You are right Emily, the only time I have had a loose dog run out in the road by me was in a very rural (like you feel you're in Appalachia) part of central MA. That does not count the time my dumb azz neighbors couldn't control their dog in their own home and it ran out of the house into the street, right as I was going up the hill on my bike. In fact the dog problem in my town revolves around unleashed dogs on the trails. Dog owners insist their dogs are "under control" off leash, but that is not always so. The law has been changed so that dogs have to be on leash on most of the conservation land trails and the owners are so up in arms, it's constantly being contested. The law doesn't apply to them! I am one of those people who gets scared when a dog runs up to me on the trail; I don't know what it will do. These owners are extremely nasty if you say something to them.
I did my little early morning 13 mile ride this morning. I went out later than usual as I don't have to be at work until 11. So, leaving right before 6, there was more traffic and more riders, but still fine, since there's no school buses. The last time I did this route, the sun was blinding me going down a hill, but it was cloudy this morning. We're in the midst of a humid, semi-stormy week. I saw a big crack of lightning on my way home and it did spritz, but overall, just humid. There's scattered thunderstorms predicted for tomorrow, and the group is doing the Mt Wachusett climb tomorrow (will likely be cancelled), so I am going to a museum with my granddaughter and DIL. I still might ride, depending on the weather, though, either before or after they come here.