Yes I do jave a niaive view of cattle hence giving them a wide berth, similarly you have a niaive view of dog ownership or people in general perhaps. I live in a city and enjoy the country and try to respect the countryside. So dont interact with cattle that often. Maybe you interact with them a whole lot more in significantly different ways, I don’t know. However I do think that I am entitled to a vieewpoint.

Oh and I am still awaiting your statistics on the numbers of dog owners trampled by cattle to substantiate the “significant” numbers you speak of. As above I found three and there are factors there that indicate each may have been prevented.

Unfortunately should we therefore not destroy all cattle as they constitute a dangerous rampaging mass hell bent on trampling innocent walkers, indeed even rampaging through cities after escaping their abductors, hell bent on revenge for us eating them.

Or should we hold farmers accountable for not being in proper control of their cattle. Get real.

Doubt that “obstructing footpaths” would stand up RichC not with landowners who traditionally wrote the laws unfortunately! Not the meek and humble who can only enjoy it occasionally with all accusations of tresspass and rights of way, and I agree the dog owner you encountered was numpty.

AA not sure that having worked on a farm or not doesn’t qualify me to sy “give a wide berth”, probably because I have not worked on a farm I would have my dog under control and give the cattle a wide berth and never had an incident, and indeed not been trampled, simples.

Just saying common sense.

Facts

Most dog owners are inept at best.

Theres always a risk and if dog owners knew their animals better there would be fewer issues.

As a cyclist slow down a little when passing dogs and give the owner time if necessary to recall their dogs.

We are getting far to hung up on scenarios here, accidents and unforseen situations can arise but its rarely if ever a dogs fault usually the owners.

How many dogs do you still see out without owners, far too many. Unfortuantely the law of the land has to try to be a catch all for many situations which it simply cannot forsee every eventuality.

We are described as a nation of animal lovers but if you loved your animal you would be able to handle them and understand their needs and driving forces. I work really hard with my dogs from integrating them with and getting used to people, exposing them to unfamiliar surroundings, understanding them. I am far from the best and make mistakes that I learn from but the standard of dog ownership is far too low in this country.

AA

If a cow wants to chase your dog? Geez so you would happily let your dog in a field of cows to be chased, potentially shot by a farmer??????

As Tandemjeremy comments is correct that you can release the dog to distract the cattle. However IF you were in proper control that should not arise.

Cross fields of cattle but always give them a wide berth. A little common sense goes along way sometimes.

Jeremy hit the nail on the head, “a duty”, too many people see dogs simply as pets rather than what they are or what they were bred for. Herding, hunting protection. Most if not all dogs have specific traits aligned to their breed and most owners are oblivious to theeir dogs needs. People owning huskies that want to be out all day locked up, collies that dont get the required stimulation, yeah they all look great at 6-8 weeks old and everyone loves them.

They forget that they can grow to 50, 60 70kg and hunt like they were bred to do. Its doing what nature intended in many cases and owner education is paramount.

Most dog owners are idiots, some cyclists are, I am sure we have all had our moments but lets not tar everyone with the same brush.

In RichC’s case the owner was a moron, wether it was a footpath or not if RichC was wrong not controlling your dogs is stupidity.

Sorry I do not see the relationship between an owner being trampled by cattle and a dog on a lead. So an owner in a field of cattle should have his dog off a lead! Now that is BOLLOCKS!

Also you say many, do you have a statistic to support that? Is it hundreds, thousands or simply a rare occurence? Yes people have been trampled, not all with dogs.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2032954/Woman-dog-walker-61-surrounded-trampled-death-herd-cows-protecting-calves.html

Dog was barking, scared the cattle, dog should not have been barking owner should have seen the risk.

http://articles.cnn.com/2009-06-22/world/uk.cows.trampling_1_cows-dogs-incidents?_s=PM:WORLD

Dogs not on the lead

http://www.nairaland.com/752184/61-yr-old-woman-trampled

Dog was barking.

3 in 3 years from a quick search all avoidable with common sense.

It looks very much like at that pinch point there would be enough room to pass a cyclist.

I will retract that as I am unfamiliar with the road and would certainly not do similar. Pass before or after but yes indeed ensure there is space. Obviously there wasnt as he hit the kerb then the cyclist.

Apologies to all.

the dog should be under control at all times and under close control around livestock

A dog, unless its a working farm dog, should never be off the lead near livestock, thats so irresponsible. A farmer would typically shoot the dog and ask questions later. Righly aswell.

Passing dogs on a trail you should slow so as not to startle the animal, that said owners should be aware of their surroundings and the dogs potential reactions. All dog owners should have training to understand and work with their dogs.

