by Lori Paul
A local hiker who walks her uncontrolled dogs off-leash… in spite of repeated admonitions not to do so… caused the death of a possibly pregnant doe deer up in Millard Canyon this week. The incident occurred near the campground in the area below the parking lot.
The hiker’s large male dog attacked a resident doe, deeply lacerating her neck and causing other injuries, including what appeared to be a broken leg. California Depatmen. of Fish & Wildlife officers were called to assist the incapacitated and suffering doe. They determined that she could not survive the severe injuries and shot her. This was an incredibly sad and preventable death.
This tragedy is what results when poorly trained dogs are allowed to run off-leash and out of restraint by their owners. This same hiker’s dog ran off on another occasion, accosted a rattlesnake, and got struck. It is unknown if the snake survived injuries inflicted by the dog.
Dogs gone wild
A few years ago, I noticed a male malamute running, without his owner in sight, on the Gabrielino Trail. The malamute ran past me and right up to a well-behaved Siberian Husky on leash… then attacked the other dog! The owner of the Siberian was in a panic, pulling back his dog, blood everywhere. I got off my bike, ran over, grabbed the malamute by his collar and we separated the two dogs. Both had bad bites on their faces and paws.
I marched the now passive malamute over into the nearby creek to cool him off and rinse his wounds. Fortunately, a passing USFS Ranger in a truck stopped and took custody of the malamute. I then rendered first aid to the badly bitten husky.
Both dogs survived… this time. If the victim had been a small dog instead of a sturdy husky, the outcome might’ve been different. The ranger later told me that he had encountered the malamute’s owner, carrying the dog’s leash, one quarter mile. down the trail from the incident. The owner was cited by the USFS officer.
On May 21, I watched helplessly as a large male greyhound killed a baby squirrel. He was one of two greyhounds accompanying two ladies in Hahamongna Watershed Park. The unrestrained, excitable male greyhound ran down the trail and into the bushes where he grabbed the tiny ground squirrel by the head, shook it violently, then dropped his “toy” and returned to the two women I’d been conversing with about the dogs! All this happened in a few seconds, while they ineffectually hollered at the dog to “Stop! Come back here! No No NO!” The greyhound simply ignored them. By the time I reached the baby squirrel, it had died. Unfortunately, the two hikers had the attitude “Oh well, That’s just what dogs do…”
No, that is what untrained, uncontrolled dogs do. Wild predators eat what they kill. Dogs kill for fun. The greyhound just left the little squirrel laying in the dirt.
On June 15 I watched a black dog and his brown pitbull companion chase a young buck off the Altadena Crest Trail in Rubio Canyon down a very steep slope. The deer almost fell into the canyon trying to get away. Again, the owners of the dog on the trail above yelled for their off-leash dogs to stop and come back… to no avail. I was across the ravine and could not help the deer, who barely escaped being mauled. The only consolation is that the two large dogs had chased the deer through a dense patch of poison oak, then returned to their owners.
Not only dogs, but their owners
This is a significant problem. I’ve gotten corroborating responses from a few people about being accosted themselves by dogs, only to be blamed by the dog’s owner for somehow inciting the encounter. Like some parents who rationalize their child’s misbehavior, blind to the facts, many dog owners are the same.
Dogs, like the people who own them, are visitors to a wild world where survival is already a challenge for deer, ground-nesting birds, chipmunks and squirrels, frogs, lizards, and many other species. They should behave as guests, not as marauders .
It is ironic that so many visitors are terribly afraid of mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes and bears… or rattlesnakes and scorpions… when the vast majority of serious bites and fatalities are caused by domestic dogs.
Below are two responses I’ve received following the incident with the deer:
Sadly, more than once while volunteering with the Forest Service I’ve worked crowd control on a helicopter landing zone that was to airlift small children mauled by unleashed dogs. I’ve also had to tell people to leash their dogs on countless occasions, and almost universally those people become agitated and aggressive.
—-
What a horrible set of incidents. I was in Bailey Canyon Park once when an off-leash dog ran towards me in a menacing manner. The owner said the problem was my fault because I had an attitude!
Who to call
USFS regulations require all dogs in Angeles National Forest to be on leash or under immediate control of their owners… like the white chihuahua recently seen riding in a saddlebag on horse. Dogs running out of sight and out of control of their owners harass, injure and kill wildlife. Undisciplined dogs can knock children down, attack other dogs on the trail, jump up on hikers (often with muddy paws), startle horses, and even steal food. I watched a hyper black lab in Millard Canyon campground run wild among the tents, then jump up and grab a chicken sandwich right off a picnic table in front of an astonished camper.
If you see someone with an uncontrolled dog or dogs running off-leash, please politely speak up and tell them to retrieve and control their animal. If they are unresponsive and you believe that wildlife, trail users, other dogs or horses are at risk, contact authorities. Be prepared to give a description of the dog(s), the owners, and exact location. If safe to do so, take a photo with smart phone or camera.
