A junkyard dog postponed my plans. Back in February of 2006, I damaged my knee and was forced to stay off the unicycle while I healed. Then a nurse fitted me with a knee brace that was too tight resulting in peroneal palsy, which caused me to lose dorsiflextion in my right ankle (the ability to raise my foot), making freemounting almost impossible. I did manage to Muni one time within the last 11 months, but my ankle felt so weak I thought I’d be better off riding my bicycles for a while to build up some strength in my right leg. I finally had gotten to the point where I felt I was back at 100% then this past Wednesday the attack occurred!! I’ll spare all the details, but basically I now have two extremely deep punctures behind my left knee and a pretty bad dog bite wound on my right calf. Just thinking about putting on my 661’s makes me cringe. I won’t ride without protection, so I guess I’ll just have to wait until these heal
AAUWTCH, that gotta hurt.
What did they do to the dog?
I hope they killed it, because I think you didn’t “challenged” him or something.
Those kind off dogs are dangerous.
This is how it all happened: I had noticed a sign in a junkyard where the owners were also selling cedar posts so I stopped and knocked on the door. After nobody answered, I walked towards the area where the posts were located and glanced into the yard to see if anyone might be out there. There was a “no trespassing” sign, so I did not leave the parking lot. As I turned away to return to my vehicle, I heard a dog barking and looked up to see a blond colored dog chained near the other end of the parking lot. At that time, I felt something hit me from behind. I quickly looked over my shoulder to see a black dog that had jumped out from under a structure and was attacking me. I rapidly took a few steps forward as he reached the end of his chain. It was then, after I was out of reach, that I realized I had been bitten on both legs. I had no idea that there were any dogs on the property before that point. I believe that when the blond colored dog began barking, he awoke the black dog resulting in the attack.
The dog was on a very long chain that allowed it to enter the unfenced public area of the parking lot. Later that day, I returned to the location and told the owners about the attack and asked to see some proof of rabies vaccination and they could not produce it. I told them that I’d be back the next day and gave them a chance to find the missing documentation. After they failed to answer the door upon my arrival, I called the police and had them meet me there to make a report.
When the first police officer arrived, I started to tell him my story about the dog attack and he said that he was familiar with the location and once had almost shot the black dog himself.
Very quickly, the owners then came out of the building and produced a current green 2007 rabies tag. The officers then asked for the certificate and neither owner could find it. Animal Control was then contacted by the police officers to come and put the dog in quarintine. Later, before I left, I asked to see the tag and got the registration numbers from it and located the vet that had issussed it only to find out that the tag had been issused to the black dog 1-11-07. No wonder the owners “couldn’t find the document” as it would have proven that the dog was not vaccinated until the day AFTER he bit me.
Can you sue them? My parents (they’re landlords) had a tenant that bit my dad once, he gave them a warning, and the second time he sued them $600 for it, and either they left with the dog, or they put it down. They left. Check into it, the least you could do is get the damn dog killed. It was probably abused and hungry: not the kind of life anybody would want to have.
Kenny, I really hate to hear that. I was hoping to see you on the trail again soon. Hopefully the bite wounds won’t take too long to heal, but I bet those really hurt. Pedal bites are bad enough, and those fang marks you got are a lot deeper.
I predict this will be your last complication and you will be back on the muni before long. And from now on wear your leg armor when you visit a junk yard. I know I will.
The people that own the dogs are just trash, don’t have anything to sue for but they are definately going to have to pay. The fine for having a dog that does not have a rabies vaccination (within the city limits) is $200. After they decided to start playing games with me, I had Animal Control check their other dog for proper rabies documentation also. If the owners come up empty-handed on that dog, they will be looking at $400 in fines plus at least $500 charge for the 10 day quarintine. If the dog does test positive for rabies (which I seriously and hopefully doubt) it will be put down.
Scott, maybe I’ll see ya out there on the trails eventually
Hi Krashin,
Glad you have use of your foot back, sorry about the dog bites.
Here is my dog attack story. I was walking my two dogs once, a shepherd mix (70lbs) and a beagle mix (20lbs) on their leashes… I was still on my property when I was attacked by a near-blind senile keeshond. It’s teeth were so dull, it could only do crush damage to my arm. My dogs made the fur fly trying to get the dog off me while I lay there amidst the teeth, blood, and growls, kicking furiously trying to get my dogs off the keeshond while the keeshond hung on fearlessly to my arm. All the while, the man who owned the keeshond stood there idly with his hands in his pockets watching.
Animal patrol came by my house the next day wanting me to produce rabies tags and city licences. I showed them the rabies certification for both dogs, but did not have city tags. I showed the officer my arm (which was deep purple from wrist to elbow) and asked if the other dog had his papers because I was the victim in the attack and my dogs were defending me. I explained where the attack happened in my yard and that my dogs were leashed and this other animal wasn’t. He left looking confused.
I could not believe the audacity of the man with the attacking dog. To call Animal patrol on me?! I suppose it was to cover his arse because he knew he was in the wrong.
I still have deep tissue scars from the damage, but my arm works fine.
I love dogs, I have 3, but they are taged, in control, and up to date.
Good healing. Lucky both dogs couldn’t reach you at once!
I could not believe the audacity of the man with the attacking dog. To call Animal patrol on me?! I suppose it was to cover his arse because he knew he was in the wrong.
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Thanks Podzol. I know where you’re coming from. These dog owmers tried to convince the police that I was trespassing. Fortunately, the dog had a history and the police believed me, especially when they saw that the chain was long enough to allow the dog to reach the “public access” of the parking lot.
I hope you get better soon mate.
I have been attacked by a bull terrier type dog for no reason whatsoever and my best friend got his face mauled by a lassie dog.
I hate dogs. I dont see why people would want to keep vicious killers!
