Just wanted to thank everyone for all of their responses regarding the dog attack. We have gone out and purchased a pair of pepper spray canisters and taken all or your advice to heart. One thing I inadvertantly left out of my original email is that our own two dogs are both pit bulls (from the animal rescue league). We love them, find them to be smart, loyal, very sensitive and loving dogs who get along very well with children. Unfortunately they are also targetted for dog fighting - just take a look at the percent of pit bulls/staffordshires filling up every dog shelter in the area. But that's a whole other issue. In any case, our smaller dog who was attacked wound up with a very small bite mark and was being carried down the street mostly just because she was scared and shaking. Everything turned out ok. Thanks again. Mark Stein