard way to never go directly to the dogs owners to work out the problem. I was dealing w/ my next door neighbors who never had shelter for their lab even in -25 weather, the dog would sleep on the ice and snow, also it would bark all night.

As things are normally done in this neck of the woods I tried talking to the owners first (who are from out of state) on numerous occasions with no results.

I finally told them I had called the Humane Society and would be calling the police and animal control in the future. In response they filed a tresspassing notice on me and also a disorderly conduct (claimed I came barging in their house ) - they lied all the way through it and no one EVER asked my side - it finally got thrown out - after I had been arrested, posted bail, and spent $500 on a lawyer.

Luckily they have rid themselves of the dog

So moral of the story is start with the police

[cosc]

My experience won't give you much advice, but this is what I did after a dog chased me (seemed like about a mile). He was a mean sounding blue heeler. I kept thinking he was giving up the chase, but in reality was just catching his breath sucking behind my wheel to make a new attack. After the incident I called the owner to restrain her dog before riding. The 4th time I called she was apathetic and asked why I didn't ride the bike path the city spent so much money on. The path only goes 1 mile, and does not even get me passed her house. I quit calling her and the dog has came out for a short chase, but no extended chases. I haven't been riding that way since the road work. There is not many choices for good roads to ride. Looking forward to dogs on the route definitely dampened my enthusiasm to get on my bike. Glad your able to ride again and hope you receive a just reimbursment.

[liberty]

Dampening my enthusiasm is right... I really wanted to ride yesterday. But I just couldn't get up the desire/courage/heart to go. Chances are the dogs will be out again. And I don't feel like fighting every time I ride, you know? If it was just those two dogs at that one corner then it wouldn't be such a big deal (but it would still be a big deal). But three more one way, two more the opposite direction and they are both only 16 mile routes!!!!!!! I might have another way I can go. Need to check it out first. And hopefully it would only be a two dog route. The emotional side of this is more than I figured. Ack.

[emily_in_nc]

Dampening my enthusiasm is right... I really wanted to ride yesterday. But I just couldn't get up the desire/courage/heart to go. Chances are the dogs will be out again. And I don't feel like fighting every time I ride, you know? If it was just those two dogs at that one corner then it wouldn't be such a big deal (but it would still be a big deal). But three more one way, two more the opposite direction and they are both only 16 mile routes!!!!!!! I might have another way I can go. Need to check it out first. And hopefully it would only be a two dog route. The emotional side of this is more than I figured. Ack.

So sorry liberty ~ I know I would be feeling the same as you, which is why I made the semi-serious suggestion to move. Doing so would probably feel like letting "them" win; otoh, it's also taking your life back to remove yourself from an untenable situation. There just have to be better, more bike-friendly places to ride. Other than that, you're pretty much limiting yourself to driving and parking to ride in safer areas. I wouldn't want to ride in your 'hood either!

It's just not right -- and as someone who had her entire life changed by a dog-induced accident (my pelvis will never be 100% the same, I have a large numb spot on my upper right thigh from where they cut nerves to do my surgery, I get achy and tight in that area, get SI joint pain on longer rides, etc) -- I am supremely empathetic to your situation.

(((((((((((((((((( liberty ))))))))))))))))))))))

Have you tried the Air Zound 2 air horn? I've got that on my road bike now. It may not work on all the dogs you encounter, but it will probably work on most of them. A small price to pay for piece of mind; but no matter how "well-armed" you are, with horn, Halt, etc, just knowing that dogs may or probably will come running out at you is enough to take most of the fun out of a ride and/or provide enough motivation not to ride, just like you experienced. Been there.

Keep us posted, okay?

Emily

[liberty]

So I deliberated this morning for several hours on whether I was gonna ride or not. And I made myself go. After all, most times you are afraid of something it turns out to be a non-issue. So I went. Got up to the house, and the owner was outside. Told me to wait a minute because the dog was out. So he went to put the dog away. I asked him if I could call him before I left the house on future rides and then he would know to lock up the dogs. He was great with that. I just hope after this whole thing is over that we are still on speaking terms, as it would be wonderful to think those dogs are over and done with... (We didn't speak at all of finances) Rest of the ride was dogless. Yippee! And you know what, I feel like me again. Not fearful anymore. I'm sure on future rides I'll have to keep confronting this to some degree, but for now I feel invincible and in love with biking again. Did 15 miles of hills and my legs are tired but happy. My lungs did better than I thought. So maybe the body is adjusting quickly! Only quirk today was the stop sign at the top of a hill. Gonna have to practice clipping in and starting uphill from a standstill...