06-22-2009, 12:43 AM
Rocks for distance, pepper spray for when they get within 10 feet, walking stick with heavy pointed ornament on the end if they keep coming....and a cell phone in case things get really ugly. I have been attacked numerous times in my Southern California neighborhood (that Sean knows well). I always scream at the top of my lungs, stand up tall, get my dogs at close as I can and then unleash these weapons in succession. Was walking with my soon-to-be ex partner not long ago...he carrys a shovel without the head. I hated to see him use it but, I was caught off guard (that can happen when you are enjoying your walk instead of bracing every single moment for a frightening encounter), and I dropped my walking stick. Pepper spray not in convenient place. The dog had already engaged my dog but went down quickly when my partner whacked him in the middle of the back. I felt very bad. He went down immediately and was very stunned. I would not have hit him in the back, but he turned tail and walked away from the incident. His owner was mystified "Why'd you do that, man?". 20 seconds before, his owner was laughing as the dog escaped from his grasp as he rode a skateboard and headed straight for us.