Firearm discharge on public road

[Guest bkelm18]

If only I had thought of that when I was attacked by a Chow when I was 7. Of course I was kind of preoccupied with the chunks he was taking out of my ass at the time. And when he charged me I had about .5 seconds tops to turn around so that it was my buttocks and not my junk upon which he was feasting.

If an obviously agitated dog is threatening to use my throat as a chew toy, I'm not gonna try and call his bluff.

[Guest bkelm18]

We recently bought some "Guard Alaska" bear spray from the Sportsman's Guide for hiking in the Smokies. It is a huge can and it's touted to have a much better range than regular pepper spray. Sportsman's Guide had the best price I could find.

Gander has the 9oz can of the Sabre Frontiersman for $39. I keep meaning to pick some up for hiking.

[jtmaze]

I am not saying that you shouldn't defend yourself against an attacking dog. I am saying that you react to the dog running after something he doesn't see everyday and looks fun to chase. Your reaction is empowerment to the dog. But let me guess there is no where for you to find where people don't keep there dogs up.

[Guest justluck]

One point that is covered in the "law" someone provide earlier, but not mentioned in the posts I've managed to read: If you shoot the dog, make sure its NOT on his/owners property. Dog must be off the home property.

[Oh Shoot]

Half ammonia and half water in squirt gun worked well when I was a kid.

Wasn't going as fast as modern road bikes allow, though, so yeah harder to deliver the stream depending on wind.

But then, squirt guns have evolved, too; here's a roundup of the best:

Scouting out the best water guns. - Slate Magazine

- OS

[peejman]

LOL.. wow.. seriously.. ???

I think you need to brush up on your laws regarding TN and Animals at large that are a danger to the public.

Actually, I've done the "stop and stare them down" thing a few times. Mostly because I was climbing a hill that I had to pass one way or another, so simply riding away wasn't a good option. Most dogs will either back down, or stand some distance away and keep barking at you. If they don't back down, you're up ***** creek.

I also have bear spray for hiking. I hope it works, but more than that, I hope I never have to find out.

[Fallguy]

As some of the BS and the law have already been covered, I'll try to leave those alone.

When I used to read gas meters we used Wasp Spray. I really think it was just the sound that scared them more than anything. We also had some sort of "shock stick" but I personally didn't want to let them get that close.

Ok...one more law. Although rarely enforced...there is a state law that prohibits dogs from running at large.

44-8-408. Dogs not allowed at large -- Exception -- Penalties.

(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "owner" means a person who, at the time of the offense, regularly harbors, keeps or exercises control over the dog, but does not include a person who, at the time of the offense, is temporarily harboring, keeping or exercising control over the dog.

( The owner of a dog commits an offense if that dog goes uncontrolled by the owner upon the premises of another without the consent of the owner of the premises or other person authorized to give consent, or goes uncontrolled by the owner upon a highway, public road, street or any other place open to the public generally .

.....

LexisNexis® Custom Solution: Tennessee Code Research Tool

[monkeylizard]

But let me guess there is no where for you to find where people don't keep there dogs up.

Since the OP said 70-100 mile rides, I'm going to go with "no" on that one.

[Guest WyattEarp]

If only I had thought of that when I was attacked by a Chow when I was 7. Of course I was kind of preoccupied with the chunks he was taking out of my ass at the time. And when he charged me I had about .5 seconds tops to turn around so that it was my buttocks and not my junk upon which he was feasting.

I hate chows with a passion. I was rushed by one when I was 16, while on vacation in Breckenridge, CO with my family, while I was running and playing with my little brother outside the condo we were staying in. he got close and I kicked him square in the jaw. he went yelping the other direction, and his owner got all mad and started yelling at me and my brother. I told him too bad and to keep his worthless mutt on a chain and he won't have to worry about it.

it's getting to the point with dogs, that the average person needs to have a license, and go through some sort of training in order to own/have one.

too many people don't train their dogs, don't enforce any discipline, leave them out all day and all night to bark incessantly at nothing, they don't walk them, they don't play with them, they just have them because they think it's cute to have a dog, yet they don't know a damn thing about them or how to take care of them, or train them and the poor dog ends up getting neglected and ignored, and then it's barking and annoying everyone else because it wants attention.

not every owner is that way, so I won't categorize the stupid people with the good dog owner's, but I'm not a fan of dogs to begin with. If I'm going to have a dog, it'll be a bird dog for quail and pheasant hunting, and he'll be taught not to bark for no reason, and to obey commands.

[zapfbroad]

Id would recommend sticking with or upgrading your spray or foam..given the in motion aspect & kentucky windage might be better to go with the bear spray. You could consider adding a 2' length of bamboo to your frame with velcro wrap strips for situations in too close. A 3/4" diameter should give thwacking stability without breaking & not add considerable weight. Maybe useful for worse case scenarios...leg splint in rural area etc.. involving a handgun with a domestic pet will be a potentially sticky legal situation if that's ur 1st/2nd go to plan. I would consider that an absolute last case situation, you are trying to protect yourself only..not rid the countryside of neglected dogs.

