It may not be rabies, but how can you be sure, especially when it’s an animal that you see living outside, day after day? If it does bite you, and you don’t catch it, you are the one who gets the rabies shots.
I punted a chihuahua who charged me and my dog a few months ago, kicked him halfway across the street. I don’t regret it, any more than I would regret beating a larger dog who attacked me. People need to control their animals.
A chihuahua? Charged your dog? What was your dog, another chihuahua? You low down dirty dog kicker.
Bingo! Once, growing up, a relative was chased and attacked by three dogs - either two Shepherds and a Doberman, or two Dobermans and a Shepherd. (I can't remember which.) When he tried in vain to kick them away, the owner got mad and yelled at him, "Don't kick my dogs!" :-0
People need to control their animals. If the animal is hurt attacking someone, it's the owner's fault. One late night, I had to climb onto the hood of a car to get away from a Doberman who came after me. I soon realized the owner had sent him after me, just for kicks. An officer later told me I would've had every right to shoot that dog. I wonder what animal lovers would say in that case. Since the dog didn't bite, they'd probably criticize the person defending herself.