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! 

  

[Gail and Bailey]

Wow...you are very luck to have gotten away with no injury to your dog.  Sorry about your knee!  Same thing happened to my sister in law but with a tragic outcome.  Her schnauzer was mauled and died from the injuries.  It really upsets me that there are people with pit bulls who do not seem to think they can be dangerous.  Sadly, I do not think there is anything the police can or will do.  I hope Charlie and you will soon be able to relax and enjoy your walks again.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Thanks Gail. Yes, I feel so sorry for your sister-in-law.  I am so thankful Charlie only got a scratch.  When I told the police that it makes me angry to think we are not safe in our own neighborhood, he responded that I could get a permit to carry a concealed weapon and our state law provides that you can shoot the attacking dog! Yikes!  I would probably shoot my own foot or ??  I just do not think that is an option for me and that is why I was wondering if any DKers have actually used halt or pepper spray. This was the first time we have had any problem out walking and I am certainly hoping the odds are against it happening again, but I want to be prepared.

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

So sorry about your SIL's dog! How awful this must have been.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

That is terrible.  I wonder if Charlie did the right thing by not fighting back.  Had he chosen to react to the other dog and tried to fight back to protect himself (rather than stay pinned the way he had), he may have been seriously injured.  I always worry about running into loose dogs while we are out on a walk and I don't know what I would do because there is no way that I could lift 2 dogs out of danger.  

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Amy, I think you might be right.  After the first yelp he layed there whimpering, but very still. I was trying to make a bridge over him to protect him from the second dog and kick at the one that had him.  It felt like an eternity, but in fact was probably only a few minutes!  Once the dog let go, and I was cuddling him up to my chest to lift him up he was shaking like a leaf.  I felt so helpless as I am supposed to be his protector! 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I've been wondering the same thing about pepper spray so I'll be watching to see if anyone has any experience with it.  So glad that things seem to have turned out without too much damage, but I'm sure a walk will never be the same for you guys.  Hopefully the police do something about it as next time it could be a child.  Hope Charlie fully recovers and doesn't have any lasting nervousness from this. 

[Pat and Traveler]

How terrifying!  It's awful when you can't walk safely in your neighborhood.  I have a little pepper spray container, but don't take it with me on walks and have never used it.  Shoot the attacking dog???  Now that's a scary thought, too.  So glad Charlie and you are both okay.

[Moe]

I don't know that in the panic of an attack I'd be able to use the pepper spray. I'd probably end up spraying myself or my dog. When the adrenalin is flowing it think it would be hard to make it work.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I know. In this instance, we did not even see or hear them coming up behind us.  I read online that the spray works up to 10 feet which may help if you see them coming and the wind is not blowing toward me and Charlie. Yikes! We have had so much wind here that it might be difficult to use.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I'm so sorry that happened to you and Charlie, it sounds awful. 

[Donna K & Quincy]

How utterly terrifying. I am so glad that your's and Charlies's injuries were not worse. I don't have any advice but this is something that is always in the back of my mind when we are out walking. Pepper spray is not legal in Canada but I sure wish there was some alternative. There have been a couple of episodes here that have resulted in one dog being badly injured and a small dog killed by an off leash pit. They suspect it was the same dog but have no proof. The owner has been charged in the second episode that resulted in the death of a small poodle. He was charged with a violation of the Dog Act for having an animal off a leash and outside of a pen and did have to appear in court. That is very cold comfort to the owner of the little dog that died.

[BG and Gavin]

Donna, pepper spray may be illegal in Canada, but bear repellent spray is legal.  Same church different pew if you know what I mean.