1.) Altadena Sheriffs 626 798.1131 (they can respond to the scene fastest near urban areas)
2.) USFS Dispatch for LEOs (Law Enforcement Officers) 661 723.2703
3.) California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife: 1 888 DFG CALTIP (1 888 334.2258)
If an animal is injured, contact Pasadena Humane Society. They will respond to wildlife calls in Altadena and on USFS trails. Ask for their wildlife officer, Ashley Hermans, though any PHS humane officer can assist: 626-792-7151 ext. 110
Dog control is a rare talent
All of us can help prevent needless tragedies like what happened to that poor deer. The owner of the dog knew better. More of us need to remind owners who let their dogs run loose to please put their pets on leash or restrain them so that they are not a risk to others. This also keeps the dogs themselves safer. If that fails to work, it is up to authorities to cite these persons.
That said, there are also quite a few dogs technically “off-leash” that are under far better control than most uruly, untrained, hyper dogs who are leashed, pulling their owners along the trail by one of those long “reel-out” leashes. I frequently see very sedate, disciplined dogs strolling in close heel with an elderly owner who is simply holding a leash loosely in hand… or the incredibly well-behaved cattle dogs and barn mutts that follow after horse riders and never leave their side. Using a leash from horseback is not practical, so these dogs and horses are a team. I would not want those owners to be harassed or cited, told to leash their dogs or muzzle them, when they are not the problem.
But … the idea that your average, inept dog owner can simply get out on a trail or into Hahamongna and then take the leash off so the dog can go wild and “run free” is alarming.
The woman who owned the dog that mauled that poor pregnant deer is a very nice elder lady who has been in denial about what her dogs do off-leash. Same with the two women with the greyhounds. They rescued those dogs from greyhound racing abuse… and greyhounds need to run. These are not gang members with pitbulls (though those exist, most often in the developed campground). These are your neighbors, avid hikers and runners and ordinary people who love the outdoors but who are incredibly naive about the annoying and dangerous behavior of their beloved dogs. Watch an episode of Cesar Milan to see some of the whacky ways people interact with domestic dogs. Once outdoors, unruly and predatory behavior comes to the fore in dogs with often tragic results.
Changing trail culture
As local trails become de facto replacements for the lack of conventional parks and dog parks, specifically, this problem of dogs running loose and harming themselves (getting bit by a rattlensnake or falling off a cliff edge), attacking other dogs or trail users or wildlife is increasing. When a dog runs out of sight from its owner and kills a lizard or baby quail, the owner often has no clue!
I think selective enforcement of egregious violators is needed, but as you know, there is a lack of law enforcement authoritiy out on the trail or in the campground. Also, dogs running around or killing wildlife is not a top priority when human crime and accidents can overwhelm resources.
The issue is that there are no authorities out on the trails or even in places like Eaton Canyon or Millard Canyon who can stop and cite problem dog owners. Lonnie Fehr, the dedicated USFS campground caretaker does his best. He has actually been attacked in the past for telling more than one woman with a dangerous dog to put her animal on leash. That is no exaggeration, since video footage was taken of the woman hitting Lonnie! Gang and teens with spike-collared pitbulls are also “non-compliant.” Yet Lonnie is a volunteer host and can only do so much without the backing of usually far-off USFS LEOs or even local Sheriffs who don’t like driving up into the canyon.
“Trail culture” needs to change whereby all hikers, riders, and other visitors out for a pleasant time make it unacceptable for problem owners to let their dogs run off leash. Sadly, public tolerance for this behavior needs to go down. If every person with a hyper or aggressive dog is told by every passerby to leash that dog, the general hassle and embarrassment will make many persons leash-up their dog and/or go elsewhere. It is disruptive and inconvenient to do this and you can run into confrontational, hostile, upset dog owners… So most of us avoid saying anything. I’ve politely spoken up as a veterinary tech. and wildlife advocate. This sometimes gets the point across and sometimes gets me hollered at or the person simply ignores me. But, I think if more persons said something, the situation would improve.
Thank you Lori, this is well stated. Like so many others, we have been snarled at by hostile dog owners for calmly asking them to leash their pet who may be jumping or drooling on us, no doubt being friendly. The worst was the young owners of a young pit who yelled at me for telling them, not politely, to leash the dog who had lept at my face. “He’s only playing! What’s the matter with you?” “So why is blood rolling down my arm?” They went off in a huff and we didn’t have a phone to call on, so I went home and tended my bruised and bitten arm. I will note too, that we have owned and loved several big dogs whose passing was mourned by neighbors and gardeners alike, so it isn’t a matter of hating and fearing dogs.
Thank you for writing this.
This issue is near and dear to my heart. My dog does not speak dog and does not get along with other dogs, which is annoying for us when we’re walking him on his sturdy leash, but not a problem. It’s not a problem, that is, until there are loose dogs. So many times have I yelled, “My dog isn’t friendly” and the passersby shout back as their dog barrels towards mine, “Well, our dog is,” only to moments later have a tangled mess of snarling dogs. I can say, however, that most times (with a few frustrating and notable exceptions), owners of loose dogs have apologized to me when their dogs approach my dog and incite a ruckus. I only wish that apology would mean a change in behavior. (Is an apology really an apology if it doesn’t result in a change in the apologizer?)
