This afternoon (yes, Christmas Eve no less), my eight-pound yorkiepoo and I were just returning from an hour's walk around the apartment complex perimeter, when two pit bulls off leash and with no sign of an owner ran up to us silently and started to try to grab and bite my dog. I picked him up and held him as high as I could, shielding him with my coat, as they jumped all over me trying to reach him and bite him. They did not bite me, but would not stop doing this--would not leave me alone. I was halfway between my entry door and the entry door of the apartment building across the parking lot, so headed for my own door. I shielded my dog as best as I could, holding him up at about my own nose level so they could not reach him. I was wearing a puffy down coat, and this seemed to shield both him and me. I made it up the seven steps to my front stoop, and with difficulty was able to keep the pit bulls away from the door handle with my body, so I could open it and get myself in while keeping them out. (The outer entry door is not locked--was just a matter of shielding myself and my dog so I could get it open.) A very scary experience indeed. I did not scream for help, although I was on the verge of it, and afterwards I went around and warned everybody I could about what had happened. A couple people had seen these dogs running loose--the one other person who was out with his large boxer took his dog into his apartment immediately. These pit bulls looked well-maintained, and one was even wearing a Christmas sweater! I called the building's emergency on-call, just to apprise him of what had happened--he suggested I call the police. He mentioned that our complex has no pit bulls. (But many other kinds of dogs--it's a pet-friendly complex.) The pits were gone by this time, and I had a mandatory Christmas Eve commitment, so I did not call the police. The on-call said that these were probably somebody's pets who had gotten loose somehow. I believe that is probably the case. I am very comfortable with dogs, and can honestly say that I've never felt afraid before around dogs--until today. I probably should have tried some voice commands, ("leave it" "no" "off" "go home") but I honestly was too busy trying to save my dog to do that. These pits meant business.
But anyway--my dog and I go outside for at least one hour and more like two hours every single day. What can I carry to protect us if we are ever in this situation again? Mace, pepper spray, bear spray...I think a gun would be overkill. (Forgive pun.) Anybody know what is effective and legal in New York State? I suppose I should start carrying my cell phone, too...but that won't deter an attacking pit bull. Sorry for the lengthy post, but this has shaken me up.