| Have you ever been riding your bicycle | | | | the button. That's all there is to it. |
| around the block when a dog comes | | | | It's also safe and humane. The |
| running out of it's yard and starts | | | | electronic animal repeller is not the |
| chasing you down the street? Maybe | | | | repeller of choice however, if your |
| you're walking down the street when you | | | | walking your dog. |
| spot a rather large dog a few houses | | | | A second option is to whip out your |
| away. The dog appears to be unattended | | | | trusty dog repellent spray. Mace makes a |
| and you don't know if it's friendly. Has | | | | safe, humane and effective dog repellent |
| this ever happened to you? Your walking | | | | spray that's EPA approved. It sprays |
| your small dog (on a leash) down the | | | | 8-10 feet, but don't spray it into the |
| street when suddenly your confronted by | | | | wind as the results could prove to be |
| a strange, free roaming dog and it's | | | | dis- astrous. Here's how it works. When |
| growling and in the attack position. | | | | sprayed with a pepper spray dog |
| What do you do? What can you do? | | | | repellent spray, most dogs throw |
| In the first scenario, described above, | | | | themselves on the ground rubbing their |
| where the bicyclist is being chased by a | | | | eyes. The painful burning effects of the |
| dog, you would probably start peddling | | | | spray typically wear off within a few |
| faster while simultaneously kicking out | | | | minutes, leaving the dog healthy and |
| at the dog in an attempt to both outrun | | | | unharmed. Choose dog repellent sprays |
| the dog and prevent it from biting you. | | | | with pepper spray, also known as OC |
| The second scenario has you walking down | | | | (oleoresin capsicum) spray, as it's |
| the street when you spot a large, | | | | ingredient. Other sprays may not work on |
| unattended dog a few houses away. Lot's | | | | dogs that don't respond to pain. It's |
| of people go for walks carrying a base- | | | | totally non-toxic. |
| ball bat or large stick to protect | | | | Another option is the stun baton. A |
| themselves just in case the dog turns | | | | favorite among security guards, it is |
| out to be, shall we say, unfriendly. | | | | very effective on dogs. Just touch the |
| First, carrying a baseball bat or a | | | | dog on it's face. It will drop to it's |
| large stick can be cumbersome and get | | | | knees, turn and run. Normally, however, |
| heavy after awhile. Second, you have to | | | | the clicking sounds the baton makes when |
| be prepared to beat the dog (not an easy | | | | turned on is enough to deter the dog. |
| thing to do). Imagine how you will feel | | | | Stun batons come in different lengths |
| afterwards. So, instead, you'll probably | | | | ranging from 300,000 volts to 500,000 |
| just turn around and walk back rather | | | | volts. A stun baton is a stun gun placed |
| than take a chance. The last scenerio as | | | | into a baton. Stun guns use high voltage |
| described above, has you walking your | | | | and low amperage to temporarily disable |
| small dog on a leash, when your | | | | an attacker. It does not rely on pain |
| confronted by a larger, strange dog. | | | | for results. The energy stored in the |
| Most likely, you will pick up your | | | | gun is dumped into the attackers blood |
| beloved pet, hold it close to you and | | | | sugar by converting it to lactic acid. |
| then just hope for the best. Trying to | | | | Unable to produce energy for the |
| run away almost never works. | | | | muscles, the body is unable to function |
| Let's look at some other options. One is | | | | properly. The stun gun also interrupts |
| to keep the dog from coming near you in | | | | the tiny neurological impulses that |
| the first place. You can accomplish this | | | | control muscle move- ment, causing the |
| with an electronic animal repellant. | | | | attacker to lose their balance. All this |
| Using ultrasonic technology, the devise | | | | happens very rapidly. Should the |
| produces a discomforting but not harmful | | | | attacker be touching you, the current |
| high frequency sound, audible to dogs | | | | will not pass to your body. Of course, |
| but not to humans. One such device is | | | | as a last resort, you can use the baton |
| the Ultrasonic Dog Chaser. It's small | | | | as a stick or baseball ball to hit the |
| and lightweight. It measures 3 & 3/4 | | | | dog with. |
| inches by 2 & 3/16 inches by 7/8 inches. | | | | So go ahead and take that walk down the |
| That's roughly the size of a deck of | | | | street, or pull out your bike and ride |
| cards. Weighing in at just 3.5 ounces | | | | around the block again. There's no need |
| with the 9-volt battery, it's quite | | | | to be afraid of those stray dogs any |
| compact. It has a frequency range | | | | more. Have FUN! |
| between 20,000Hz - 25,000Hz. At 135dbs, | | | | You can find these devices in some |
| it has an effective range up to 20 feet. | | | | stores and on most internet sites |
| The device is easy to use, too. Point | | | | selling self protection products. |
| the animal repeller at the dog and press | | | | |