Regarding my comments earlier the parent was not out with the child as the “little scamp” runs around at all hours day and night in the street. Its a wonder he has not been knocked down. Yes I have thought “social services” but I realy do not want to get involved with that as I dont see it helping. The said parent even gave me grief for asking said littleun to “get off my land” on one occasion.

No problems holidaying in Greece, cant see the inflation going that bad there but you never know.

Could go the other way and be really cheap.

Geez only been reading forums a few days and its far too common.

First OK would he have survived with a helmet? Such a shame if the answers yes but that does not mitigate the actions of the driver.

It looks very much like at that pinch point there would be enough room to pass a cyclist. However clipping a kerb would not make you swerve violently. How close was he. Sounds like the cyclist claimed the road, which is correct to protect his space comming to the island and the driver thought 10 seconds of his time worth the life of another human being. He could have slowed to allow the cyclist through if there was any doubt in his ability to judge the space.

Verdict not an accident!

My thoughts are with his family.

Maybe as we have a great deal of actvity on here we should start a petition to parliament, particulrly after Mr Addison Lee’s comments.

My first instinct would be no, at the present time. However here is an article.

In the future I think it will be a necessity

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/features/security/3319310/do-i-need-antivirus-software-for-my-smartphone/

The Sammy Slicks would be too narrow for my rims, 24mm internal width.

Lots of good suggestions.

http://www.justgiving.com/PeteNugent

Oh if you would like to donate just go here http://www.justgiving.com/PeteNugent

The cause is Halton Haven Hospice a palliative care unit for cancer sufferers. Even if its only quid.

I have Specialized Fast track front and Renegade rear which have a similar tread to Racing Ralphs. Was thinking of splashing £50 on sone slicks as its mainly track not alot of rough stuff. Training on canals at the moment and getting an OK speed average 13mph but if I can get 15mpf will shave an hour or so off the duration and effort obviously.

Thanks ned, thinking 35c may be too narrow on my 29er rims? TPC should be TPT = Trans Penine Trail.

The banning of filament incandescent lamps is as most government initiatives flawed.

Modern energy saving lamps (CFLs) contain mercury which the EU now turn a blind eye to as reduce carbon just poison our rivers and streams.

They state

Clean-up of the debris of a broken CFL has been described as complicated, requiring, for example, the removal of the mercury droplets with adhesive tape and their disposal as special waste. This again points to the relevance of the risk caused by the
breakage of a CFL in a consumer’s home.

Additionally in the same document it discusses expsore to mercury and possible effects and pretty much casts them aside.

Now if I brok a CFL I doubt I could find the few mg of mercury from it so could potentially inhale it. Equally if I did find it I doubt that I would follow the correct waste dispoal methodology.

Same with the car scrappage scheme. Environmentally your robbing Peter to pay Paul. Lower carbon is todays band wagon, a great deal has been done already to reduce carbon output. But producing heavy metal polution and its environmental impact is surely not the right way to go.

You can see some of the comments from the EU never mind tree huggers of which I am not one but the Government would rather us have FLCs (funny looking kids) with a low carbon footprint.

http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/environmental_risks/docs/scher_o_124.pdf

Every right to defend yourself, I personally wouldn’t hesitate if I felt threatened but if you can move away, many owners are idiots. Chavs with staffies and mastiffs are the worst in my experience. Trust me when I say this, the dog will invariably be more scared of you than you are of it.

Again its owners, my dogs are not perfect but 90% of the time they let people simply walk by and pay no attention, it gets difficult, summer in the woods it gets crowded so they stay on the lead in busy areas. Occasionally they start to go to them to “have a sniff” but if I see them as sometimes the dogs are behind me I call them as I do not want them to harrass people. 905 of the time they come straight away. 99% on the second call. I certainly dont need to chase them all over the place to catch them.

Yea I agree if you feel threatened kick it in the nuts, better crack on the nose or simply stay still, hard when you are cacking it though,

Its like walkers v cyclists I read a lot of conflict here, dogs v walkers v cyclists is the same 90% get on great the odd few let everyone down and set poor examples.

Bare in mind I drive I cycle and I walk now I see the conflicts from every angle and try to understand them. My dog was nearly ran over by a lady cyclist on a footpath as she was going to fast. Its all about eductaion. See a dog slow down. Dog owners teach your dog good manners and yoursleves whilst your at it as dog owners dont have a right to let their dogs run wild.

AND PLEASE PICK UP YOUR SH!T and your dogs whilst your at it.

