Alert Two reports of agressive dogs just after Oseira

[Luka]

I have been reading 2 different reports (on FB and instagram) about (an) agressive dog(s) just after Oseira. I'll post them here:

In the group of @geraldkelly on FB (4 days ago):
Hello lovely Via de la Plata group!
I had a very unpleasant experience with 3 aggressive dogs just after the beautiful monastery Oseira this morning. I was just passing the village Vilarello, when 3 dogs (2 German shepherds and a third big one) came running from the village I was bypassing on the road. They were barking and growling at me, I had my stick and kept on walking. I thought they would leave me alone after a while, but they were running after me, growling and barking all the time and one finally scratched or slightly bit me (can not say, it’s superficial and I got it checked out at a Medical Centre in Lalín). Just when the camino left the road towards a path, they left me alone. The hospitalera in A Laxe (where I am now) said I should mention this to the Ayuntamiento of Cea and also at the Pilgrims office in Santiago. Any more suggestions? Be careful peregrin@s

In a blog of another pilgrim on instagram (today):
There's also an unfortunate encounter with a dog today. It's not just barking at me (as seems par for the course here) but also following at an uncomfortably close distance (less than 30cm way). I know a fellow pilgrim got bitten by a dog here only a few days ago, and when turning around, yelling, pretending to pick up a rock and gesturing at it doesn't work I finally resort to hitting it with my trekking poles. I don't like hurting an animal but I'm genuinely scared and don't see any other options (for anyone currently walking, this is in the first hamlet after Oseira, only a couple of km out).

It is likely of course that the second pilgrim is talking about the same incident the first pilgrim reported. But these are at least two incidents in only a couple of days.

 

[Jay_Walker]

I have been reading 2 different reports (on FB and instagram) about (an) agressive dog(s) just after Oseira. I'll post them here:

In the group of @geraldkelly on FB (4 days ago):
Hello lovely Via de la Plata group!
I had a very unpleasant experience with 3 aggressive dogs just after the beautiful monastery Oseira this morning. I was just passing the village Vilarello, when 3 dogs (2 German shepherds and a third big one) came running from the village I was bypassing on the road. They were barking and growling at me, I had my stick and kept on walking. I thought they would leave me alone after a while, but they were running after me, growling and barking all the time and one finally scratched or slightly bit me (can not say, it’s superficial and I got it checked out at a Medical Centre in Lalín). Just when the camino left the road towards a path, they left me alone. The hospitalera in A Laxe (where I am now) said I should mention this to the Ayuntamiento of Cea and also at the Pilgrims office in Santiago. Any more suggestions? Be careful peregrin@s

In a blog of another pilgrim on instagram (today):
There's also an unfortunate encounter with a dog today. It's not just barking at me (as seems par for the course here) but also following at an uncomfortably close distance (less than 30cm way). I know a fellow pilgrim got bitten by a dog here only a few days ago, and when turning around, yelling, pretending to pick up a rock and gesturing at it doesn't work I finally resort to hitting it with my trekking poles. I don't like hurting an animal but I'm genuinely scared and don't see any other options (for anyone currently walking, this is in the first hamlet after Oseira, only a couple of km out).

It is likely of course that the second pilgrim is talking about the same incident the first pilgrim reported. But these are at least two incidents in only a couple of days.

A third person reported a similar incident in response to the FB post you mentioned.

 

[Luka]

A third person reported a similar incident in response to the FB post you mentioned.

Yes thanks, you are right, I forgot to mention that.

 

[Jay_Walker]

Yes thanks, you are right, I forgot to mention that.

I'm heading that way in a week. I may have to take the other route to avoid this situation.

 

[BombayBill]

I see today on the Spanish speaking Invierno Facebook group that there is bruhaha about dogs near Lalin. The Spanish discussions there are similar to here. Some blaming the walkers, others the owners, others the failure of the authorities.

Good to know that that Spanish forum has the same spirited discussions as this one.

