Bad Dog (Owner)!

[Written 7/10/01]

Well, I'm not too fond of most dogs, either, really, but it's the owners that I really detest. On my way to work each day, I have to pass thru a part of the bike path frequented by many dog walkers. I'd say that about 60% of the dogs are off the leash despite the law against it and despite the signs and despite the many bikers (and me) passing them at decent speeds. I'm on my Coker at a clip of about 12-14mph, so if Poochy happens to dartle out, I really can't do anything safe. It's never happened, luckily, but I s'pose that if it did, I'd try to slow down and maybe jump off, but I would not do anything that could endanger me or any other person. I certainly don't want to ride over some chihuahua -- it's not the dog's fault that its owner is an idiot -- but I certainly care a lot more about my own safety than that of a dog's. Perhaps the best solution in that emergency scenario would be to aim for the owner.

There is one thing I do whenever I see these dog walkers whose dogs are off the leash: I shake my index finger at them and say, "Dog off a leash -- BAD dog owner, BAD dog owner!"