Hit a dog when cycling today -- advice?

[owlice]

athena, as others have pointed out, the owners should have had the dog on a leash. I'm glad you weren't hurt and that the dog apparently wasn't, either.

If this is something that will make you feel better -- if you are still feeling bad -- you might want to make a donation to an animal-related charity. (Maybe one that educates people on responsible dog ownership!) I know sometimes when I'm feeling bad about something I really couldn't help, doing something like making a small donation to something related, however tangentially, will make me feel better; I guess it's a way of making lemonade, of making something good come of whatever the bad situation is.

[MartianDestiny]

I completely agree with what the others have said (or at least, what I skimmed of it), but wanted to add my support as well.

Unless it was an off leash area the dog should have been on a leash. Regardless of leash status the dog should have been under control. Now, maybe he was, given he came when called, BUT the owners should have thought ahead on their actions of calling their dog across the MUT when a cyclist was approaching. As a dog owner in an area with "voice and sight control" (ie: no leash required) areas I know that if I exercise the Privilege of having my dog off leash I need to be extra aware for her sake and the sake of other trail users.

That said dogs (leashed or not because frequently they are on those absurd 10ft retractable things held by clueless owners and might as well be loose) and children are completely unpredictable and as a cyclist on a MUT it's best to slow way down whether they look like they are going to stay out of your way or not.

But don't beat yourself up over it. It happened and neither of you was hurt, so learn what you care to learn from it and move on.

I bike with my dog (on a leash) and I can't believe how clueless other dog owners are. My dog knows sit, stay, wait, leave it, no, come, don't pull, and generally that she is to stay on my right hand side at my pedal (I've had her 3 weeks...). Of course we have issues, but I deal with them and keep the trail safe for her and others. Meanwhile people with dogs that have ZERO social skills will let them RUN in front of my bike GROWLING at my dog! HELLO!! And of course the punishment is "don't do that sweety" in the best play voice possible... Give me a break. We know who wears the pants in that relationship and it's NOT the human, and unfortunately that's just the way most dog owners are.

My (mostly shouts) of "control your animal" are met with mostly blank stares. *sigh*