Mace
I had my first experience using my dog mace. We’d seen one of the neighbor dogs out roaming, as usual. I went to the mailbox to check the mail and it came after me; in fact, it sounded as if it was right on my heels coming up into the yard. I went in and dug into the bike pack, found the can and went back out to get into my car for errands.
When it came back out into the road after me, I stood still and waited for it to get close. It wanted a piece of me, but was alone and wasn’t as brave. As soon as it was reasonably close, I shot at it.
I’ve never used pepper spray before and this one is pretty cool. It has a marker dye and tear gas, as well as the pepper component. It shot out in a big orange cloud. I’d aimed too high to get the dog, but the sound backed it off several feet, then it didn’t want to get close again. As I walked back into the drive, the guy (who had been out on his porch, watching as it came up our drive, came after me) finally called it home. I yelled over the fence that the next time it is coming home maced.
Next time I’ll bide my time a bit more and aim lower. Although there was no wind today, I think I still got hit more than the dog. My eyes sting just barely, so does the skin on one elbow. I kept the car windows down because I didn’t want the mechanic I was going to see to sting, too.
When I arrived home, there was a repeat of this confrontation. My moron neighbor was still on his porch, still had the dog loose. It came after me when I went to the mailbox again and then it came back after me while I was in our garage. It wouldn’t approach close enough to be in range of the spray, so I picked up the first heavy object at hand, a hammer.
When I went to defend myself, it took off and I gave chase. I saw the guy and I lost it. If this were a movie, there would have been a wide shot of nuclear devastation. I started screaming over the fence at him about the dog, all of the dogs, all of the many problems. J could hear me from inside the house. I’m sick of being set upon in my own yard.
The guy’s excuse for letting this particular one run loose? IT IS IN HEAT. Does that give you any clue the mentality I’m facing here? All of my arguments fell onto a flat face with a half grin. He thought my rage was funny. His solution to all of this? He told me I am to shoot his dog the next time it comes over. I said that was not a solution and his problem is not mine to solve. He then believed he bettered the deal for me by offering to dispose of the carcass when I was done.
See, all of this is my fault because his dogs love everyone but me. OK, A: not true. They often try to bite visitors here. B: I’m sure they don’t like me. I’m the only one in their world imposing any discipline or denying them what they want. And no, I do not want to pet little whatever-its-name-is and see how it wouldn’t hurt a fly. It just came after me. Would being its friend keep it out of my yard?!?!
When he claimed his dogs don’t know where the property ends, I think actual steam may have poured from my ears. PUT THE DAMNED ANIMALS ON A CHAIN, A LEASH, BUILD A FENCE, KEEP THEM INDOORS, ****WATCH THEM****- PAY ANY SORT OF ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY’RE DOING, YOU BRAIN DEAD ASSHOLE!!!
Do you think it made any dent in his logic when I explained that letting a dog run loose makes it think it owns, and should then defend, the world, my property included?? I admit, my point my have been lost when my voice hit an octave only his dogs could hear.
I turned the bastard in to the sheriff and the Humane Society, but I have no way of knowing if anyone followed up on the issue. That night, we were treated to a hail of gunfire coming from the guy’s house at 1am. I wondered if he killed the dogs, killed himself.
The next day, nope. I’m still getting barked at. Dogs of all kinds are still regularly running loose. He may have killed the one. I haven’t seen it. I told the authorities he shouldn’t have animals if he’s out shopping their death to the neighbor because he doesn’t want to deal with their behaviors. Is that not cruelty? Endangerment? Neglect??
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