OPEN LETTER TO SOCORRO
STRIDERS AND RIDERS
Some of you may be aware of the troubles I have had with
loose dogs in the county and city in a little over a year. I have been bitten twice. The last time was on February 17 of this year. The woman who owned the pack of dogs was
cited for loose dogs and vicious dog.
She did not go before Judge Cases but decided to not contest and pay the
fines. She paid $99 for the loose dogs
violation and $30 for the dog who bit me but she won’t have to pay that if she
keeps her dogs under control for the next 30 days.
Needless to say…I am not a happy cyclist. The city council has become more conscious of
this problem recently and I will speak to them at the next city council meeting
on Monday (if they meet on Easter Monday) but I am addressing you now because
SSR is THE most important club of runners and cyclists in the city and I know
most of you have had problems at one time or another with dogs. I used to just try and get around the dogs,
yell at them, squirt ammonia at them (etc) but now I think that this isn’t
working and I am tired of not being able to go for a nice bike ride without
being attacked. I can’t out run a pack
anymore.
I think that if we all made it a point of reporting these
loose dogs the owners might get the idea that it doesn't pay to be so
irresponsible.
A lot of you have cell phones with you when you ride. So if you are in the county, give the deputy sheriff
a call at 575-835-0941 persistence with them has brought about some positive
results on hwy 1 and on hwy 480. In the
city call 835-1883.
It doesn't take too long to stop and call and maybe, just
maybe, we can make a difference.
Catharine Stewart-Roache
