Attacked by Pit Bull (Page 2)

I am so sorry this happened to you. Because of specifically pit bulls, I carry a .380 in my bento box. Saturday something went terrible wrong on my "supported" metric century. I posted it on the Louisville ironman forum but noe want to repost it here since its so relevant:

My metric century went terribly wrong yesterday. There we only about 20 people doing the metric, and I only have a tri bike now, so I ended up doing the ride alone. I can't even type it myself without crying hysterically from the horrible memory, so I am posting this. Below is my husband's account of what happened yesterday, he put this on facebook to let all our family and friends know:

From Joel:Joel O'Malley
The girls were at a friends house and went to Chucky-Cheeses, Jillian and Loraine were on a supported bike ride, and I was at home the day after surgery relaxing. Then I got a phone call. Jillian called me crying hysterically, She had another PITBULL incident. She was chased 4 times during the ride. The first 3 Pitbulls that chased her only chased her about 10 feet. But the last Pitbull that chased her ran after her for about half a mile growling at her. She said it got so close that it almost bit her tire. She did not have her gun on her as we thought that this would not have been an issue but apparently all the Pitbull owners have a lack of care for human life as the are just let to roam the streets and highways. She was so scared, one because once again the only breed of dog that we have issues with, (PITBULLS), chased her down with blood in its eye, but also because where the last Pitbull chased her there was no one behind her or in front of her. So had she not been able to out run that damn stupid dog,(which according to her GPS watch she was biking at 27 MPH) she feared she would never see her family again. So needless to say, being a day out of surgery and on Percocet, I drove the 40 miles to where she was, Armed with my side arm and ready to kill that stupid animal. Luckily, Jillian made it to a rest point were she was waiting. When I made it there I picked her up and we drove to the site where the Pitbull had chased her. There was another rest area just after the BEASTS house, and the was a cop there. So I went up to the police officer and told him what had happened. He went to the house and had them put them in the house. Once again, nothing can be done because thank GOD, Jillian was able to get away and was not bit. But the sad part in it all is that now myself and Jillian live in fear where we live. I plan on doing the same, as I told Jillian I want her to carry her gun on her at all times, except for when on post because you can't carry on a a Federal Installation. It is really sad that it has to be this way. Like I said, Another Pitbull, not a Lab, or something else, A DAMN PITBULL. I HATE THOSE DOGS

So this is what happened to me, and I can't get it out of my head, I was so terrified. I have done 2 tours of duty in Iraq, the first tour being when the war started, I was a machine gunner for the lead truck in all the convoys, I wasn't as scared back then as I was today. I have been trying to get it out of my head, think of other things, but I just keep getting flashbacks, and once again experience the fear I felt yesterday. I am extremly bumed this happened, I made it to mile 49 feeling awesome, like my legs could have handled another 50. I am so depressed living here, I want to move so bad.

This is one of those times when I think, "What is wrong with people?" It's a DOG, put it down before it hurts someone.

To the OP, I hope you heal quickly and I'm so sorry to hear about what happened. Thank you for letting all of us know what happened. A lot of times I avoid certain trails early in the morning b/c of wildlife, but I hadn't considered un-managed animals.

Good luck with that. You have a better chance of spraying yourself....

Did you call the police and get a police report? I got bit last May on a ride (I have a nice scar now...) and the first thing I did was call 911 and report it. They found the dog it has a nice police record now.

Hope it heals quickly! I love dogs and have always been a dog lover, but getting bit by one is just irresponsible of the owners.

I'm so sorry this happened to you.  I agree with everyone that the dog needs to go and the owners need to pay.  It's irresponsible owners like that that give dogs a bad name.

I hate to bring it up but I just caution people to be careful with the Pitbull hating.  I'm not saying this is the case in this and all the other instances mentioned in this thread but the dogs that people quite often identify as Pitbulls are not actually Pitbulls.  In two separate instances I have been chased aggressively by dogs while riding with others and when talking about it afterward, almost everyone assumed the dogs were Pitbulls when they weren't at all.  One was a Lab mix and one was a Bulldog.  They were adamant that they were Pitbulls but I am around dogs a lot and I assure that they weren't. 

Hate the owners, not the breed - that's all I will say. 

Those are so cool!  It kinda freaks you out, like what the f....and when it settles down, you find you hit the trifecta!  Congrats!  It's a good tri-omen.

Thats right, it should be all you say.  Notice they were chased by the "other breeds", not bitten!  Big difference.  I own rental property and won't even talk to someone that owns a pitbull or pitbull mix.  Oh, but he won't hurt anyone!  Right, call me from the emergency room and tell me that after you take you little girl in.  Even if its only 1 in 100 thats going to bite, its to many.  Our local law enforcement said, "you are on a public right-a-way, and have every right to protect yourself from a hostile dog, do what ever you need to do", and rest assured, I will.

Sorry

Assuming this was directed at me, I think you missed my point.  My point is that people may think they have been attacked and bitten by a Pitbull when in fact it wasn't a Pitbull.  All large and powerful breeds have the potential to be dangerous when they have irresponsible owners.

I can understand the anger in this thread, but ^^^ seriously?

Sorry for you injuries and hope you are back at it soon. I own 2 dogs , a lab and a terrier, everytime somebody jogs or bikes past the house the lab goes crazy, go figure i thought labs were relaxed dogs...i found out later on she was mixed with a pit, anyway they are kept contained in the backyard at all times, i do not let them roam in the front yard ever, i even had the electronic fence installed around my property eventhough she is always in the fenced backyard.. People need to realize that they are responsible for the action of their dogs.

Michael Vick?  There are many different types of dog owners.  I'm pretty sure my neighbor breeds them for fighting.  Some people just like the viscious reputation they have and so think they make good guard dogs.  I'm sure having the meanest dog in the hood makes up for some people's feelings of inferiority.  Stil others are just regular people who like the looks, strength and tenacity of the breed.

If anyone wants a good guard dog, Bull Mastiffs are great.  They don't attack, they just contain intruders in a corner.  No biting, but the intruder may drown from all of the slobber.

Easily 50% of dog owners in this country have no business owning dogs.  If you can't put the time into training the dog, don't get one.  I love watching people trying to hold their dogs back while I run by on the greenway trail.  When I do see a well trained dog walking next to its owner, leash slack with the dog right at the owner's heels, even while I run by, I want to stop and thank them for taking the time and effort to responsibly train their dog.

I'm with you in that one....To the OP, i'm sorry that you had to go through that and i hope you heal fast.  I would report it to the proper authorities and sue the owners.  Most of these cases are covered under the homeowners insurance policty even if they rent.

And just WOW for those that their solution is to shoot everyone and feel the need to make disparaging remarks without knowing all the details.

Hope you heal up quickly.

Will the police or animal control people do anything?

I ride with something a little stronger!

Sue the dog, Shoot the owners makes more sense. Maybe the dog will learn a lesson but the owners won't. I've had pitbulls in the past and they are fantastic dogs.