Posted on 05/09/2025 6:05:28 PM PDT by george76
Police, animal control seek to address leash law violations..
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The recent deaths of a cyclist and a beloved family pet, both the result of off-leash dogs, have renewed calls for greater accountability.
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A Durango man who fell off his bike and later died from his injuries while apparently trying to avoid a loose dog on the Animas River Trail has reignited calls for pet owners to leash their animals in public spaces.
The collision involving the bicyclist and off-leash dog occurred about 2:30 p.m. March 12 on a section of the river trail near the skate park and Schneider Park.
Steven Miller, 76, fell off his bike and hit his head. He died two weeks later from his injuries.
While Durango police have not determined whether the dog or cyclist initiated the collision, officers emphasized that the presence of an off-leash dog was the central issue.
“I just want to be absolutely clear that if anybody tries to make the argument that this is the cyclist’s fault, it was not,” said Durango Police Cmdr. Jacob Dunlop. “This was a dog-at-large issue, and that is what we’re trying to resolve.”
Witnesses said the dog’s owner initially yelled at Miller before realizing how seriously he was injured. The dog’s owner then left the scene, saying he was going to get help, but never returned.
Police have not been able to identify a suspect. The dog was described by witnesses as a medium-sized blond Labrador or pit bull terrier.
Durango police have kept the death and its circumstances under wraps, in part because the investigation remains active and out of respect for Miller’s widow, Laura Miller.
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But Miller’s death has forced the city, police department and animal control to reconsider their approach to leash law enforcement.
“It is a problem. It’s a problem every year. But it seems like it’s getting worse, because it seems like we’re getting more people and more dogs,” said Durango Police Chief Brice Current.
In addition to Miller’s death, multiple incidents of off-leash dogs attacking other dogs have been reported in the past several weeks.
A post on the social media site Nextdoor said a Jack Russel terrier required numerous stitches after being attacked by an off-leash dog last weekend on Animas Village Drive. A week earlier, a dog died after a similar attack on the river trail.
A close friend of the owners of the deceased pet, Melani Woodruff, confirmed the death. She said the owners are devastated by the loss – a tragedy she said was easily preventable.
Woodruff owns two dogs and said she is no stranger to the widespread disregard many Durango pet owners show for leash laws.
She no longer walks her dogs in the parks by the river because she encountered at least one off-leashed dog every time.
“It only takes a few seconds for a dog to be killed,” Woodruff said.
She posted about the attack on Nextdoor and received more than 100 comments from Durango residents expressing similar concerns and questioning the city’s response.
“The situation is that our enforcement is not enforced,” Woodruff said. “Our enforcers don’t enforce. And so that leads to nonchalant, arrogant attitudes.”
City Code says it is unlawful for dogs to be in public parks, playgrounds, trails, recreational facilities or city-owned open spaces without a leash, which must not exceed 6 feet in length.
No mention of helmet or speed.
We won the FR Daily Double. Bicycles and pit bulls in the same post. This should be good. ;0)
Bicycle riders are rude and entitled and always making their point.
The unleashed dog was said to be either a Lab or a Pit Bull.
Those are two very different looking breeds.
It would be hard to mistake one for the other, unless we’re talking about someone just making a wild guess.
My bet is it was a Pit Bull, because a large percentage of people who own that breed tend to casually disregard leash laws they don’t personally find convenient or pleasing.
“...a medium-sized blond Labrador or pit bull terrier.”
Confusion about that?
“My bet is it was a Pit Bull, because a large percentage of people who own that breed tend to casually disregard leash laws they don’t personally find convenient or pleasing.”
You’ve never hiked around Boulder. The owners are incredibly rude and privileged.
The problem here is the “journalist.”
At 76 years of age, I doubt Mr. Miller was aggressive, rude and entitled. He was probably going slowly and cautiously.
As the two most common breeds, it is not impossible to imagine a creature being half lab/half pit bull, and bearing some resemblance to both.
“While Durango police have not determined whether the dog or cyclist initiated the collision”. Maybe the dude liked to run over dogs on his bike and this time it killed him.
Feel sorry for the dog’s family.
I have a 1/4 Husky, 1/4 CBR, 1/4 Pit Bull, 1/8 [yellow] Lab and some other stuff.
She presents as a yellow Lab/Husky.
If it’s a bicyclist and a pitbull, kind a hard to know who to root for.
An unleashed dog is what is called negligence per se. These thoughtless dog owners are rude and entitled.
Of course, yeah, there are some careless bicyclists, but there’s no excuse for an unleashed pit bull or lab when it should be controlled, if leashed this old boy would still be alive.
Maybe. Or maybe the dog had a thing against bicyclists and saw this old dude as an easy mark.
“ You’ve never hiked around Boulder. The owners are incredibly rude and privileged.”
Durango is not Boulder.
Durango is like low-life central.
Being old is a risk.
Being old and riding a bike is a risk.
Being a loose dog around moving bikes is a risk.
Life is totally risky.
That’s how Insurance Companies make money. [Lieyawhers too.]
The reporter is too biased?
Some may never have been taught the fine line between
Reporting and providing a Personal Opinion.
Not the same at all.
The dog was described by witnesses as a medium-sized blond Labrador or pit bull terrier.
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Whut?
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