 

[dick bird]

I have been reading 2 different reports (on FB and instagram) about (an) agressive dog(s) just after Oseira. I'll post them here:

In the group of @geraldkelly on FB (4 days ago):
Hello lovely Via de la Plata group!
I had a very unpleasant experience with 3 aggressive dogs just after the beautiful monastery Oseira this morning. I was just passing the village Vilarello, when 3 dogs (2 German shepherds and a third big one) came running from the village I was bypassing on the road. They were barking and growling at me, I had my stick and kept on walking. I thought they would leave me alone after a while, but they were running after me, growling and barking all the time and one finally scratched or slightly bit me (can not say, it’s superficial and I got it checked out at a Medical Centre in Lalín). Just when the camino left the road towards a path, they left me alone. The hospitalera in A Laxe (where I am now) said I should mention this to the Ayuntamiento of Cea and also at the Pilgrims office in Santiago. Any more suggestions? Be careful peregrin@s

In a blog of another pilgrim on instagram (today):
There's also an unfortunate encounter with a dog today. It's not just barking at me (as seems par for the course here) but also following at an uncomfortably close distance (less than 30cm way). I know a fellow pilgrim got bitten by a dog here only a few days ago, and when turning around, yelling, pretending to pick up a rock and gesturing at it doesn't work I finally resort to hitting it with my trekking poles. I don't like hurting an animal but I'm genuinely scared and don't see any other options (for anyone currently walking, this is in the first hamlet after Oseira, only a couple of km out).

It is likely of course that the second pilgrim is talking about the same incident the first pilgrim reported. But these are at least two incidents in only a couple of days.

Report it to the police. Spain has tightened up a lot recently on the control of dogs.

 

[walking sticKs]

Luka, you want to suggest to the pilgrim rabies shots if it broke the skin! I don't use FB,
I won't go into my rabies story but in the end I was glad I got the shots!

 

[ward4e]

Safe to say I'm not that brave but I picked up a couple of rocks last time I had a dog appear. Faced them the entire time, walked backwards away in the direction I was going... They kept thier distance and I tossed the stones a bit later.

 

[geraldkelly]

This is the original post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/viadelaplatapilgrimsgroup/permalink/1401495180570385/

Clearly there's a problem about 3km after Oseira at the moment. Someone's dogs are running wild. Hopefully they'll get them under control soon.

 

[Luka]

I'm heading that way in a week. I may have to take the other route to avoid this situation.

I'll be walking there in a couple of weeks as well. And planning to stay in Oseira. I hope the situation is solved by then, but I thought about trying to organize a group, so I won't walk alone there.

 

[Luka]

Report it to the police. Spain has tightened up a lot recently on the control of dogs.

I agree. But I can't report something I haven't experienced myself. Will definitely do if I would meet those same dogs (but hopefully not).

 

[LuciaP]

I'll be walking there in a couple of weeks as well. And planning to stay in Oseira. I hope the situation is solved by then, but I thought about trying to organize a group, so I won't walk alone there.

Hi Luka, considering I am starting on Thursday, it would be good for me as well to find someone walking with me. Any suggestions on where I may go online to double check who is walking the same camino? Thanks!

 

[LuciaP]

I'm heading that way in a week. I may have to take the other route to avoid this situation.

Hi Jay, I will be there from Friday. When are you planning to be in Ourense? Which is the alternative way you are suggesting?

 

[Corned Beef]

This is the original post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/viadelaplatapilgrimsgroup/permalink/1401495180570385/

Clearly there's a problem about 3km after Oseira at the moment. Someone's dogs are running wild. Hopefully they'll get them under control soon.

I have Spanish dogs. Brought 4 of them over as family were moving back temporarily. There is no problem with the dogs and as the saying goes there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.

However what some may not know is that Spain has the highest levels of abandoned pets in the EU. One of the 4 brought over is a stray that was picked up by my niece close to her home near Vigo. So it may be that some of these dogs have poor or non-existent owners. Please exercise caution and report overly aggressive dogs to the authorities as suggested above.

