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]

Thanks Ginny.  My halt arrived in this morning's mail, so I will be carrying it daily.  I am so glad your dog survived, so many have not been that lucky.  I feel Charlie was over the top lucky.  He has been quiet all week, but I think he was probably feeling the effects of the force and crashing to the ground.  This a.m. he played ball, so I think we are both on the mend.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

This is so terrifying and I'm so glad you guys are okay!! What a horrible experience. Years ago my Golden was attacked by a Rottweiler while we were walking and I had no way to get that dog off my dog. I was just terrified. I screamed for help but no one came (later found out the dog owners were on vacation and someone was dog sitting for them). The dog had a puppy with her! :( Anyhow the dog finally broke off attack when I screeched a really high pitched hideous noise (don't know WHERE it came from-LOL!).  So I think that a loud noise maker might be more useful than pepper spray because you would not have to worry about wind direction, etc.  We currently carry pepper spray but I am not convinced that it is the best solution and after this post will be shopping for an air horn.  My best to both of you, I know how hard it is to recover from this type of attack. The body heals but the mind doesn't forget...

[Natasha]

That is a terrifying experience.  It's really sad that so many people have a similar story.  I do not understand people who leave their dogs unfenced and untied in their yard or just walk them without a leash or anything.  It's not fair to everyone else and it's not safe.  It makes me nervous as well.  I think the dog halt or bear spray sounds like a really good idea.  Maybe if you walk with it in your pocket or something, you can take it out when you hear someone yell at their dog or when you see a loose dog.  I try hard to pretend not to let on I'm nervous to my dog so that he doesn't get tense and get his back up, so to speak.

With my previous dogs the vet said citronella would be a good bug repellent for dogs.  But they hated it.  Then I saw they make citronella bark collers.  After that when my dogs would be doing something really unacceptable I would show them the bottle.  Later I could just hold up my hand as if I was going to spray an imaginary bottle and they would stop.  I don't think that would be as good as bear spray or dog halt in an attack though.  I'd get one of those.

I'm glad Charlie is okay and I hope you and he are able to go for walks without this affecting you.

[Pam & Trixie]

I think I want to get some Halt Spray.  Where does one buy it? 

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I checked it's on Amazon and other sites. Petco or someplace like that might have it.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Petsmart has it

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Someone at bridge club last night mentioned carrying a squirt gun filled with ammonia and water mixture - but I do not know how you would carry that without it leaking.  Maybe they make squirt guns different than they did years ago!

I did get my Halt in the mail and I am also ordering a horn - then getting out their to see the world again!

Thanks everyone.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Just an update.  Since I had not heard from Animal Control, I called them yesterday.  They could not find my initial call in their records, so nothing had been done.  Apparently the person I talked to initially, did not get it entered into their log.  YIkes!  The county officer in command called me back in 30 minutes, apologized profusely and said he was on his way to make a contact the attaching dog's owner.  About 2 hrs. later, animal control pulls up in our driveway.  He said initially he came to meet Charlie and then proceeded to tell me he had made the house call, confirmed that the owner of the dogs was a brother-in-law to homeowner.  The homeowner was dogsitting while the dogowner was moving to a neighboring city (we live in a tri-city area).  He admitted the dogs got out and he had no control over them.  So yeah - they do not live in our neighborhood! The officer has the dog owner's address and will be contacting him for proof of licensing & current rabies status.  He will then take a photo of each dog, register them in their system, and they now will then a history for this behavior. If license is not current they will be fined.  He will again report back to me when he makes contact with dog owner.  I  was impressed with the response I got, once the report was in the hands of someone who was really doing his job.

I happy so relieved for our neighborhood that these particular dogs do not live here.  But I will not forget this incident and still will be carrying protection for Charlie just in case.

Thanks again for everyone's concern.

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am glad they do not live in your neighborhood. Maybe the homeowner will think twice about dog sitting these dogs again or at the very least, be far more vigilant if he does. Sounds like everything is being done that should be done. Glad you now have some protection.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

This sounds like really good news....happy to hear it.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I'm glad this is being investigated.

[Pam & Trixie]

I too am glad they do not live in the neighborhood.

Sounds like they do alot more there for dog attacks then here.