Dog Attacks and Halt or Pepper Spray

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I am curious is any of you have used Halt or pepper spray to deter an aggressive dog and does one work better than the other? 

Charlie and I were out for our walk on Sunday and we happened to be going past a house where some people were unloading camping equipment out of their pickup.  I just happened to glance over at them as we passed and saw a lady carrying bottles from a cooler into the house.  We were about 40 feet past their driveway (I could not longer see them or their vehicle) when all of a sudden I heard someone yell "Adobe NO".  I did not even have time to look back, the next thing I know Charlie yelps and is lying flat out on his right side with a pit bull latched onto his left hip.  I yelled  at the dog and looked up across from Charlie to see a second dog coming at him.  I looked it right in the eye and put up my fist and yelled with all my might "NO".  It actually backed off but the one that had him down did not budge.  I was screaming and yelling someone please help and was trying to get Charlie up and kicking at the dog all at the same time!  I finally heard someone behind me yelling at the dog, and then heard the guy hit the ground - apparently he tried to make a running leap for the dog and missed.  I think that is what made the dog let Charlie go though, and I was able to bring him up into my chest and get him off the ground.  The next thing I know that damn dog was coming back at us again and the owner was threatening his dog but it was ignoring him.  I thought we were both going down!  I kept trying to walk on away. As we got to the corner I looked back and could see the dog that had attacked  was standing on the sidewalk frothing at the mouth.  His owner was between him and us at that point.  I do not think I have ever been so scared in my life.  We turned the corner and walked down past two more houses before I felt it was safe to put Charlie down to see if he could walk because I knew I was not going to be able to carry 38 lbs of dog over my shoulder as I now realized my knee was killing me!  Called DH and he came and picked us up.  We took Charlie home - checked him out head to toe and he only had a small red scratch on the left hip and I had a sprained knee.  I was so thankful he had all his hair right now as I think it did protect him.  We called the police and animal control; and have not had a report back.  When they call I hope they tell us that the dogs do not actually live there and were only visiting!  We live in a very nice residential area and I have never once felt threatened in any way, but now find myself looking over my shoulder. Today we walked down just to get the mail and Charlie kept checking to see if something was behind him.  Charlie is a total wuss with other dogs and would never fight back - he turns away.  He plays with a select few and really prefers to talk to their owners!  As you can tell I am still up set - I felt tramautized, but it made me realize that I need to be prepared and not just smelling roses when we are out there! 

  

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I too was amazed at the immediate response once the head of the dept got the message.  The officer mentioned that he is an animal lover and avid pug owner.  I felt he was very concerned with what had happened.  

On another positive note, Charlie and I had a long walk yesterday and we actually came within three houses of the incident.  Charlie is still tentative and wants to be right by my side, but on the way home he had a doodle moment - there was a 14 wk. old standard doodle on the lawn with its owner and she asked us to come over. Oh, I love doodle puppy breath!  Then when we got to our cul de sac, my neighbor had company with a golden retriever 5 mo. old puppy who they brought up for a short playtime in our fenced yard. Needless to say, Charlie was exhausted last night. 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Lot's of good news! Hope you and Charlie continue on to a full recovery from this incident and can put it behind you. (With a horn and some pepper spray in your pocket of course! :)

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Wow that was quick work once you called! It's great to know how they react to these situations-they are in the computer and following up on them. So glad you 2 are ok.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I am glad something is being done about this.  Thank goodness the dogs don't live in your neighborhood! Hopefully, your neighbors won't even want the responsibility of watching those dogs again.  I sure wouldn't.  I feel sorry for the neighbors of the dogs' owners though!