I just had a defensive encounter

I was running at night on the rail trail along the river in my town. I was carrying a Streamlight Microstream flashlight in my right hand, Sabre pepper spray in my left hand, and I had my P365 with an OLIGHT PL Mini-2 Valkyrie in my Hill People kit bag on my chest.I passed a number of homeless folks camping along the river, which is just a sad reality around here, but I have generally found most of them to be non-threatening. I just give a friendly “hello” if they are on the path so I don’t startle anyone and they usually give me the same back. I have always run this path in the daylight, but the days have gotten shorter and I got out the door late today, so I was about a half mile from my car ending my run in the dark when the incident occurred.A homeless man and woman were in the middle of the path with all of their belongings strewn along the side. I said hello as I approached, and as I did, an unleashed pitbull I hadn’t noticed before suddenly charged at me from behind the woman. It closed the gap on me in the split second it took me to raise my hand and spray it in the face. If I had not had the spray ready in my hand, I would not have had time to fumble for it in my pocket before it was on me. After I sprayed the dog, it instantly retreated, and the lady started screeching “WHY THE FUCK DID YOU SPRAY MY DOG, YOU’RE ABOUT TO GET STABBED MOTHER FUCKER!” I then booked it out of there and back to my car with all due haste. My firearm never left its holster.Two primary takeaways:Avoid sketchy areas. I think I fell too much into the mentality of “I’m 6’1, 32 years old, armed, and a Soldier. I don’t need to be afraid to go for a run on my local bike path just because of some homeless people.” Wrong. This 5’ tall meth head probably would have severely ruined my night if she had decided to knife me. Boring as it may be, I’ll be running on the treadmill at the gym after dark from now on.Carry OC, and keep it easily deployable. I have no idea if that pit would have bitten me or if it just wanted to play, but I was not about to find out. Any other breed, maybe, but not a pit. That said, I’m VERY glad I had an option other than shooting it. Justifiable self-defense or not, that also would have ruined my night. via /r/CCW https://ift.tt/3jJV2ag