Boyle column: Dog attack in Bent Creek shows even leashed dogs can be trouble - Citizen Times

In the world of running and hiking, Bent Creek is famous for beautiful running trails, great mountain biking — and problems with dogs.

Over the years, I've fielded several Answer Man questions about unleashed or uncontrolled dogs in the forest, which is a research forest but heavily used for recreation. In the most recent incident I heard about, a pit bull-mix, which was on a leash and attacked a runner who was just trying to pass by.

Danny Phillips, a 65-year-old who lives off Brevard Road not far from Bent Creek and runs seven days a week, considers Bent Creek "my backyard." But around 5:30 p.m. on July 25, he encountered a powerfully built dog near the bottom of the the Hardtimes Trail, which is popular with runners and hikers.

"I knew to give it some berth," Phillips said, adding that he spoke with the people to let them know he was coming by. "I left and turned, and as soon as I turned my back, I don't know if it got loose or what, but it just clamped down on my butt like nothing I've ever felt. I've always heard these dogs have such a powerful bite, but it's a massive amount of energy they can create."

By his estimation, the attack lasted about 30 seconds. 

"I could tell it was shaking its head," Phillips said. "I was hitting it on the head to get it to turn loose."

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He's not sure if the owners were pulling on the dog simultaneously, but the animal finally released its grip. Asked if the bite broke the skin, Phillips said, "Oh yeah, I had to go to urgent care."

The doctor opted not to use stitches so the wound could drain, "which it did. I've had blood all over me today," Phillips said when I talked to him two days later.

Phillips runs in Bent Creek about five days a week, and he says he's encountered all sorts of wildlife, including bears. This attack unsettled him like nothing he's ever seen.

After the attack, he went to the house of a friend, a retired cop whose wife is a nurse. They went back over to Bent Creek to look for the dog and the owners but didn't find them.

Phillips said he's "a little concerned" about rabies, but the dog's owner, a woman, "said he had all shots, and (she) seemed sincere, although I think part of that was a concern for animal control coming after her." While Phillips did call animal control, he said they were unable to send an officer out at that time.

The incident was scary and painful, but Phillips is not looking to string the owner up. He just wants people to realize that even a dog on a leash can be unpredictable and dangerous.

While this is unpopular in some circles, I've said this before and I'll say it again: pit bulls and pit mixes are particularly dangerous. That's not necessarily because they bite more frequently than other breeds, but when they do snap, they are very powerful animals who shake their heads violently while biting, often inflicting serious damage.

In full disclosure, a 100-pound, a leashed pit bull attacked my basset hound four years ago, after pulling its owner to the ground. The pit immediately went after my dog's neck and had her pinned to the ground until three of us pulled him off.

So no, I'm not a fan of pit bulls. But plenty of other breeds can bite, too.

Phillips just wants folks to remember that while their dog may be placid and loveable at home, they can be unpredictable in public.

"When you take them out to a place (like Bent Creek), they're hot, they're tired -- you just don't know what they're going to do," Phillips said.

Here's his message: 

"Just be aware that your dogs can be unpredictable," Phillips said, noting that at one time he had two St. Bernards. "One was just as kind as he could be, as long as he was at home and on his property. But if you took him out, he could be so unpredictable."

Be aware of people nearby, and keep your dog on a leash at all times. Some folks let their pooches run free in Bent Creek, and this is illegal.

"I see people out there all the time without their dogs on a leash," Phillips said, adding that retractable leashes also are problematic, as they can allow the pets to get too close to other dogs or people.

Bent Creek 'epicenter' of dog complaints

Cathy Dowd, a spokesperson for the U.S. Forest Service, which manages Bent Creek, said she was sorry to hear about the Phillips incident, as it sounds "not only painful but also very scary." And yes, for the record, dogs are required to be leashed in Bent Creek at all times (no longer than a 6-foot leash).

"Bent Creek is one of the heaviest used areas on the forest because it's so close to Asheville and it has a lot of trails and parking," Dowd said via email. "It is the epicenter of complaints about dogs, but we have noticed that more people are keeping their dogs on leashes than they had in the past."

She did not have statistics on citations, partly because their law enforcement officer positions in that area were vacant for a while, and partly because they don't hear about all the incidents, including Phillips'.

"Over the last few years, we have focused on education instead of citations because we really do want people, and their dogs, to have a safe and enjoyable visit to the forest," Dowd said, noting they put together a public service announcement with Buncombe County explaining the leash laws.

I drove out to Bent Creek last week and saw several signs reminding folks to leash their dogs.

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"But being on a leash isn't enough, as your reader unfortunately experienced," Dowd said. "People also need to keep their dog under control, which can be more difficult than they expect in an exciting place like the forest. Some dogs have perfectly behaved until they see other people approaching, and that can take their owners by surprise."

I've always been amazed at how quickly these attacks can unfold. Besides the attack on our basset hound, another time when we were at Bold Rock and large dog just bolted at our little 15-pound mutt and almost got a chomp in.

The lesson is simple: expect unpredictable behavior.

"Even if you have the best dog in the world, keep a firm hold on your leash and step off the trail if you can to give other people extra room to get around you," Dowd said.

You're liable for your dog's actions

While we may not consider this, humans out for a run can get some dogs riled up.

"I hate to say it because I understand running, but if you're running past a dog, keep in mind that a protective dog may see you as a threat and lunge at you, so slowing down isn't a terrible idea," Dowd said.

I know opinions vary on this, but I always carry a sizable can of pepper spray when I walk our dogs anywhere. Hey, it's something.

Dowd offered another good tip.

"If your dog injures someone, make sure the victim is OK and then exchange names and addresses," she said. "You are liable for damages caused by your dog. If you are bitten, get the names and addresses of witnesses and the dog owner. You may want to document the wound with pictures or see a doctor, but you should report the incident to your local animal control agency."

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In general, you also want to control your pooch to protect them, as an uncontrolled dog might interact with bears, other aggressive dogs, or wild animals, some of which carry rabies. They also can get lost or injured in unfamiliar woods.

None of this is super-complicated. Leash your dog. And then keep it under control.

Here's the bottom line from Phillips.

"Just be responsible. Just be responsible," he said. "You're not entitled to anything, and having your dog everywhere, it's not an entitlement. It's a responsibility. If you own a dog, you've got to be responsible."

This is the opinion of John Boyle. Contact him at 828-232-5847 or jboyle@citizentimes.com.