Debate ensues after dog reportedly bites cyclist on Hamilton’s Chedoke Radial Trail
Published June 24, 2022 at 11:56 am
A heated debate ensued after a cyclist was reportedly bitten by a dog on the Chedoke Radial Trail in Hamilton on Thursday afternoon.
An individual posting to Reddit claimed that the incident involved their friend. They shared an accompanying photo showing Hamilton paramedics on the scene.
“My friend just got bit by a dog while biking on the Chedoke Radial Trail. Please! If your dog is not well behaved, don’t bring them to public places!” the post reads.
The comment with the most upvotes was from an individual who took aim at the city’s inadequate dog owners — to put it mildly.
Warning: Explicit language
“This is getting out of hand,” the post began. “What is it with shitty dog owners in this city? Constant off-leash dogs on multi-use trails where the owners are always surprised by other people, dog shit everywhere, dog bites, etc.”
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The original poster claims the dog who allegedly bit their friend was on a leash when the incident occurred. Still, the topic appeared to open the “keep your dog on a leash” flood gates — understandably so. Speaking from experience and as a long-time owner of multiple dogs, there are still far too many people who appear all too excited to show off their leashless canine.
One poster wrote:
“I’ve been bit by several dogs on that trail. Every single time I pass on my bike and say ‘you should leash your dog’ and get the same bullshit ‘but he’s well behaved’ ‘he’s just a puppy’. Then their dog hauls ass and chases me and breaks skin on my calf or thigh.
I feel bad for the dogs because they are just animals. But fuck, these dog owners don’t understand that. You need to understand that if you’re going to have a dog. It trusts its owner, but it might not trust someone cycling by, or a kid who laughs and startles it.
Yo dog owners, do you understand that when your dog bites someone that it will be destroyed? Do you know what that feels like? Your dog doesn’t know that. None of us want to be bit, and even less, we don’t want your dog destroyed. Do the right thing.
Leash. Your. Fucking. Dog.”
Another rational poster offered advice to all involved:
Cyclists – Get a bell and use it, Every. Single. Time.
Dog owners – Short leash on paths and your dog can easily be trained to not be reactive to bikes and other things on the path.
Everyone: KEEP RIGHT on the path and be aware of your surroundings. Especially the rollerblader i nearly hit the other day with their headphones on that didn’t hear my bell and made a u-turn without looking!
I’ve commuted daily by bike for 10+ years and these few small things would make a world of difference. It’s not that hard to share, we all learned how in kindergarten.
According to the municipal by-law, charges can be laid against you if your dog bites or attacks, your dog’s behaviour poses a danger to people or family animals, and you don’t prevent the above.
Penalties in the dog owners’ liability act can be up to a $10,000 fine and/or six months imprisonment upon conviction.
Owners walking their dog without a least can be fined up to $100.
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