My cycling friend, Monica West, set a new world record on Saturday. She walked 24 dogs with a bike on what she calls a "pack ride". Some of the dogs are hers. Some of the dogs are regulars on her pack rides, which she does daily out of Bark Ave doggie daycare.
There were 2 never-evers on the ride. These two dogs had never been on a pack ride and weren't regularly exposed to the other dogs in this way. They all performed with excellence. There was but one casualty of the event. This little white and black dog can be seen directly behind the bike in the second video below. She belongs to the owner of Bark Ave and she is a regular on the pack rides.
It's just that, some days... she doesn't want to. This day, she didn't want to. And, in accordance with her wishes, about half a mile in, she stopped. Her leash was weakened from rubbing on the back wheel and she put on the brakes sufficiently to break away from the pack in the middle of Richards Rd, where, as is her habit, she laid down so as to indicate that she was no longer participating.
Apparently, in that first half mile, she managed to tear a nail off of her front left paw. It was bleeding and probably quite painful. We let her SAG out and put her in a support van to be taken back to Bark Ave.
The rest of the pack ride, a total of 3.5 miles, went without incident. That's not to say that there weren't any awkward moments, but that nobody else quit. We passed a mailman or two. We passed a squirrel or two. We even passed a vacuum truck picking up leaves. Each time, there was a moment when a dog would get distracted. Each time, Monica would take command of the situation and, as pack leader, restore order.
If you've ever watched The Dog Whisperer, you know the kind of quiet calm that Monica uses to maintain control. The pack pulled Monica up hills and through neighborhoods, and eventually, back onto the bike trail.
As we got back onto the bike trail, the entire pack, panting and exhausted, decided that they needed a break. Monica gave them a few minutes and then continued on for the remaining 1/4 mile. We must have been quite a sight as two bikes blocked oncoming traffic on Bancroft so that the pack could get back to Bark Ave. Monica and her 24 remaining dogs owned the lane for a tenth of a mile while 6 or 7 cars followed at a safe distance.
Toledoans my not respect bicycles, but they do seem to love their dogs. We got lots of waves and safe passes prior to getting on Bancroft. Then, everyone followed safely on Bancroft.
Despite Monica's efforts to contact them, there was no representative from Guinness at the event and the only local news agency to show up did an interview with Monica and then left before she even started the ride. So, this may not become an official world record. I'm sure that Monica would be willing to do it again if she needs to. Next time, she'll want to have 28 or more dogs so that she can beat the world record for dogs walked at once AND the record for dogs walked with a bike.
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