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[zapfbroad]

I'm involved with quite a few animal rescues. I think every and any American who wants a dog should be able to get one. After undergoing some training to understand animal behavior and costs of ownership. And all pet store sales that can be linked to puppy mills should be prohibited. There are plenty of adoptables. If u want pedigree there are plenty of legit, standup kennels. There is far too much abuse and neglect occurring that make stories like the OPs more commonplace unfortunately.

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[DaveTN]

I’m a dog owner and dog lover, if I was riding and a dog tried to attack me I would drop him dead if he got within striking distance. I could only hope the owner was around so I would know who to sue. Of course most of those that would let a dog run loose don’t have anything to get in a lawsuit.

It’s a shame that so many dogs are killed because of low life owners that either think they are above the law or just don’t care. A dog would give his life to protect his owner; the least you can do is protect him from needlessly being killed.

[Guest clownsdd]

I just don't think a moving bike and firing a handgun go well together.

[Wyldk2]

Like Oh shoot said about half Ammonia/ Half water mixture. Just don't drink it.

Also there is a product out called "Halt" like pepper spray but marketed for defense from attacking dogs.

I used to ride my bike all the time, one of these days i plan to get back on the trail.

[Guest Broomhead]

Chili powder can cause permanent damage? I'm not asking to nitpick or anything, but I just got some in my eyes the other day making chimichangas. I know not all peppers are created equal, but permanent damage? I just suggested using chili powder because it burned like hell for a while... made me think twice about itching my eye without washing hands first.

I'm not sure about chili powder per se, but I do know that the oils from other peppers can burn on contact with even dry skin. Some can leave some pretty nasty chemical burns, similar to acid or base burns. According to the label on my chili powder it has chili peppers and garlic, both can burn also; I don't know about damage from those though. I'm not trying to nit-pick either, just expounding on my earlier post. Oleoresin Capsicum/Capsaicin (OC), the main ingredient in pepper spray, is a derivative of peppers in general.

[dou44]

i live in the county and keep my dogs in a fenced yard.if a good size dog was about to bite me i would shoot him.

[Guest dthurston]

For those who say they would not shoot a dog unless it was chewing on them... Let me tell you... I was bitten by a dalmation. Inter-thigh. One tooth

got to me thru the jeans. 21 sutures (14 internal, 7 external ) No fun.. I never saw the dog move until he hit me.

Dave

[Guest 270win]

I don't have a lot of patience with a dog, especially a stray, because it is an animal. A dog is not a person and too many people equate the value of a dog's life to a person's life. If more pet owners would value the lives of their dogs and not want them killed, they would keep their dogs on a leash or behind a fence.

[10-Ring]

As the owner of two dogs that live in a fenced in yard even though I live in an area where I can't even see another house from anywhere on my property let me say this. I think it's ironic that all of these irresponsible dog owners completely ignore the state leash law and let their dogs wander around, getting into peoples trash, digging in their flower beds, attacking their pets, and even their children and themselves. Yet when a property owner or someone walking or riding a bicycle down a public road attempts to defend themselves against a wayward dog the owners hide behind this "it's illegal to kill a dog crap." In my area if I'm approached by an aggressive dog it's getting shot and rolled over in a ditch. Don't like it, then keep your dog put up, it's that simple.

[dralarms]

Rat shot in a 22 works wonders, and will not kill or maime. Hurts like heck but does no perminate damage. I use it to keep the strays around here off my property. Now rat shot in a 38 or something of a higher caliber, yea it's going to cause some damage.

[hornett22]

Amen. Pretty simple.

[gl19gobang]

try ninja dust, throw it and it will give you time to disappear. lol.

[TMF]

As the owner of two dogs that live in a fenced in yard even though I live in an area where I can't even see another house from anywhere on my property let me say this. I think it's ironic that all of these irresponsible dog owners completely ignore the state leash law and let their dogs wander around, getting into peoples trash, digging in their flower beds, attacking their pets, and even their children and themselves. Yet when a property owner or someone walking or riding a bicycle down a public road attempts to defend themselves against a wayward dog the owners hide behind this "it's illegal to kill a dog crap." In my area if I'm approached by an aggressive dog it's getting shot and rolled over in a ditch. Don't like it, then keep your dog put up, it's that simple.

Well yes, but the OP was wanting to know about using ratshot to ward of the dogs. This is a quick way to get your HCP pulled and probably charged with animal cruelty and discharging firearm in public. You don't fire your pistol to "warn" or injure, you fire your pistol to kill in self defense. If the dog is charging and it's the individual is in fear of being attacked, by all means burn it down. But when you use ratshot for the purpose of scaring the animal or injuring it, you're entering a whole other world.

[jtmaze]

Im a dog owner and dog lover, if I was riding and a dog tried to attack me I would drop him dead if he got within striking distance. I could only hope the owner was around so I would know who to sue. Of course most of those that would let a dog run loose dont have anything to get in a lawsuit.

Its a shame that so many dogs are killed because of low life owners that either think they are above the law or just dont care. A dog would give his life to protect his owner; the least you can do is protect him from needlessly being killed.

Like I said no bad dogs. Some may be misunderstood due to bad owners. I will stand behind that statement.

[Hershmeister]

Ride away

Have a stick

Spray

Gun should be your absolute last resort