Originally Posted by
canklecat
Almost every ride. I try to shrug it off ASAP. Doesn't help to dwell on every frustration and near miss or close call. Otherwise I'd talk myself out of riding outdoors.
I love dogs but I do carry pepper spray gel. Never used it. But I'm occasionally tempted to use it on the dog owners. They're usually the problem. Pet behaviors are usually direct reflections of their owners, and their behavior can usually be modified with care and training.
The situation here in the Philippines is sort of pathetic. Strays, both canine and feline, multiply to the limits of the food supply and beyond. There is nothing of consequence one person can do. Trying to change the culture is worse than useless.
In the California town where I used to live, every redneck had to have a large, aggressive "guard dog". Often it was justified. Anything that wasn't guarded quickly went to support some homeless guys drug habit. However, very few of these animals were properly trained or restrained. I worked animal control for a while in the mid-west. Maybe I'm a little hard nosed on the topic but far too often I've had to put down what could have been some very fine animals. I firmly believe that when a person is attacked, the victim should have the option of deciding whether the dog or it's owner gets the needle.