Yes, a change of trail culture is desperately needed. It will take a lot of us being very vocal to make this happen. I hope your thoughtful piece will help spark this necessary change.
Timely. I just got back from Echo Mountain and out of the 14 dogs I encountered, only one was leashed. And we’re talking big dogs — g. shepherds, goldens, dobies. They were friendly to me, but it would have been another matter had I brought my dog, who is always leashed, and does not appreciate getting charged by loose dogs. That’s fine; I don’t mind leaving my dog at home. It’s the wildlife I worry about, and the famous excuse of all irresponsible dog owners, “He’s never done THAT before!.”
As I’ve said over and over… Pepper spray, pepper spray, pepper spray. I had a client who’d been attacked by 3 dogs… had severe nerve damage. I was bitten myself once, a few years ago by a dog who thought she was protecting her pregnant owner. I’ve seen people walking what I call “coyote food” (little dogs on leashes) who were “braced” by a free-running German Shepherd. Pepper spray is legal; pepper spray will stop pretty much anything ~ 2 and 4-legged. Will it affect your dog when you spray another? Possibly, temporarily. Way better than getting mauled though, isn’t it? And no, rarely would you need vet or doctor’s assistance after being sprayed. Just time. This is where I got mine and the size which is the biggest legal one you can carry in the street ~ http://amzn.to/16TQikM
Great piece, I agree. As a former Scout leader and regular hiker, I confirm it is an issue.
To me, the temporary solution is to make the dog owners 1)liable and 2)required to do volunteer work on the trails walking with people who have their pets with them, to protect them from lose dogs.
Elliot Gold
It’s not just big dogs. Many little dogs are more snappish and aggressive than big dogs. It’s dogs in general who are not controlled. Some stupid tiny little dog tried several times to attack my two medium-sized dogs when we were walking. My dogs are not vicious, but they are aggressive when attacked and one of them certainly is powerful enough to do some damage. I had all I could do to hold them on their leashes. If they had hurt the other dog, then they would have had to be put down–for defending themselves.
My point is, with the rare exceptions Lori cites, dogs belong on leashes when they are not in their yards.
As for a change in culture–that only happens with education. The anti-smoking campaign is a good example of a successful campaign to change the perception of a certain behavior. Post photos like Lori’s picture of the doe at every trailhead, pass out fliers, put pamphlets with the sign-in logs–whatever calls attention to the problem. Get it on KTLA news!
No one is safe from uncontrolled dogs–wildlife, pets, kids, adults.
What a lot of “unleashed” owners don’t get is that their dog doesn’t even have to be aggressive to be a menace. I’ve seen plenty of happy, joyous, friendly (and clueless) dogs knock over children, trip runners, spook horses and make bicyclists crash. And it flabbergasts me that this same dog owner apparently saw this same dog get bitten by a rattlesnake in an earlier encounter and STILL let it run off leash later. If you can’t see past your naive notion that your dog won’t hurt anyone, at least see what’s happening when the dog himself gets hurt? I bet this doe got in a few good hoof strikes before she went down. Modern dog owners are, by and large, whacko. Dog ownership in America has turned into a trend, and the people following it are by and large ignorant of what dogs need to be confident, obedient, happy and safe. Too many people see their pooch as cheap therapy, the first step before you go on to have kids, the happy thing to come home to after your long hours at work, the thing that needs you now that the kids have moved out, or a good reason to get regular exercise. Dog ownership for them is more about their own needs more than the dog’s. I worked at the Humane Society for a while, and I saw all the dogs given up once the baby comes, surrendered because they destroyed the house (or barked their heads off) during 10+ hours of loneliness a day, turned in because the kids weren’t there to take care of them any more. Dogs need a purpose, they need a pack that’s there for them more often than not, they need a routine and they like to be under control. Most city dogs are neurotic and lonely, and letting them off-leash in the National Forest is not the answer.
Does anyone know if this dog owner was ever cited?
Thank you Lori for such a well-written and thoughtful piece. As a wildlife rehabilitator, CBD (“caught by dog”) are some of the most common injuries I see to adult animals, and the second most common known reason for wild animals to be orphaned. (The most common cause is people trapping and removing the mother animal, not realizing that she has babies hidden nearby.) Most smaller animals will not survive an attack by a dog, and even animals that can give back as good as they get (raccoons, for example) frequently die later due to infection, shock, and internal injuries.
I think it’s a sad thing that we kill coyotes, our own native ‘song dog’, when they come into our yards, but then we let our non-native dogs run amok in the coyote’s yards.
If your dog is unleashed and comes at me I will kill it. I have been bitten before by a “friendly” dog and I no longer trust these animals. Leash it or risk me killing it. Period. Not all of us like dogs and I encounter dogs off leash in Eaton Canyon all the time. This is not okay.