[familyop]

"Another article I read on this where the neighbors said the dogs were a menace, always ran loose, and residents kept their children inside because of them."

Whole neighborhoods of people avoid going for walks because of bad dogs. Those people die of illnesses and conditions before their time. In a way, though, they're dying of cowardice. They're afraid to even say anything, much less undertake any civil or self-defense action. In that way, they deserve the prisons of their houses and ill health. When they want to get away from their houses, they waddle and limp directly to their cars.

[heylady]

I’m 73 years old and have been walking 3 miles or more most days weather permitting. I will cross the street if I see large dogs coming my way. On February 2nd I was on my way home from the park and rather pleased with myself because I had done 2 extra laps around the park, I didn’t immediately see the dog all I heard was, “ Stryker come back.” I jerker my head up and saw a pit bull on the other side of the road cross the street and coming right for me. The owner had the dog off leash and was on her cell phone . I froze and yelled to her to please get her dog. Too preoccupied with her phone conversation she said oh he’s alright.
It was like a dream, I was frozen in terror as the dog first barking, then growling came toward me. The dog latched onto my hand while I continued to beg for the owner to help me. Finally she called to the dog and the dog took off down the street. It took a few minutes to realize I had actually been bitten when I saw the blood dripping from my hand.
When I got home I called animal control but we never found the owner of the dog so I had to get the full set of rabies shots. Now I am afraid when I go for a walk and admittedly am going less frequently. I bought pepper spay but some have told me that would only make the dog more aggressive.