I didn't used to worry much about dogs chasing us, but a friend was badly injured when a free range dog on the MUP knocked her down. She's had 11 surgeries to reconstruct the elbow and repair nerve damage. She's back to her former jolly self, but a couple of years ago right after the injury she was pretty down.

And right about that time on the same MUP another free range dog nearly clobbered me. He appeared to be on a leash but it turned out the human wasn't actually holding the leash. I skid-braked a flat spot in the rear tire.

So I started carrying pepper gel spray. I haven't used it yet. But if I do it'll be to discourage the dog from chasing anyone again, so humans and dogs will both be safer. I'm usually more tempted to hose down the irresponsible humans than the dogs.

The world needs more skunks ambushing cyclists.

Closest I've come to this scenario was along my favorite rural route. Baby skunk wanted to check me out but mama body checked and shooed baby back to the roadside.