Originally Posted by
horatio
How about an air (BB) gun as an alternative weapon? Something like this:
http://www.airgundepot.com/walther-cp99-compact.html The muzzle velocity would have to be high enough to really sting but not injure the animal. That should satisy the "moral" question you posed. I suppose the "stopping power" needed depends on the particular dog as well. Won't some breeds (i.e. pit bull) attack until death? It's not only cyclists who are at risk from killer dogs. In SC, it seems every couple of years there's a news story about some small child being mauled and killed by a pit bull. Senseless.
Not a bad suggestion, but, a long time ago I shot a seagull at very close range with a bb pistol. It just kept on flying as if nothing happened. I was so close i could hear the bb hit the bird. In the next town over a few years ago a police officer shot a pit bull in the head with his .38 revolver. It was a glancing blow off the skull and did not slow the dog down. Finally, he hit the eye and stopped the dog. !!
Bear spray, and research the formula, the strength, it varies widely. I can't remember the name but I had some 17% once.. Just google Pepper spray.