Comments on: Scary leash accident or a crime?

By: james

james — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 02:15:44 +0000

It’s just COMMON sense. DON’T!!!

I ‘tried’ with several of my dogs over the years…they are unpredictable…and this was BEFORE the ‘leash law’. When the leash law came into effect years latter, I can see several problems…the dogs can’t keep up (do you want to be resposible for giving your pet a heart attack??), the dogs ‘cross’, ‘stop’, etc or you do w/o warning – I’ve gotten hurt several times falling off the bike. or else hurt the dog. and another thought is that the dog ‘investigates’ some thing(another dog, bush, squirrel) and with these leashes that are 25 feet long(legal is just 6 feet!!!) trip some innocent bystander. You have a lawsuit looking at you that can take away just about everything you own (try negilence, failure to control your pet, etc.)

By: happened to me too

happened to me too — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 04:48:23 +0000

The same accident happened to me. I was tripped by a rider tethering a dog on a leash. The dog was a small breed and they tripped me going full speed.
I ended up in the ER with 7 stitches to my forearm, a concussion and a sprained wrist. The rider said this is not the first time he’s been downed this way. Couple of things: If we do allow people to run their dogs on bikes, they should learn to drop their leashes immediately. (However, it often happens so fast, this might not be the solution.) But had i thought of it, or knew the drill, I could have tried to shout it and at least try to save myself.

By: Kamala

Kamala — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:10:58 +0000

Bark Magazine just came out with a good article on biking safely with dogs, for anyone interested. “Putting the Pup into Biking” By Finley Fagan – Jun/Jul/Aug 2010: Issue 60

By: Kamala

Kamala — Sun, 30 May 2010 02:59:42 +0000

I agree with Janis and Pat. Y’all need to learn about the Springer. Combine the right tool with common sense and you have a great way to exercise very active dogs and keep everyone sane: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8721103@N02/3325935631/

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buy acai girl — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:24:29 +0000

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By: Pets

Pets — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:20:36 +0000

I must agree on the dog’s specific abilities. I mentioned before a woman who does this bike/dog leash thing at Ragle Park in Sebastopol and quite frankly, it’s probably how she keeps her dog and herself sane.
Exercise is the number one suggestion for easing behavior challenges in dogs. Get them tired out, appropriately.
Most of our suburban dogs are under-exercised, under-trained and under-socialized.

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:51:52 +0000

I can’t beleive how many stupid comments are on here…
Quotes from “Heather”

“yes, dogs like to run, but they are not marathon runners.”
- actually a lot of working and athletic breeds could easily run a marathon. (border collie, husky, etc.)

“Normal dog speeds do not match those reached on a bike or for the length of rides they are taken on.”
- What kind of dog? What kind of rider? Obviously a greyhound can run faster than most bikers will go. Equally as obvious is that a chihuahua can’t go nearly that fast. So your gneralization is massively retarded. And as for the length of ride their taken on… you make it sound like if you take your dog on a bike ride you have to go minimum 500 miles. Heather you just got owned.

By: left bank

left bank — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:20:00 +0000

I agree it’s a dangerous practice for the dog, rider, walker, or car passing by. I see it often here in Sonoma County. Usually the rider is helmetless.
My dog is well behaved but if she saw a squirrel or a deer it would be all over. I’ve even seen people driving with the leashed dog trotting along side the car.
Some people have no imagination and terrible things are the result.

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:15:21 +0000

Yes, this was an accident – - but an accident that could have been avoided if there was a leash law in place. Not only is riding a bike with dogs unsafe to others, it’s unsafe for the rider and for the dogs. Dogs have been knows to zig and zag and pulll a rider off the bike or into traffic. Plus – yes, dogs like to run, but they are not marathon runners. Normal dog speeds do not match those reached on a bike or for the length of rides they are taken on.
I think a law banning the pratice all together is a great idea!

By: Thelma

Thelma — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:45:55 +0000

It should be a law, it’s dangerous for everyone, the cyclist, the animal and pedestrians.