Per mace/pepper spray: I'd think the risk of having that stuff blow back on you is too great to consider using it so it is really out of the question for me.

When I panicked and hit the car, which thank God stopped as she saw what was happening, it was ten years ago. I learned a highly valuable lesson: Kim is a 'take flight' rider so she better make sure she LOOKS before she flees in the direction of which she flees to.

I didn't realize this was an old post, however, a very interesting and valuable one. Ben and I tend to pick routes that avoid dogs if all possible. Right now our big worry is ratttlesnakes as they give birth here in Texas in August and you simply can't see the little critters until you are right up on and over one. Thus far I've not run over one, but probably would swerve into an eighteen wheeler preferring that over a snake any day. (Just kidding gals! I really have gotten control of my panic button in the past ten years. After all, this ol gal is nearly 40 ya know! Age and wisdom!)