 

[geraldkelly]

Hi Luka, considering I am starting on Thursday, it would be good for me as well to find someone walking with me. Any suggestions on where I may go online to double check who is walking the same camino? Thanks!

I would talk to other people in the albergue in Oseira and agree with them to walk as a group for the first hour or so.

Otherwise, please don't let this worry you, these kinds of incidents are extremely rare.

 

[LuciaP]

I would talk to other people in the albergue in Oseira and agree with them to walk as a group for the first hour or so.

Otherwise, please don't let this worry you, these kinds of incidents are extremely rare.

Thank you @geraldkelly. Unfortunately I am terrified of dogs and - walking the camino alone - just reading this had me thinking again all of it!

 

[Luka]

I would talk to other people in the albergue in Oseira and agree with them to walk as a group for the first hour or so.

Otherwise, please don't let this worry you, these kinds of incidents are extremely rare.

This was exactly my plan indeed. Just ask pilgrims who have spent the night there if they wouldn't mind to walk the first few kms out of Oseira together.

But I think I know how it feels, @LuciaP. I used to be terrified as well. What @geraldkelly says is true, incidents are rare. But I also know that ratio doesn't help much with fear. I still hope that this won't change your plans.

 

[geraldkelly]

Thank you @geraldkelly. Unfortunately I am terrified of dogs and - walking the camino alone - just reading this had me thinking again all of it!

If what you're reading on the internet is making you wonder if walking the Camino is a good idea then get off the internet!

 

[LuciaP]

This was exactly my plan indeed. Just ask pilgrims who have spent the night there if they wouldn't mind to walk the first few kms out of Oseira together.

But I think I know how it feels, @LuciaP. I used to be terrified as well. What @geraldkelly says is true, incidents are rare. But I also know that ratio doesn't help much with fear. I still hope that this won't change your plans.

Thank you very much @Luka: after reading you and @geraldkelly I confirmed flights and everything else! Will put myself in the hands of the camino!

 

[LuciaP]

This was exactly my plan indeed. Just ask pilgrims who have spent the night there if they wouldn't mind to walk the first few kms out of Oseira together.

But I think I know how it feels, @LuciaP. I used to be terrified as well. What @geraldkelly says is true, incidents are rare. But I also know that ratio doesn't help much with fear. I still hope that this won't change your plans.

Thank you very much @Luka: after reading you and @geraldkelly I confirmed flights and everything else! Will put myself in the hands of the camino!

If what you're reading on the internet is making you wonder if walking the Camino is a good idea then get off the internet!

you are very right @geraldkelly ! but it wasn't the Camino itself, more the specific trail, because I am doing only the last 100kms for this first time, and I was split minded between Via de La Plata and a more "crowded" one, so the dogs were sending me off my path

 

[Jay_Walker]

Hi Jay, I will be there from Friday. When are you planning to be in Ourense? Which is the alternative way you are suggesting?

The plan is to stay in Oseira Thursday leaving Friday morning. You can avoid Oseira all together by taking the left branch at Cea. I'll probably just join a few pilgrims leaving Oseira for the first hour or so as suggested by Gerald and others.

 

[SabsP]

The plan is to stay in Oseira Thursday leaving Friday morning. You can avoid Oseira all together by taking the left branch at Cea. I'll probably just join a few pilgrims leaving Oseira for the first hour or so as suggested by Gerald and others.

Keep us posted! Hope you have some fellow pilgrims to join you.

 

[JillGat]

I will be in Oseira tomorrow
We'll see!

 

[Luka]

Thanks in advance to everyone on the ground who can report back about the current situation

 

[J Willhaus]

I will be in Oseira tomorrow
We'll see!

How did the dog situation pan out? Were you threatened by them?

 

[JillGat]

The town was quiet and there were no dogs. We did come across these 2 terrors in the next town

 

[Luka]

Thanks for reporting back, @JillGat. Good to hear. Buen Camino!

 

[Levi]

I walked this part this morning - all calm - no dogs fierce or otherwise.