Appreciate that Jeremy hope we can still be freinds 🙂

Thanks Jeremy as I say sometimes and rarely regretable incidents occur, many are avoidable, unfortunately this wasn’t I never queried why the youngster was able to do this away from his vigilant mother. I alos came straight home, over a four hour drive to assess the situation and deal with any aftermath depite my partner being equally competent to deal with it.

If my dog chased a cyclist or a jogger I would give further training to the dog, mine have never chased a cyclist, except me when I ride with them. Due to some minor behaviours of one of my dogs I am hyper vigilent and do not put my dog in those stress situaions. They have their moments but they are dogs and some owners forget that. As I have what can be considered a large breed I studied and have owned this particular breed for a long time. I have also studied animal pschology to better understand my animals.

Owning a dog is very often taken far too lighly and I do agree with alot of what you say. Out riding and when I used to run I have also been chased, fortunately never bitten. Its 99% owners who fail their animals rather than animals failing their owners.

I didnt say i was there and indeed i was not there. If I had been then correct the situation would not have arisen however sticking your fingers and sticks through a letter box and banging on a door with a dog inside is no way to go about things.

The child had been seen doing this on more than one occasion during the day and even advised by his own mother not to. For the record the child enetered our property which has signs that there are dogs there and was well aware of the dog as said child lives on the same street. The dogs were in the house but the “little chap” had spent most of the day teasing them at the windows etc.

Indeed a regretable incident but no not a classic dog owner.

Can I assume you do NOT own dogs in a similar vein that you assumed I was there when I was infact not.

I dont think you are in posession of the full facts therefore unable to comment so thanks for your time Jeremy, you stuck your colours to the mast stating

dogs that bite should be put down – its totally unnaceptable

However if you were in posession of all the facts as the police were when they were called by the mother no action was required. Rather than being alarmist take a more tempered view. What if a horse or cow bites some kid who is teasing it should that be destroyed.

Kid was taking the piss out of the dog, teasing it etc Not acceptable but it happened and yeah I tregret that some little scrote took the piss and got hurt dont need the grief. For the record I am a responsible dog, owner but if said kid is advised not to, asked to leave etc but insists.

If I was not aware of the full facts trust me my dog would have been put down. No matter how much I loved it as I do not want to be responsible for owning a dangerous dog. Which no matter how well a dog is raised they can turn nasty.

So in some respects I agree but as I said given the full facts no I dosagree.

Jools I wasnt suggesting you were, I am all for dangerous dogs to be unfortunately destroyed. But a tempered approach is a must. Thats why I suggest that the OP initially has made that call, I hope he didnt inform the authotities as he felt the dog was not a danger rather than he didnt want to escalate. Its a fine line.

A dog that “attacks” somebody may not be a danger. It may be defending/protecting. Is it mouthing/nipping etc. The four named breeds on the dangerous dog act should not be singled out as some, though not many are kept by fantastic responsible owners. All dogs fall under the act and its owners that are responsible.

I witnessed a pit bull type dog attack a labrador last year and the owners didnt give a 5h!%. Now that was in an area with children. Should the dog be destroyed yes definitely. Is it the dogs fault, almost always no as far too many owners own dogs they have no undertsanding of, psychology, needs, breeding traits.

I will say its highly unusual for a labrador to bite someone, but all dogs can. Not suggesting it was the OPs fault but if it was my lab I would be concerned.

I can understand the “get it put down” attitude. However I appreciate the OP saying he does not want that on his hands. As he is the offended party its his decision and ability to make an intelligent decision as to the circumstances.

As a dog owner I have one thats a little “odd” with young girls so I am hyper aware, my other is just stupid and scares himself if he barks. That said my dog thats “odd” nipped one of the kids in the street who was taking the p!55 out of her. The mother called the police and the police took an inelligent attitude ie saw my dog was well cared for, not a danger and let it alone. If only more people could do this rather than the “kill it” attitude.

Personally there are many dogs that are a danger and if mine was one first I had not as a responsible owner done my job properly and two would have it detroyed.

Lastly I see many cyclists when I am out walking the dogs and have ridden with my dogs. Although I deem them not to be a danger I always ensure they are under my control either leads or a collar grab when I am aware of cyclists.

Got mine from Falfrauds last year, £289 for the maps bundle, they sold out in about 2 days but I think they priced it wrong. Still got it a few days later in the post.

What a £$%&, love the way he has tried to retract large swathes of his initial article. Knowing that such articles will be in the public domain at the very best he is an idiot and not fit to run an organisation.

However that said I was in London recently and yes some of the standards of cycling are shocking as are some the standards of driving. I would not ride on a road in London as I would in the North.

Basically his initial article advocates driving into and over cyclists at will.

Would love to meet the muppet.