Thanks Sally! I looked at Pet Corrector on Amazon. I also saw something called Dog Horn. I read a little about pepper spray, but one of the things I saw is that it can backfire and agitate the dog and make it more aggressive. What I'm thinking is something I can sound or spray so that as I see them approaching, I can get them to think otherwise about even coming near us. 

I've been conflicted about Animal Control. On the one hand, we've walked past that house nearly every day for the last year and a half, and this is the first time we've had an issue. Sometimes stuff happens. So maybe I should consider it a fluke and count my blessings nobody got hurt. On the other hand, the neighbor made it sound like these dogs are a problem. The owner himself told me Animal Control has been called on his dogs before. So if they truly are a nuisance, Animal Control probably needs to know there's been another episode. 

I don't want to see the dogs put down. I don't even really want to see the guy lose the dogs (although I don't think he's a good person to have dogs). I really just want him to keep his dogs secure in his yard. Pisses me off that he doesn't seem to take that responsibility seriously. 

I don't remember if I ever mentioned this or not, but a few years ago the pest control guy left my gate open. The lock on my gate isn't the best, so the wind will sometimes open it. Years ago, I put a cinder block in front of the gate to keep it closed even if the lock fails. The pest control guy forgot to put the block back, and the next morning Baxter got out. I found him like 15 minutes later. I contacted the pest control company and reminded them the gate needed to be locked and the block put back in place when they left. And I also double check now after he comes to make sure everything is secure. A few months back, he forgot again. I reminded them again, but it wasn't a problem because I double checked and fixed it before I let Baxter out. 

It wasn't my fault Baxter got out back then. But it's my responsibility to keep him safe. So it's my responsibility to make sure he can't get out. Sucks this guy doesn't feel the same way about his dogs. Especially since his dogs could actually hurt somebody. There is a greenway with a dog park about a mile from my house. Baxter and I walk there sometimes. The guy told me that's where he found his dogs Friday night. To get there, you have to cross a pretty busy two-way road. If I were that guy, it would freak me out that my dogs very easily could have been hit crossing that road. 

BTW, funny side story: Also years ago, the pest control guy left the gate open and forgot to put the block back. It took me three days to realize the gate was open. For three days, Rocky could have easily escaped and he never once even tried. That boy was just never going to leave my side no matter what. 

I'm going to look into some sort of deterrent. I'm also going to avoid passing in front of that guy's house from now on. A little inconvenient, but no biggie. I'll probably abstain from calling Animal Control for now, but if I see those dogs loose again - whether we encounter them or not - I'm definitely calling. And I may just skip ahead to the Police or Sheriff's Department if we do encounter them. 

We actually came across another loose dog out in its front yard on our walk tonight - a little Chihuahua not much bigger than a squirrel. That one wasn't as big of a deal. I think Baxter could have handled him.

Next post will have some pictures.