[windsorknot]

There is an elementary school in our town with a pit bull housed right across the street...an accident just waiting to happen.

Would pepper spray thwart a pit bull attack?

[LongElegantLegs]

It depends on the dog and the circumstances; probably it would. Another thing you can do is advance towards the dog, holding your arms out to make yourself larger and shouting; most dogs are used to people running, not charging back at them. One of the highlights of my life was when I turned a rottweiler around by doing that.
He tripped over his own feet trying to turn around.