Pepper spray?

[doncoulter]

Twice in the past week I've been attacked by dogs in our callej?n. Only my astoundingly nimble footwork has enabled me to escape unharmed.

Solutions? I've tried to make friends with the dogs, and that works for a while, but sooner or later they're in a bad mood and on the attack again. The neighbors who own the dogs are aware of the problem and obviously couldn't care less. The perrera (dogcatcher) is worthless.

So I plan to try pepper spray. I've seen it occasionally at the Embajadoras weekend market, but not lately. Ditto for the small shopping arcade on Ju?rez just west of Plaza los Angeles. Has anyone seen it for sale elsewhere recently?

Don

[peddler665]

Alas my personal experience with pepper spray (at least the version available in California) is almost less than useless.
I do a great deal of hiking both in Mexico as well as here in California's Trinity Alps. I have a stout walking stick that never leaves my possession & also a sharp Machete. The machete is really for cutting brush, weeds, undergrowth ect but would be available if I should come under serious attack.
While this refers more to here in The Trinities I see a number of folks tote similar items in Mexico.

[Barbara]

Hi Don,

I'm not sure if this is the same number, but you might want to call the Centro de Control Animal, 733-4829, or the number for anonymous reports, 086 to report that dogs are on the street without a lease and/or owner.

Check with the vets here to see if they sell dog sprays -- they are usually citronella based, and are used for training, to stop excessive barking, and to stop dog attacks. Or you can make your own citronella spray:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5679527_make-own...spray.html

Most dogs (and people!) don't like having anything sprayed in their face -- just plain water, or water with vinegar might be enough. Or here's a link to making your own pepper spray.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4797701_pepper-spray-home.html

I definitely would not advise hitting a dog with a stick or machete; most likely the dog will latch on to the stick -- or your hand/arm/leg and attack and bite you faster that you can react. Here's some more useful information about what to do and what not to to.

http://www.askmen.com/money/how_to_300/338_how_to.html

Good luck!

Barbara

[peddler665]

I guess I made myself less than clear as I did not advocate hitting the dogs with anything especially my walking stick. I have however used it on numerous occasions to keep vicious dogs at bay while I retreated from them.
As far as a machete I repeat I have never used it in my defense but as it is very sharp I would not hesitate to do so if in serious danger.
PS I fairly certain that animal control works about as well in Mexico as it does in the US.

[The Duck]

Pepper Spray isn't that for amatuers? Why not try the Yellow Jacket?

http://www.indiegogo.com/yellowjacket?c=home

[sirsanto]

This is a fun read. If the stick, the machete, spray, etc. all fail, you can hiss at the dog (ala the dog whisperer). Or, you might consider moving to a nicer area.

[doncoulter]

Thanks to all for your suggestions, both here on Gtolist and in private messages. (Why private messages? As one correspondent explained, "I don't have the time to engage all the Amigos de los Animales activists in a lengthy and fruitless 'dialogue' on the subject.")

Many have suggested that the dogs will leave me alone once they get to know me. Not so. As I mentioned in my initial post, I've in fact made friends with them--or so I've thought. In fact, we're still friends most of the time. But every once in a while they forget our longstanding amistad and come after me with choppers bared.

To sirsanto: Yes, I've tried the hissing approach. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. As for moving to a nicer area, I already live in one of the nicest neighborhoods in town, and in any case that wouldn't necessarily work. In Guanajuato, you can move into a wonderful neighborhood today, and tomorrow a 24-hour disco guarded by half-starved pit bulls and La Familia Michoacana will open next door.

Don

[raquelita]

If you need the name of the man at the top of Animal Control email me as I can get it for you. Why wait until a dog bites to call AC? Once a dog bites, I've heard it's Animal Control's duty to destroy it, something you might want to remind your neighbors.

[doncoulter]

In my experience, Rochelle, Animal Control here is worthless. They might on occasion round up a stray or two, but the problem in our neighborhood is dogs that have owners. When AC shows up and tries to collar one of the offending mongrels, all that has to happen is for one of our neighbors (a large extended family) to pipe up with "Hey, that's my dog!" and AC says sorry and goes away.

Can't say I blame them. I don't want to get on my neighbors' bad side, either.

Don