Reports of stray dogs chasing bicycle riders, causing them to fall off and get hurt, have prompted people with similar experiences to offer tips on how to avoid such incidents, ranging from speeding up when going through areas inhabited by strays to staring the dogs down or reciting Buddhist chants.
The Central News Agency on Tuesday reported that a group of cyclists were chased by strays in a section of New Taipei City’s Dahan River (大漢溪 ) riverside pathway, causing some cyclists to fall to the ground and suffer minor injuries.
A Banciao District (板橋) resident surnamed Tsao (曹) said he was once chased by strays while riding his scooter, causing him to fall down and suffer broken bones.
“It was a scary experience,” Tsao said.
The report has sparked feverish discussion online, with netizens offering all sorts of solutions.
A man surnamed Wu (吳) said he witnessed the reported incident, and it was scary to see a pack of dogs waiting by the roadside ready to ambush passing cyclists.
Two cyclists were able to pass through the area unscathed, with the first one imitating the barking of dogs and the second one increasing his speed, he added.
Cyclists or pedestrians should not be scared when they see dogs and should slowly get off their bikes, walk up to the dogs and stare them down, a netizen surnamed Lo (羅) said.
Pick up rocks to threaten the alpha dog and force it to back away, Lo said.
Cyclists should not run away or the dogs may resume the chase, he said.
Dogs on the riverside paths are usually abandoned pets — or the pups of abandoned dogs — and should not be overly aggressive, he said.
However, dogs in rural areas may have grown up in the wild and there is a greater chance of their attacking humans, he said
Other netizens said that stopping was not the usual reaction for cyclists being chased by dogs, while others suggested chanting the name of Amitabha until the dogs stop running after them.
“It really works, I have tried it myself,” a netizen said.
Others said that animals are territorial by nature and once cyclists leave the area, the dogs would give up the pursuit.
New Taipei City’s Bureau of Agriculture Director-General Chen Yuan-chuan (陳淵泉) said the bureau would continue to promote TNVR — trap/neuter/vaccinate/return — to deal with strays, but netizens say the policy is not effective.
Breeders and dog sellers are unregulated, while those who buy pets then abandon them on the streets have no legal responsibility, leading to the stray dog problem that affects city residents, netizens said.
A dog lover surnamed Wen (聞) said the city’s Animal Protection Office was incapable of resolving the issue.
Officials should come up with ways to deal with dog breeders and pet owners who abandon their pets on the street, Wen said, adding that the policy of not feeding stray dogs is only making them migrate from one place to another and leaving the basic problem unsolved.
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