Maybe it's the endless badass loose dog attacks. I was attacked two Wednesdays back when riding my bike from my home in HPP to our weekly chess group at the Ainaloa long house. Two big dogs came after me through an open gate, and one bit me in the left ankle. I'm a 68 year old prostate cancer survivor with one bad knee and my bike is a single speed. It happened just as I was riding past Paradise and on the right side of the highway. Could not outrun them. I just recently started riding again after my health issues, and I'm not giving it up and won't quite my daily walk either. I ride at least 5 miles a day, and fully intend to ride to Pahoa, Keaau, and eventually, Hilo. I called the police and filed a report. But, I was unsure which property the dogs ran out of, and was a bit preoccupied trying to deal with the two dogs. I now pack pepper spray, a knife, and a club, and I fully intend to cave in the skull of the next dog that attacks me. And, yeah, I know it's the owners fault, but it wasn't the pinhead owner chewing on my leg. My event was minor, but certainly not the 80+ year old lady who was given so many times, and then passed away after a month in the hospitol, or the little girl that got her face mauled at a school bus stop. Can't get a gun carry permit in Hawaii, so we are on our own to try to protect ourselves legally. Would I shoot a dog that was trying to have me for lunch? In a heartbeat. Dog owners, get the message?
Jon in Keaau/HPP