Bear Spray vs Pepper Spray

[BDX2]

I really hate to beat a dead horse, but I'm very torn here. I've posted just a few months ago concerning the neighbor illegally training and boarding new strange dogs that have been out of his control several times. (Just defending my 17 pound shih-tzu on walks), I have no issue personally with dogs, they are much more likely to be small dog aggressive than human.

Several people here suggested pepper spray, which I'm very grateful for the suggestion, it really eases my mind knowing I wouldn't have to shoot a dog or draw my weapon.

My family has strict orders to keep the spray on hand, and they've been doing it 😆.

For the life of me I cannot get it out of my head, there's a remote chance I'll regret not using bear spray instead. Much more effective in the rare chance it's needed, but there could be legal ramifications if it came to using it.

There seems to be a voice of common sense on this forum and I'm not ashamed to say I'd like to hear your opinion, if it were you.

I'm frequently dealing with large aggressive beasts that go crazy at the sight of mine. I witnessed it again this morning as my son walked our dog up the driveway while a snarling spitting pit bull was held by a leash on my neighbors property. God forbid something like that unfolds. I wouldn't be pondering legalities should any of us need it.

Thanks for Reading,

Joe

[Emptymag]

What legal ramifications are you talking about?
Is there some law that says "bear" spray is only to be applied to bears?

[BDX2]

Yes, the standard answer is bear spray is to be used on bears, not humans or dogs. How legal, or illegal it is depends on locality.

[Emptymag]

That's nuts.
Take a Sharpie and cross off "bear" on the label.

I have the answers to all of life's difficult questions.

[BDX2]

Yeah I mean if I'd need pepper spray then bear spray would be the bomb.

[BDX2]

I just took a walk over the in laws with the pooch. Started talking to my cousin across the street from them, his golden retriever somehow knocked the pepper spray off by the pocket clip and instantly held it in his mouth.

He's not trained and there's small teeth marks in it....

[jthrelf]

I think a good pepper spray will be more convenient than bear spray (in terms of size) and get the job done well. The Foxx Labs 1.5oz stream is a good start. The POM sprays are even smaller and seem to be highly recommended.

A knife would be good to carry as well.

[t1066]

I just took a walk over the in laws with the pooch. Started talking to my cousin across the street from them, his golden retriever somehow knocked the pepper spray off by the pocket clip and instantly held it in his mouth.

He's not trained and there's small teeth marks in it....

One of the dogs my wife had before I met her used to dig the pepper spray can out of her purse and sneak it away. When she would find it, he had bitten on it hard enough to get it to leak through the can. Apparently he liked it enough he would lick up the seepage. This happened a couple of times before she gave up on carrying it in her purse.

[father-of-five]

There is also specific dog spray which has a weaker oc formula, as dog eyes are more sensitive than human eyes.

However, when I run, I have human oc and a knife. I think I have only had to spray 2 or 3 dogs in 14 years of running.

[Sandcut]

I really hate to beat a dead horse, but I'm very torn here. I've posted just a few months ago concerning the neighbor illegally training and boarding new strange dogs that have been out of his control several times. (Just defending my 17 pound shih-tzu on walks), I have no issue personally with dogs, they are much more likely to be small dog aggressive than human.

Several people here suggested pepper spray, which I'm very grateful for the suggestion, it really eases my mind knowing I wouldn't have to shoot a dog or draw my weapon.

My family has strict orders to keep the spray on hand, and they've been doing it 😆.

For the life of me I cannot get it out of my head, there's a remote chance I'll regret not using bear spray instead. Much more effective in the rare chance it's needed, but there could be legal ramifications if it came to using it.

There seems to be a voice of common sense on this forum and I'm not ashamed to say I'd like to hear your opinion, if it were you.

I'm frequently dealing with large aggressive beasts that go crazy at the sight of mine. I witnessed it again this morning as my son walked our dog up the driveway while a snarling spitting pit bull was held by a leash on my neighbors property. God forbid something like that unfolds. I wouldn't be pondering legalities should any of us need it.

Thanks for Reading,

Joe

Forget the pepper spray and forget the wasp spray. If you perceive that there is enough of a threat, get the best defensive tool that you can lawfully possess. Bear spray is lawful to carry in PA. Bear spray is lawful to use in PA. There is NO statute in PA that limits the use of bear spray only to bears.

All I can say is, if I have a pissed off dog, with muscular jaws as wide as my thigh, bearing down on me like a ship-to-shore missle, I can piss around with pepper spray with its 6' spray stream OR I can use bear spray with its 30' spray stream and I can lay down a wall of pepper foam that will hopefully begin to take effect before the missle ever reaches me.

If you are worried about having legal action taken against you afterward, just remember that PA statute says:

(a) Legal to kill certain dogs.--Any person may kill any dog which he sees in the act of pursuing or wounding or killing any domestic animal, wounding or killing other dogs, cats or household pets, or pursuing, wounding or attacking human beings, whether or not such a dog bears the license tag required by the provisions of this act. There shall be no liability on such persons in damages or otherwise for such killing.

If anyone complains about the use of bear spray, your answer would be, "I was using restraint. I was allowed to kill it, but I like dogs".

If the dogs are really that aggressive, you should be taking video now and providing it to the police as a prophylactic measure. If the dogs are that aggressive, there are strict laws pertaining to their ownership to prevent them from causing damage. Waiting until someone in your family gets chewed up is too late to act.