kim from independence, mo on 8/29/2008 7:22:53 AM:
Interestingly enough, although I have encountered many "free roaming" dogs on the Katy, the only time I've been bitten was on the Little Blue Trace here in Independence, and that was a dog ON A LEASH.
The owners were out behind a hotel at the end of the trail, had the dog on a long leash, and apparently didn't know how to control the dog.
Luckily the dog only got a mouthful of my rigid biking shoe, but when I asked them to please control their dog, as it could more severly injure someone else, particularly families with kids who like to hike that trail, I was given an earful of colorful language (in front of their kids) and told that I had no business bothering them.
These days, I get the pepper spray out when I see a dog on any trail and have it ready. I'm guessing that one dose of that will cure a dog of chasing walkers or bikers...