Dogs can be man’s best friend, but dogs roaming on public streets and roads are a serious hazard to cyclists.  Being attacked by a dog while bicycling can mean serious injury or even death.  Regardless of whether a dog is friendly, if it darts into a bicycle rider’s path it can cause a catastrophe.

Taking steps to preventing interaction between a bicyclist and a dog is the first step. If there is any hint that a dog is showing interest in you, try to keep it in sight. The moment you look away is when it will dash between your wheels or latch onto your foot. The first line of defense is to order the dog to not move any closer.  Loudly and sternly say “NO! NO! NO!” Often the dog will pause long enough for you to make your getaway. While repeating “no” in a harsh, no nonsense tone of voice, unhook the can of  spray dog repellant, such as “Halt” you have clipped to your riding shorts and hold it at the ready.  If the dog gets closer than 12 feet, spray it in the face.  The spray does no lasting damage but if it hits the eyes and nostrils, it will stop the creature.

If you don’t trust your aim, or if you can’t aim and ride at the same time, or if you aim and miss, or if for any reason the dog continues to advance; stop and dismount, putting he bike between you and the dog.  It is usually the motion of the moving wheels that attracts the dog.  Stopping the motion will nearly always stop the dog.  To be safer, stay on the opposite side of your bike from the dog.  Use your bike like a fence that the dog has to come through to get to you.  From this position you can aim your “Halt” dog repellant spray with the precision needed for the beast to best learn to leave you alone! If, in spite of everything, a dog causes you to wreck or bites you, it’s best if you know what the law is pertaining to dogs.  Under Kentucky law ( Kentucky Revised Statute 258.095(5)) ‘Owner,’ when applied to the proprietorship of a dog, includes every person having a right of property in the dog; every person who keeps or harbors the dog, or has it in his care, or permits it to remain on or about premises owned or occupied by him.”  Further, KRS 258.235(4) provides as follows: “Any owner whose dog is found to have caused damage to a person . . . shall be responsible for that damage.”

If a dog, other than your own, causes injury to you or a family member, you may have a right to compensation for your hospital bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, scarring, and other damages. In addition, (Kentucky Revised Statute 258.235) any person may kill or seize any dog that is observed attacking a person. Authority to kill or seize dog –(1) Any person, without liability, may kill or seize any dog which is observed attacking any person.  (3) Any dog determined to be vicious by a court and allowed to be returned to an owner shall be confined in a locked enclosure at least seven (7) feet high or a locked kennel run with a secured top. The dog may leave the enclosure only to visit the veterinarian or to be turned in to an animal shelter. The dog shall be muzzled if leaving the enclosure for either of these purposes. (4) Any owner whose dog is found to have caused damage to a person, livestock, or other property shall be responsible for that damage. (5) (a) Any person who has been attacked by a dog, or anyone acting on behalf of that person, may make a complaint before the district court, charging the owner or keeper of the dog with harboring a vicious dog. A copy of the complaint shall be served upon the person so charged in the same manner and subject to the laws regulating the service of summons in civil actions directing him to appear for a hearing of the complaint at a time fixed in the complaint. If the person fails to appear at the time fixed, or if upon a hearing of the parties and their witnesses, the court finds the person so charged is the owner or keeper of the dog in question, and that the dog has
viciously and without cause, attacked a human being when off the premises of the owner or keeper, the person shall be subject to the enalties set forth in KRS 258.990(3)(b), and the court shall further order the owner or keeper to keep the dog securely confined as provided by subsection (3) of this section, or the court may order the dog to be destroyed. (b) The animal control officer shall act as an officer of the court for the enforcement of any orders of the court in his jurisdiction pertaining to this subsection. 

Finally, any cases of being bitten by a dog should be reported to the health department, by you, if there is no physician or animal control officer present, otherwise by the physican or animal control officer. 258.065 Physicians to report persons bitten by dogs and other animals –Reporting when local health department is closed. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, every physician shall, within twelve (12) hours after his first professional attendance of a person bitten by a dog. Report to the local health department the name, age, sex, and precise location of the person so bitten. If a child is bitten and no physician attends, the report shall be made by his parents or guardian. If an adult is bitten and no physician attends, he or the person caring for him shall make the report. (2) If the local health department is closed when a physician, parent, guardian, or other adult attends to a bitten person, the physician, parent, guardian, or other adult shall report the incident on the next working day of the health department.  If you are attached by a dog, report the incident to your local animal control officer as soon as possible, whether the encounter includes a bite or not.  In McCracken County the number for the animal control officer is: 270/444-8550. If you can’t identify the local animal control officer in the county where you are, call the local sheriff’s department and say you need to report a dog on a public road that has caused an accident. If you are bitten, wash the wound right away with soap and water for ten minutes.  Call your doctor or go to a hospital emergency room depending on the severity of the wound.  Get a description of the animal that bit or scratched you.

If possible, have the animal so confined so it can be quarantined or tested. Ascertain with the animal control officer as to who will contact the local health department to investigate the incident, as required by law.  (Don’t be too surprised if you may know more about this than the officer.) Local health departments: Paducah-McCracken Co. 270/444-9631; Ballard 270/665-5432; Carlisle Co. 270/628-5431; Graves 270/247-3553; Calloway 270/753-3381; Hickman 270/653-6110; Fulton Co. 270/236-2825; Caldwell Co. 270/365-6571; Lyon Co. 270/388-9763; Livingston Co. 270/928-2193.

While it is still fresh on your mind, record all information of the encounter, including: date, location, county, address of dog’s keeper if known, and a description of the incident (time, circumstances, witnesses etc.)  Keep this for your records. With any luck, your initial command of “NO” will deter any dogs along your route and you can just enjoy riding