[pct-l] Lost Coast

[John Abela]

Yeah, the vast majority of the time it is the "irresponsible dog owners" fault.

A couple days ago I was on one of the most popular trails up here
(Headwater Forest Trail) doing some jogging and I come around a corner
and some guy and his dog are also jogging, and all of a sudden his dog
takes off in a full run at me and 4 or 5 other guys (I was in the
front of the group). Thankfully I had my hiking pole in my hand, it
was the only thing that saved me. Others behind me are sitting there
yelling at the guy to put the dog on a leash, like, you know, is
required by law on that trail. Had the dog been a leash (like the
dozen or so other dogs on the trail that day) I highly doubt an issue
would have flared up. Around here more and more people are starting to
get aggressive towards irresponsible dog *owners* who fail to keep
their dogs on leashes - which is a nice thing to see.

That said, of the dozen or so other dogs on the trail that were under
the control of responsible dog owners, it was a pleasure to be out
there with them and see them enjoying some running and getting out of
their houses/pens/kennels.

John



On Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 9:04 AM, Benjamin Grunbaum
<bengrunbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
> Kevin
> I live up on the north coast and have never once had anything progress to
> the point that John has in relation to untrained dogs.  I have encountered
> them but one way or another they have always went their own way.  I will
> admit I use to work one on one with large cats (tigers, leopards, bobcats
> and servals) at a sanctuary in southern California.  Anyways, if you were
> thinking of moving up here it is a wonderful place in its own right with
> both good and bad.  The good far outweigh the bad.  The area up here is
> bountiful when it comes to outdoor activities.  Anyways, for what ever
> reason John has the worst luck when it comes to irresponsible dog owners and
> their untrained dogs.  I would take his experience lightly.  I do not know
> anyone else who has had such luck.
>
> Ben Grunbaum
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 11:09 PM, Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Wow, I'm now grateful for the canine citizens in my "backyard". Maybe I
>> don't want to move to norcal after my hike? lol
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2011 at 7:21 PM, John Abela <
>> pacificcresttrail2011 at gmail.com
>> > wrote:
>>
>> > Hey Kevin,
>> >
>> > > I don't blame you for wanting to defend yourself against an aggressive
>> > dog,
>> > > but if they are still 8-12 feet away, are you really in any danger? I
>> > can't
>> > > help but wonder how you're interpreting that they are coming at you
>> "with
>> > > intent to harm"?
>> >
>> > 8-14 feet for a dog is one stride for most dogs on a run ;)
>> >
>> > > I'm not saying what you did was wrong, but I agree with Ron that having
>> > to
>> > > pepper spray a dog 3 times in 4 months is a lot, or you have the worst
>> > luck
>> > > ever!
>> >
>> > Yeah, totally agree. It's more what Ben said.... up here, remember
>> > that Humboldt County is weed-capital-of-the-world, 99% of people who
>> > have dogs have pits to protect their 'precious goods'.
>> >
>> > Middle of last year I had 4 pit bulls come right into our yard, one of
>> > which got an entire 5 oz can of the hottest pepperspay that civis can
>> > buy and it still kept coming. That one, sadly, depending on how you
>> > look at it, did not make it out of my yard. The other three were put
>> > down by the city.
>> >
>> >
>> > @Ron, I totally hear what you are saying. Up here, every day on the
>> > trail, is like breaching a house - because literally, it does not
>> > matter if you are in a house or out in the backwoods, pits, rots, and
>> > Presa Canario are everywhere - about the only thing not up here are
>> > Doberman Pinschers, for which I am very grateful - as they are the
>> > only dog which I actually fear.
>> >
>> > John
>> >
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